A chance conversation between a steward on the ss Great Britain and a visitor has brought to light documents linked to the ship's history.
The collection of photographs, letters and diary notes relate to successive generations of the Coles family.

John Coles, pictured as a baby in 1922 in one of the photographs, mentioned the collection on a visit to the ship which is in dry dock in Bristol.

The discovery is described by the trust curator as "unique and thrilling".