2-970-160 - /Heritage Images

Progress of the Great Ship, building at Millwall, for the Eastern Steam Navigation Company, 1856. Scene by the River Thames in London: Brunel's SS Great Eastern, an iron sail-powered, paddle wheel and screw-propelled steamship, '...in progress of construction in the building yard of Messrs. Scott Russell and Co...the appearance of the ship, stretching over long rows of buildings, is most extraordinary: and great as its present length, the vessel is still growing at both the head and stern, it requiring 50 feet at one end and 70 feet at the other - in all 120 feet to complete the work...[it would] carry 800 first-cass, 2000 second-class, and 1200 third class passengers, making a total of 4000, independently of the crew. The total length of the vessel will be 692 feet'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.