Nonesuch Silver Prints The Great Britain 1969

1969 March - Sparrow Cove, Falkland Islands [Malvinas]. The hulk of the Great Britain had been beached in Sparrow Cove for almost 32 years. Part of the weather deck and a cargo hold opening dating from 1882 were in poor condition. Mount Low at approx 750 feet is about 1.6 miles away. This picture was taken looking fo'ard to the bow and shows the three masts: the mizzen, main mast with yard and foremast mostly hidden except for the cross trees. Sections of the original iron handrail are still standing on the port side.

Camera - MPP Microflex Twin Lens Reflex with F3.5 77.5mm Taylor Taylor Hobson lens. Film Kodak Plus X 1/125 second F 8 Yellow filter x 1. Developed by hand in Stanley in the darkroom of John Leonard a local photographer using Kodak Microdol at normal dilution

In 1970 the original hull designed and built by William Paterson was taken from the Falkland Islands [Malvinas] to Bristol, England. After many years the hull has now been restored and forms the basis of the splendid reconstruction of the 1843 steamship SS Great Britain, conceived by the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The masts and original rigging were cut down in the 1970 salvage.