The end of the big ship.

The Great Eastern at Liverpool. © National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: P10571

Description: The final resting place of the 'Great Eastern' was Liverpool where she was broken up at Henry Bath and Sons yard. Shipbuilders' superstition has it that any delay between the naming ceremony and the launching of a ship brings bad luck - the 'Great Eastern' had been four months reaching the water. She had suffered fire, grounding, collision, storm and fatal accident, had been a financial calamity and was even believed to be haunted.

Creator: Unknown

Date: 1888-1890