Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded doctoral students are making history, as part of a new joint initiative between the ss Great Britain Trust and the University of Bristol.
PhD students Claire Connor and James Muirhead are splitting their time between Brunel’s ss Great Britain and Brunel Institute and the University of Bristol and will research the history of Brunel's iconic steamship, the ss Great Britain, from 1843.
Claire Connor is covering the ss Great Britain between 1843 and 1886, when the ship carried:
• Passengers to the USA and emigrants to Australia;
• Troops to the Crimean War and Indian (Sepoy) Wars;
• Cargo between Great Britain and the USA.
She is researching the experiences of passengers and crew, relationships between different groups, and how travel had an impact on class, gender, race, nation and empire.
James Muirhead is examining the ship’s history from 1886 including:
• Use as a floating storage hulk, before abandonment, in the Falkland Islands;
• The 1970 salvage and return to Bristol;
• Conservation and restoration work leading to the museum attraction’s ‘re-launch’ in 2005;
• Award-winning success and developments after 2005.
As well as using the 40th homecoming anniversary’s oral history project, James Muirhead is also examining what and why stories have been told at the museum attraction, and ss Great Britain Trust’s place in the context of today’s heritage industry.
The three-year studentships will include up to three months’ study in Australia and the Falkland Islands and the awards will give the students the opportunity to work outside an academic environment. Their findings will add to the Trust’s wealth of knowledge and help further improve the award-winning visitor experience at Brunel’s ss Great Britain.
The two PhD students will be supervised by the Trust’s Director of Museum and Educational Services and the University’s Department of Historical Studies’ Dr Tim Cole, alongside Professor Peter Coates and Dr Simon Potter from the University of Bristol.
The ss Great Britain Trust’s Director of Museum and Educational Services Rhian Tritton commented: “These doctoral awards, funded by the AHRC, are highly prestigious and given to projects which involve active collaboration and benefit to the wider community. We are delighted to welcome the two PhD students as part of the Trust’s museum and educational team and look forward to incorporating their findings into telling the true stories of the ship, her passengers and crew, and those who have helped care for the historic vessel since her return to Bristol.”
Early findings by the students include images of timber huts built by gold prospectors, who may have emigrated to Australia on board the ss Great Britain. As part of their PhD they will also be giving visitors lunchtime talks and lectures.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Image Credit Jodie Lucas-Jones
Left to Right: The University of Bristol’s Dr Tim Cole, with PhD student Claire Connor, the ss Great Britain Trust’s Director of Museum & Education Services Rhian Tritton, and PhD student James Muirhead
AHRC Media contact: Jake Gilmore, Communications Manager, 01793 416021; j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk
1. The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes hundreds of research awards ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects as well as over 1,100 studentship awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.
2. Brunel's ss Great Britain is the world’s first great ocean liner. Launched in 1843 to provide luxury travel to New York, the iron-hulled steamship revolutionised travel and set new standards in engineering, reliability and speed. Today Brunel's ss Great Britain, is one of the UK’s most exciting museums and visitor attractions.
www.ssgreatbritain.org
3. The University of Bristol is consistently ranked among the leaders in UK higher education. Research-intensive and with an international reputation for quality and innovation, the University has 17,000 students from over 100 countries, together with more than 5,500 staff. In terms of the number of applications per undergraduate place, Bristol is one of the most popular universities in the country.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/