cambria

From Wikipedia: At the end of her cable-laying career [1878] she was refitted once again as a liner but once again efforts to make her a commercial success failed. She was used as a showboat, a floating palace/concert hall and gymnasium. She acted as an advertising hoarding—sailing up and down the Mersey for Lewis's Department Store, who at this point were her owners, before being sold. The idea was to attract people to the store by using her as a floating visitor attraction. By the time she was sold piecemeal at auction in 1888 she had become an embarrassment.

Thank you for the photo. So sad to see her in that state.

From PortCities : Eventually, in 1885, the unwanted hulk was hired by Lewis's department store in Liverpool. The store wanted to use her as a music hall, fun fair and a giant advertising billboard. The tired old screw engines were coaxed into powering the ship to the River Mersey, where it was opened to the public at a shilling (5 pence) a head. After exhibition trips to Dublin and the River Clyde, which did not make much money at all, the Great Eastern returned to the River Mersey in 1888.

great photo and unusual end use!

From History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications : By the time the Great Eastern reached Liverpool the port side facing Birkenhead carried the slogan ‘LADIES SHOULD VISIT LEWIS’S BON MARCHE CHURCH STREET’, while on the starboard side facing Liverpool: Towards the stern: LEWIS’S ARE THE FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE Lewis’s name was painted in 30 feet high letters. Towards the bows: RANELAGH STREET LEWIS’S BON MARCHE LIVERPOOL BASNETT STREET MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, BIRMINGHAM On the paddle box: THE BON MARCHE LIVERPOOL

I think it's the by now infamous baths in Dun Laoghaire, which later became Rainbow Rapids...

Streetview from the front entrance looking toward the pier - showing the two sets of columns visible above.

There's a picture showing a similar view to the photo above on this page from a local councillor showing the latest proposal for the baths.

OSI Map for reference. The following quote is from the 1936 publication, Dun Laoghaire: The history, scenery and development of the district, prepared in connection with the Town Planning Survey, by Manning Robertson: 'Dun Laoghaire Baths, perfectly situated on the centre of the sea front, contain three pools; the principal pool being 146 feet by 30 feet, the children's pool being 90 feet by 50 feet and a baby's pool of elliptical shape 31 feet by 28 feet. There are 43 men's boxes, 127 ladies' boxes, a tearoom, lounge, laundry and offices. Provision for medical baths include hot water, shower, slipper, needle, seaweed, sulphur, alkaline and Russian (steam) baths. New baths are to be provided in place of the above at Dun Laoghaire at a cost of some £65,000. These will include a large swimming pool 300 yards by 100 yards, sun bathing benches, hot and cold medicinal and ultra violet baths, a large palm lounge for use as for a café, concerts and dances. It is also proposed subsequently to add warm salt water baths for winter use.'

Ha ! My home town...!! memories of many a happy day spent in the baths..... The two funnels are the ferries, Cambria(4) and Hibernia(3) , both served from 1921-1949.

This is probably taking off at Rod-el-Farag on the Nile , during WWII on BOAC's 'Horseshoe Route"