If you’re a lover of history, a fan of artefacts, and want to play a role in preserving one of Bristol’s famous attractions, there’s now a pretty quirky way to do so. You can now ‘adopt’ a treasured item from the SS Great Britain Trust’s collection, helping to safeguard it for future generations.
Artefacts up for virtual adoption include Brunel’s last cigar, a commemorative cricket ball awarded to E.M. Grace in 1864, and one of the last SS Great Britain tickets ever issued. The adoption packages, which last 12 months, start at £25 and go up to £300.
While the artefacts remain in the Trust’s care, everyone who adopts an artefact will receive a photo, a certificate, and a fact sheet detailing its story. They will also be recognised on the SS Great Britain Trust’s website for their role in ‘supporting the conservation and care of these historically significant items.
Those who opt for the top tier adoption packages will also receive two annual tickets to visit Brunel’s SS Great Britain, a private guided tour for two of the ship and museums with an expert volunteer, and exclusivity of their object. The ‘Adopt and Artefact’ scheme will raise critical funds for the SS Great Britain Trust, which will be used to conserve the legendary ship and museum, and support its community outreach work.
Louisa Pharoah, director of development at the SS Great Britainsaid: “We’re so excited to launch ‘Adopt an Artefact’ and to give people the chance to become part of the SS Great Britain’s story. There are a whole host of fascinating objects up for adoption, including Brunel’s personal diary and a picture of a horse that he drew when he was just six years old.
“We’re proud to be a heritage and education charity that’s making a difference in the Bristol community. By adopting an artefact, locals and visitors alike can help to preserve items of historical significance and protect the legacy of the SS Great Britainitself.”
The objects available for adoption are:
- £25 – Ship’s biscuit and the last ticket, 1970
- £50 – Cricket Ball and Thames Tunnel Peep Show
- £150 – Brunel’s horse drawing and Brunel’s locked diary
- £300 – Brunel’s cigar case with his last cigar and Brunel’s Propeller Report
You can adopt an artefact for yourself or someone else, via the official SS Great Britain website here.