The Millwall Leviathan: The Great Eastern

Some decaying timbers on the Isle of Dogs are the last surviving reminder of the Great Eastern, the biggest ship of the Victorian era.
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[@THEScottCampbell]

The ship survived over 30 years and laid the first Atlantic cable. How many other ships from it's time are remembered? Of hose that are, how long did they last? The Great Eastern was a monumental engineering achievement. I'm sure much was learned from its construction and applied to ships built from that point on.

[@bgd73]

I have found 1920s designs, by then marvelling at 300 rpm diesels.. still running today on original steel and engines. some went ww2, after getting commandeered. some were running cable before the war.. i found one that did cable, a war..stayed owned by gov't illegally and let go of 50 years of active service, back into a yacht, though panama canal and now in service over in washington state, complete make over. that one is approaching 90 years.. I think its called "arcadia". that is just one of several.

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

For anyone interested the SS Great Britain is mostly restored and can be visited in Brunel's home town of Bristol.

[@emjackson2289]

Well worth a visit I must say & it looks fantastic from Hotwells

[@nicholaskelly6375]

Without her the trans oceanic telegraph cables could never have been laid so easily. The thing about the Great Eastern was not only her size. As due to the fact that she was the only ship built with independently driven paddles and a screw (one other ship that the can think of which had both paddles and a screw was the 'Bee' however she had a single engine which drove both forms of propulsion via shafting, gearing and clutches). This allowed her to hold a position at sea. It was this feature as much as her size that made her an ideal cable layer. It is often forgotten now that these submarine telegraph cables revolutionised communication and effectively along with the railway to create the modern world.

[@tomkent4656]

Thanks for a music-free documentary!

[@2Worlds_and_InBetween]

yes

[@fntime]

Why don't you like music?

[@tomkent4656]

@@fntime The majority of KZbin documentary producers don't know how to use music properly in their productions. Their music tracks are often incompatible, and invariably detract from the images and voice-over. I'd rather listen to a videodoc without music than suffer music that sucks!

[@2Worlds_and_InBetween]

music is quite possibly one of my greatest loves, (can you guess what another one is from my playlists.?) but more so with much longer stuff, I speed it up over time as you get used to it, the music can make this difficult/annoying.

[@robertely686]

No music and no photogenic narrator popping up every ten seconds 👍

[@gramilwolf3448]

When they launched the ship 'side - on' it caused a swell which overwhelmed the far bank where members of the public were watching. Quite a few died in the maelstrom. A sad start.

[@kjj26k]

What a way to go, violently taken by the (especially then) filthy Thames...

[@MrDaiseymay]

I've never heard that before, Must rank as the worst attempt at a launch in history

[@martentrudeau6948]

Brunel's Great Eastern was an incredible the accomplishment back in the horse and buggy days, a colossus years ahead of it's time, and a revolutionary propeller too (pun intended thank you). He was significant for many other projects too, beautiful bridges, train stations, tunnels, and etc, etc, etc. It boggles my mind to think what he would have done if he had lived another 30 years, his mind had no limits.

[@CountScarlioni]

It's interesting to consider what he might have turned his talents to next. Whatever it was though, it would have more than likely been a scheme to bankrupt many more investors!

[@richwest9104]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the propeller on the SS Great Britain is only 10% less efficient than the most modern commercial shipping props. Quite remarkable. An indication of Brunel's engineering brilliance.

[@deeznoots6241]

He also overshadows his father Marc Brunel quite a lot despite his fathers many engineering achievements, for example there are tunnels started under Marc Brunel using his brand new tunnel boring machine that were completed by Isembard

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

The greatest ever Brit in my opinion.

[@asciisynth]

Brunel, how will you power your new ship? Brunel: Yes.

[@asciisynth]

PS great video, and Victorian technology never ceases to amaze me.

[@andrewfield5656]

It could be done but not easy. Brunel: “hold my ale”

[@otterylexa4499]

He'd probably have slapped on some azipods if he'd thought of them.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Mr. Brunel, how will you power your new ship? Brunel: With coal, and lots of it.

[@derekcoe9633]

Was broken up on the shore at Rock Ferry, just a mile or two from my home.. there are still metal shards to be found in the spot where she was dismantled

[@1949rangerrick]

There are collectors out there that would pay for small bits of the ships hull Cut them up, authentic the pieces, sell them. I’d bite.

[@663rainmaker]

Richard Hansen EVRAZ Group of Russia 🇷🇺 in USA 🇺🇸 and UK 🇬🇧 chains ⛓ linked to Canada 🇨🇦 Australia 🇦🇺 too Leviathan stuck with buckets of Rusty deaLs ! ReCycled steeLs

[@gillesbueno1153]

You should return and pick what can be left with pictures and video to prove where the remains have been picked up and sale them bit by bit to collectors. Gilles, from France.

[@MrDaiseymay]

@@1949rangerrick ME TOO. I'd rather have a good size piece, than Jimmy Hendrix's Guitar.

[@Colt45hatchback]

I would be most interested in someone doing a metallurgical analysis of the steel/iron and compare its properties with modern metals

[@jonny7dreamin]

I believe that some of her hull plates are still embedded in the mud where she was broken up...The breakers decided that they were not worth salvaging??

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

It took 2 years to brake up the ship, by that time many of the lower components had just sunk to deep into the mud to be worth the effort to dig back up.

[@SiVlog1989]

At the site of the breakers yard where Great Eastern was scrapped, if you know where to look, you can see parts of the ship that survive, within the dirt of the river Mersey. Far from making money, the breakers made a huge loss as they needed all the strength they had in order to break it up

[@bfmcarparts]

I heard about the pieces of the Great Eastern can still be found on the shores of the Mersey. Some guy named Tony talked about it on his show called 'Toime Team'. Be warned they all talk funny too.

[@johnwynne2179]

And where she ran aground on the Wirral side of the Mersey, they built a pub, and called it The Great Eastern, the pub was demolished a few years ago, the road into the estate has been called Clipper View

[@Thecoincollector.]

@@bfmcarparts A lot of the bits ended up in the pub named the great eastern till one of the landlords sold it all then floged the land for flats

[@johnwynne2179]

@@Thecoincollector. yep, in a CAMRA article, the lounge was described as a museum to the Great Eastern ship, but 10 years later, English Heritage said it wasn't enough to save it from being demolished. All the salvage was sold by the demolition company. All the locals can think is it was not in a posh enough area

[@growlers90]

My Brother in-law and Sister used to be the barstaff there back in the 60`s and say most of the pubs doors bar tops tables etc all came from the ship. Apparently including two beautiful doors from the captains rooms with the most intricate engraved and coloured glass panes, they both lamented the pubs closure and subsequent demolition....I have been told off for making them sound older than they are !!! My sister and her husband worked there in the 70`s HAHAHA.

[@carlosiiideespana3712]

Very interesting and informative video! There were two small inaccuracies: 2:53 That is the drawing room of the 1888 ocean liner City of New York. 9:36 She was surpassed in size in 1901 by the liner Celtic.

[@Astronist]

Yes, she was first surpassed in length by the Oceanic of 1899 (704 ft to the Great Eastern's 692 ft), and in gross tonnage by the Celtic of 1901 (20,904 grt to the Great Eastern's 18,915 grt) - both White Star ships.

[@carlosiiideespana3712]

In shipping, length is length and is not in the realm of size. Ships r measured in gross register tonnage in terms of size

[@MrDaiseymay]

@@Astronist Trust them, but then, they also hold the record for the biggest deception too.

[@MrGreatplum]

Brunel was a genius wasn’t he? I am glad the Great Eastern got a worthwhile career in the end!

[@tw25rw]

The flagpole at Anfield was purchased by the ground's tenants, Everton FC.

[@timholt3010]

The chain isn’t an anchor chain, it’s a checking chain used to brake the ship during launching

[@mozdickson]

Sounds much more plausible. A ship like that is not designed to be anchored, but moored at a dock. Anchoring would be temporary until pilot boats arrive, thus not needing such stupendous chains.

[@sddsddean]

Glad someone else pointed that out...a common mistake made by many 'commentators'. Also, I believe there is an inscription on the back of the original photo, written by IKB, along the lines of "I asked Mr Russell to stand with me, but he would not, so I alone am hung in chains!". Don't know if thats true or apocryphal.

[@JonathanWJ]

@Disco Sucks probably a lot more than that

[@g.stephens263]

Well done. I remember reading about Brunel in High School back in the 50's. The yard where we kept our sailboat during the winter, used those type of timbers to store the boat, and placed "butter boards" that slid on grease to slide the boats to the launch rail car.

[@scratchdog2216]

Only knew her as a cable-laying ship. Thanx for the whole story. Nice post.

[@ChakatSandwalker]

This ship is one of the most fascinating to have ever been launched. Your dry humour and voice are a delight, and I think I will spend quite a bit of time going through your previous videos. The KZbin algorithm once again brings someone interesting to my attention. Cheers from (possibly) the furthest remnant of the British Empire, New Zealand.

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rickmcintosh1771]

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[@kaykiekid]

Ah man, wished could've been saved and put back to its original design for a museum tour today. I could imagine walking around those decks in amazement. 😊👍❤

[@Larry]

Wasn't there a story that they were in such a rush to rivet the hulls together, that when they scrapped the ship, they found several skeletons of workmen who had been sealed inside by mistake?

[@JagoHazzard]

I’ve heard the story, but not come across any solid evidence. I’m actually planning a follow up video on the subject.

[@aleronhawk]

isn't (almost) every old ship has that kind of story? i had this discussion with my teacher and similar story occured from time to time. titanc also has this kind of story. there was a rumor that some workmen missing and they could've been sealed inside by mistake.

[@kais.8689]

This story repeats on nearly every mega-project, from the great wall(s) of China, to the Hoover dam and even pilings for big bridges like the Golden Gate. It's generally very untrue, particularly for bodies in concrete (since they would weaken the structure substantially), but sealing people into a ship there would be a lot of noise, and even if they ignored or missed that, a lot of absolutely horrid smell. There is every reason to remove dead workers from such structures, and none to leave them. It's not like they would get into much trouble in the days before organized health and safety, so why even hide the body?

[@aleronhawk]

I'm not sure about concrete buildings, but in the case of double hull ship, it was apparently possible for a worker to accidentally sealed inside between the hulls and nobody notice, just because of how loud the metal banging when they rivet the parts together. Technology and health and safety has moved on since, so we don't have those kind of things anymore. Still, It was possible, but doesn't mean it was true.

[@mattislindehag3065]

@@JagoHazzard The stories that people were sealed inside the hull started very early, when two workers went missing during the construction and never turned up again. This rumour was circulated throughout her entire service life. When she was scrapped people were eager to find out if the skeletons of the two men were inside the hull and they were not.

[@greebo7857]

Your channel appeared in my recommendations two days ago. I must have watched 20 or so since. Fascinating, well filmed and narrated. And I've never been to London. Subbed.

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks!

[@rosaamarillo2110]

Look Right!!

[@Bobrogers99]

I know there were complications in laying the transAtlantic telegraph cable, but the project would doubtless have been delayed further without a ship the size of the Great Eastern. This was its one moment in the sun.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Yes ,I've got an original Book about it, first issue from 1952, sponsored by the company who paid for the cable, 'Canadian Wire'.

[@slapington8721]

Engineer:how will you power it ? Brunel:yes

[@darlatc1169]

My 2nd Great Grand Uncle, Captain Clooney was employed on the SS Great Eastern as a young man. He later had his own (Successful Ship building Company) in which he built Ships to serve the Gulf & Atlantic Ocean and was highly praised for his workmanship. Many years later he was presented with a piece of the Cable as a Souvenir which he Cherished the rest of his Life. He has an Island & a Street named in his Honor in Cajun Country. I talked to a relative that inherited it and he said he might donate it to the museum in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

[@bobrussell3602]

Brilliant ! Not too long. No distracting music. I'm subscribing.

[@snusemcgoose1001]

7:51 holy shit if I was on that ship and lived because of his design I would’ve hugged the guy

[@Tuberuser187]

Kind of another topic but, if anyone reading lives in or visiting the UK and Bristol isn't too far you should really go and take a look at the SS Great Britain for a nice morning or afternoon out. She is all restored and in a dry dock (which has like a shallow, glass bottom pool around the ship at its natural water line so it looks like its floating) and you can tour her and walk around the dry dock. She is amazing, still a pretty big ship even by todays standards. Edit, The whole of Brunels life was "Hold my beer" when everyone thought something was the biggest or best.

[@kaitlyn__L]

I went as a kid, loved seeing all the store rooms and such that they had recreated with furnishings etc.

[@henryatkinson1479]

Fun fact that I don't believe was mentioned: Some hull plates can still be found where she was broken up, if I'm remembering right they can only be seen when the tide goes out.

[@estebanjuanpablotoledo-cas937]

This was everything a documentary should be. Thank you.

[@JagoHazzard]

You’re very welcome, I’m glad you liked it!

[@VDPEFi]

I've watched alot of stuff about this ship, but the details you add, where the remnants and bits and pieces are, the information about the damage sustained etc really does lift this video above. Fantastic

[@NUSORCA]

5:41 this is picture that introduced me to the Great Eastern. It is so modern looking and the bow is so evocative of early 20th century ocean liners that I couldn’t possibly imagine she’s built in the 1850s

[@DIY-valvular]

This was a very interesting and concise lecture indeed. I took a quick look to your recently created channel and I see that you have a lot of interesting material. Thank you from Argentina, Jago.

[@dannymurphy1779]

'We're the best thing in London, the best thing of all, everybody knows us, we're called MILLWALL!'

[@terrydavis6132]

Danny Murphy , I go way back further than that , direct descendent capt. John Davis.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

recall that guy during the terror attack at Boro Market? "This is for Allah!" the guy yelled, 'This one's for Millwall!"

[@dannywestwood4113]

Let them come.

[@steves5172]

Hi, I can add to your ending that some of the Great Eastern keel plates still exist in the mud of the Mersey near the shore around New Ferry. I certainly didn’t know about that flagpole! Another great video, thanks!

[@memonk11]

Very informative and well done. Thank you for posting it!

[@Quebecoisegal]

One of the worlds worst jobs: a stoker on a steam ship.

[@PeterWTaylor]

If you look over the river wall at low tide you can still see the timbers of the launching ramp in the river bed. There is a superb model of the ship in the nearby Docklands museum and the Brunel museum near Rotherhithe train station is also worth a look.

[@privateer177666]

Thank you for a wonderful documentary on one of my favorite historical vessels.

[@shadowjack8]

Thank you for this glimpse into our past.

[@FreedomLovingLoyalistOfficial]

One of Brunel's last photos was taken on the Great Eastern. Moments later he would collapse from the Stroke.

[@davidcotton8378]

John Scott Russell was so much more than the Great Eastern. For one thing, he noticed (i.e. discovered) and reproduced in a lab the soliton wave, which is at the core of fibre optic physics (which, coincidentally, was the distant relative of the technology that was the Great Eastern's only success). He was also a great force in the modernisation of ship design. It sometimes feels like Scott Russell suffers from his association with Brunel: he was the bad guy in the hero's story. If so, that is a shame: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scott_Russell

[@JagoHazzard]

That’s interesting. I’ll have to look into the guy in more detail.

[@MrDaiseymay]

The Great Eastern was not quite the white elephant as some say. She Took thousands of emigrants to Australia, many for the Gold Rush there Gold Rush there.

[@AozoraUltra2006]

The magic of KZbin has bestowed upon me again by showing me an excellent channel that is very niche and very British

[@Cherb123456]

Interesting video, enjoyed to a great extend, thank you!

[@nilo70]

Jago , dear Sir , this was an amazing story ! I have never knew all these details you have told me. Thank you for making this happen

[@mjrussell414]

I knew the ship’s name sounded familiar for some reason - the cable laying. I remember years ago, working at a YMCA, while processing a woman’s application for an assisted membership, she called one of her several kids - “Leviathan! Come here Leviathan!” Not sure if she realized she had named her child an ancient sea monster...

[@nleak92]

I've learnt so much about the city I grew up in thanks to this channel

[@e020443]

Outstanding video -- thanks for making it.

[@someidiot1984]

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

What a Ship! She was a head of her time. Great video! Thank You!

[@tomgirldouble3249]

I love your little videos, you get so much information into them🤗👍🏻

[@mrgothicman]

"nah mate" said the captain 😂 love it

[@lauranceemory4448]

I was big fan of Brunel as a kid.... read some fat history book on him. Around 1962 Revell even had a model kit of the Great Eastern I put together 1/388th scale.

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

Interesting, good job. Some of this I knew, I built a model of the ship when I was in high school back in 67. I really liked it.

[@ssbn6175]

Oxnarr, I did as well, probably about the same timeframe. Was fascinated by her size and technology, this when my normal model-building interest centered around large combatants from the Pacific. We were exposed to real history back then.

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

SSBN 617 yeah, fun times, a large variety of modeling subjects to choose from. At the time my brother was working on the Flying Cloud and my buddy the Royal Sovereign

[@johnjephcote7636]

I'm pleased you mentioned Tangye. (I remember a blue and white enamel advert for their pumps as one's train left the old Euston Station.)

[@MrDaiseymay]

I always thought it was pronounced as TANG E, not TAN GEE ?

[@colinhiggs3038]

@@MrDaiseymay Philip, you are correct, it is pronounced "Tang E." Richard Tangye was borne in Illogan (about a mile and a half away from where I live,) near Redruth. There are still many Tangyes living in the area. It is a good old Cornish name, just like Jago.

[@roycelane8318]

Very educational..thank you this was a fine documentary!

[@fizzao1342]

Really enjoying your videos - thank you!

[@germainprime4602]

Very good and interesting video. Thanks for posting it.

[@jagc1969]

Very interesting video indeed. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrEazyE357]

Great doc! You gained a new subscriber with this one.

[@hythekent]

Very very interesting Jago, and another great video

[@brunneng38]

Wow. I actually learned something new. Thank you.

[@henrikcarlsen1881]

He forgot to mention the story of the remains of the riveter and his bash-boy found inside the double-hull when it was broken up.

[@stohelpsupport7615]

Any more details on that? Many thanks.

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

I read stories about this also.

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

@@stohelpsupport7615 watch 7 wonders of the industrial world, episode called the great ship. Very informative story and film about this massive ship

[@wes326]

Great story. Thanks for posting.

[@88seanster]

I was going to mention this as well. Beat me to it,good on you.

[@glenesis]

Great tale. Thank you!

[@essexdreamer5365]

great job on this video :)

[@Spookieham]

Another great video from this channel

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks!

[@stephenpegum9776]

Another great video Jago - cheers ! I first read about Brunel's work on the railways (especially the GWR) and only learnt of his other ventures such as shipbuilding later on. I was also born in Bristol, now of course home to the SS Great Britain & the Clifton suspension bridge. Despite the problems with this particular vessel, in my opinion Brunel is still Britain's greatest-ever enigineer.

[@chrisedwards4917]

If you're lucky you can still find pieces of steel plate from the hull on the foreshore of the Mersey on the Wirral side.

[@Calvbread]

Amazing documentary 👏

[@lancemumford3106]

Thank you, I enjoyed the video.

[@Meagain921]

Fascinating. Many thanks , and double thanks for no music....top doco.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

All set in the Rain made the mood for the story ahead

[@edwardmckenzie3402]

Outstanding! I have a very old lithograph of the Great Eastern. Good to know the history.

[@edwardmckenzie3402]

@Dave Roche I would never sell it.

[@alisonlee3314]

That would have been an amazing ship to see

[@johntynan8161]

Great documentary

[@lnchgj]

That was very nicely done, very professional.

[@lunes-1]

Love stories about old vintage ⛵ships, 🇬🇧British were great building them,besides the curse&bad luck👍👏 Just suscribed

[@alanclarke3228]

Good and informative video! It appears that the Great Eastern may have been built better than a lot of "newer" ships of that time period

[@ericcriteser4001]

Brill. Thank you.

[@alfo6085]

Excellent documentary👍👍👍

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Very well done!

[@terryansell6641]

Very interesting from New Zealand thank you

[@capridapri5310]

Very interesting, thank you!

[@robertsansone1680]

Very interesting. I enjoyed this video.

[@muir8009]

your channel is just brilliant. I've spent the last few days bingeing on your videos and they're all fascinating, really well filmed and narrated. even the ones I've had no interest in are interesting. don't stop and don't change your narration style. new series about the pioneering lines is brilliant. any chance that in the future you might possibly look at London stations' mpd's? or maybe the London goods depots? What I'm thinking of course is London-based railway transport tends to be very focused on commuter traffic and electric stock or at best metro steam stock. I know in some older videos from the sixties in the background of whatever express at some central station there's a glimpse of an EE type 1 trundling past with about 6 wagons on a cross London goods run. where's it going? where's it from? what can we see today? brilliant channel, been over 20 years since I was in London (kiwi living in Aussie) and you're making it like living history or something like that.

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks! Goods depots and sheds are a definite possibility - a couple of people have asked for Camden, for instance. I do find those aspects of railways very interesting, so it’s certainly something I’d like to look into.

[@wesleypotter7969]

Very interesting video, some info about the ship I'd not heard before

[@zachrich7359]

She was bigger than some of the battleships that fought at the Battle of Jutland in World War 1, which is just insane to me.

[@corrion1]

god I love youtube,coming across great channels like this on awesome topics

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks!

[@PanyingPilot]

I appreciate the lucid, well spoken history of the ship.

[@larryslemp9698]

Very, very interesting!! Love it..!!

[@PtolemyJones]

Fascinating.

[@leeteichmann7315]

The book "the great iron ship" by James Dugan/ Harper & Brothers New York, 1953 tells a very large, strange, funny facts of this leviathan. A few said facts was that a young boy & a man where found in different sections of the double hull while the ship was in the wrecking yard & the wrecking ball was invented for this monster. She definitely was a very unlucky ship!

[@40intrepid]

@Dave Roche Were they identified?, where were they buried?

[@chrisnorman9980]

This tale was told in an old Ripley’s Believe It or Not comic book, I had when you was a kid. The story was titled “The Lost Riveter and His Mate. Ripley’s claimed that the two men’s death was responsible for the Great Eastern’s bad luck. In fact, it said that the sounds of their hammers tapping preceded accidents. The story concluded with their two skeletons being found when the ship was scrapped - and they were still holding their hammers. I didn’t know whether to “believe it or not” - but it gave me the creeps as a kid.

[@TheAmazingAdventuresOfMiles]

I would be absolutely amazed if that story is even remotely true. They just weren't that stupid.

[@djangorheinhardt]

I read a few years ago that it was a woman and a child who's skeletons were found.A documentary on TV ( where else !) said it was another symptom of the unfortunate and hapless career of this ship, the dream of a far sighted ,visionary man .

[@SuperMixedd]

10/10 would watch again

[@TimEaston]

Great video

[@martbernie9113]

now THAT was intresting! dude you're fantastic 👌 👌

[@Matt_from_Florida]

You made a video about it, so it can be said it fared better than most. _"The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like the flowers of the field; the wind blows over them and they are gone, and their place remembers them no more."_ --Psalm 103:15-16

[@nimitz1739]

Great documentary!

[@JagoHazzard]

Thanks!

[@MagikGimp]

This would make a good movie.

[@neilfoddering921]

I live about a mile from where funnel number one of the Great Eastern was used as a filter for the water supplying Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. After a boiler explosion blew the funnel off when the ship was off Portland in Dorset during trials in 1859, killing six crew members in the process, the funnel was taken to the waterworks at Suttton Poyntz, drilled with multiple holes, filled with gravel, and used as a water filter. I visited the waterworks some years ago, and saw the rusty remains of the funnel/filter after it had been taken out of use.

[@darrellborland119]

Very nice, and subscribed. Thanks.

[@burningb2439]

Very interesting a Ship I think that would give me the creeps , still would have been something to see.

[@SomersetBarnard]

I can't believe this is not under shelter and preserved in a museum!!!