H1705

Working on the 'Great Eastern' (1858) by gaslight Long Caption: The construction of Brunel's 'Great Eastern' was delayed by financial constraints. At one stage, in February 1856, John Scott Russell's shipyard was seized by the banks after a series of financial irregularities. Work on the ship was suspended until May 1856 and hundreds of employees were discharged. When work resumed, the pace of construction was stepped up in order to meet contract conditions. This meant the work had to continue around the clock. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK Object: H1705 Artist: unknown Date: 1857 Medium: engraving Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.