At the time of the Great Eastern's launch, it was the largest ship in the world. Sadly, no dock or harbour in the world at the time was big enough to cope with the gigantic steam-powered liner and would not become the great passenger ship Isambard Kingdom Brunel intended it to be.
When he first purchased the property, Stephen Moulton spent two years carefully restoring the fabric of The Hall, which included replacing decayed stone on the south front and reglazing the windows. He also made various changes to the house, primarily the alteration of the main access from the south side to the north and associated modifications to the ground floor plan.
Earlier, Moulton had moved to America to pursue his business interests. There, he became acquainted with Charles Goodyear, who discovered the vulcanising method of treating rubber to make it a usable material. Moulton returned to England to manufacture rubber under licence and was encouraged by his friend, Captain Palariet of Woolley Grange, to establish his new venture in Bradford-on-Avon. With vacant woollen mills, water power, and a willing but unemployed workforce, Bradford on Avon was an ideal choice, and the business prospered.
