The museum will close to allow the work to take place
Gabriel Shepard Assistant Head of Print
15:27, 16 Jun 2025
The SS Great Britain is undergoing major changes this year(Image: Adam Gasson/ss Great Britain Trust)
The SS Great Britain is set to enter a “bold new chapter” as the attraction undergoes a £1 million transformation in the new year.
The project, which will involve a “complete re-imagining” of the Dockyard Museum, aims to cement its position as one of the UK’s top heritage sites.
Designed as an “immersive” experience, the new museum will explore how the SS Great Britain changed the world, illuminating the journeys of the more than 30,000 passengers and crew who travelled aboard the ship between 1845 and 1886.
Chair of SS Great Britain Trust Matthew Jones said: “The SS Great Britain is far more than a site of historic importance; it is a vital part of Bristol’s cultural fabric.
“This much-loved maritime landmark has helped shape the identity of the city and continues to bring communities together. I’m therefore delighted to see the SS Great Britain embracing bold new directions and exploring the evolving role that heritage sites can play in our future.”
The trust is actively fundraising to complete the project, having already secured £800,000 from the Philip Nicholas Trust and the Headley Trust for the redevelopment.
Global Voyages, a major new community-led project funded by a £245,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, will directly inform the redevelopment of the Dockyard Museum, “placing Bristol’s richly diverse communities at the heart of shaping the stories we tell”, a spokesman said.
The museum will close in the spring to allow the work to take place and is scheduled to reopen later next year.
The project will also include a new community hub, a “dedicated community history curator” post, and opportunities for local people to join the organisation as researchers and as advisory group members.
Chief executive Andrew Edwards said: “Bristol is a city shaped by global journeys, and so is the SS Great Britain. This is not only about a funding milestone; it’s about creating opportunities for the discovery of new stories and ideas.
“By working side-by-side with Bristol residents, we can ensure the Dockyard Museum, and all our storytelling and research reflects not only the ship’s international journeys, but the lived experiences and perspectives of the city today.
“This funding is a major step forward in making the SS Great Britain a truly shared space for heritage that attracts new and diverse audiences for generations to come.”
Dr Sam Willis, the award-winning historian, archaeologist and broadcaster, and trustee of the Philip Nicholas Charitable Trust, added: “We’re thrilled to invest in this significant project, which will deepen the stories told about those who travelled and worked aboard the SS Great Britain throughout its remarkable history.
“Authentic storytelling allows us to better understand ourselves by reflecting on the past. Philip Nicholas was deeply passionate about maritime history, and we are delighted that his name and legacy will be associated with this exciting development.”
The steam ship Great Britain carried people between five continents from 1845 to 1886. It was the first oceangoing ship in history made from metal, rather than wood, and the first with an underwater propeller.