At half-past seven on Wednesday morning on the 8th September 1859, the 'Great Eastern', left her moorings off of Deptford, under the combined action of a charge of flour powerful towing-tugs and her own screw, glided down the River Thames and out into the English Channel, to take her Maiden voyage, just passing Hastings when there was a huge explosion, the forward deck blowing apart with enough force to throw the No. 1 funnel into the air, followed by a rush of escaping steam. Date: 8th September 1859