I know this is off-topic, but I also know the Cutty Sark fire was covered in this forum and drew interest from many forumites who share an interest in many historic things other than aircraft.
The S.S. City of Adelaide is subject of a current petition to the UK Government to save the historic ship by gifting it to the people of the state of South Australia for their 150th celebrations, for transport and preservation in Adelaide, one of its regular destination ports.
The Ship is on the UK Maritime Heritage register but under immenent threat of being “deconstructed”, it was built in 1864 and is 5 years older than Cutty Sark itself, and now one of only two Clippers surviving world wide.
I would ask that UK forumites consider signing the petition, and also consider copy/pasting this message and emailing it to family, friends and work collegues and inviting them to add their names to this UK petition.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/City-of-Adelaide/
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to acquire the world heritage clipper ship ‘City of Adelaide’ and offer her as a cultural gift to the people of South Australia for their 175th birthday in 2011, or to the Royal Australian Navy for its 100th Birthday also in 2011. More details
Submitted by Adrian Brown of Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Preservation Trust – Deadline to sign up by: 16 July 2009 – Signatures: 30
The Scottish Maritime Museum (SMM), which owns the ‘City of Adelaide’, has been served notice to vacate the site where the clipper is located. The SMM cannot afford to move her and have applied to demolish her with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Preserving the clipper by gifting her to the people of South Australia would be a far nobler outcome than the international community witnessing HLF funds being used to destroy this important piece of British and Australian history. Historic Scotland describes the ‘City of Adelaide’ as a vessel of high cultural significance at international level. Eminent History Professors have described her “as the only surviving sailing ship built to give regular passenger and cargo service between Europe and Australia, she represents a whole foundation era of Australian social and economic history. It is difficult to imagine a more vital icon of the making of modern Australia and of the relationship between Britain and the Australian colonies.”
The hull of the 791 ton composite City of Adelaide, built in Sunderland by the notable William Pile in 1864, survives on a slipway at Irvine, near Glasgow, adjacent to the Scottish Maritime Museum
She is the oldest of only four merchant sailing ships amongst the 46 remaining vessels categorised by the experts as the National Core Collection of Historic Ships. She is the world’s oldest composite ship – that is to say a ship built with a wooden hull supported by iron frames. Composite ships were built mainly in the 1860s and 1870s and only about 500 were laid down. She is one of only two British built sailers to have carried emigrants. Her first four voyages were profitable enough for her owners to order a larger composite from William Pile for the same service – this was the 1040 ton South Australian.
The hull of the City of Adelaide has survived because she was used for a variety of purposes once her seagoing life was over in 1893. She was used as a floating isolation hospital at Southampton, then, as HMS Carrick at Greenock, as an RNVR drill ship and during WW II, for training DEMS gunners. Finally she became the RNVR (Scotland) Club in Glasgow. She sank there in 1989, then again in 1991 after being moved to Prince’s Dock, Govan. A year later she was raised and taken to Irvine. Her future remains uncertain although a generous benefactor has donated money which has been used to cover her over and make very basic repairs.
The UK Petition has been lodged by a South Australian based Trust which has the South Australian Governor as its Patron and is similarly petitioning the Federal and State Government for support, the proposal woulds appear to offer a viable way for the ship to be preserved rather than “deconstructed”!, and I would urge your support.
http://www.cityofadelaide.org.au/
The City of Adelaide is:
one of only two surviving sailing ships to carry emigrants from the British Isles to any destination in the world – the other is the Edwin Fox.
the only surviving sailing ship that gave regular service between Europe and Australia.
is the only survivor of the timber trade from North America to UK.
one of only two surviving composite clipper ships in the world – the Cutty Sark is the other.
is the world’s oldest clipper ship being nearly six years older than the Cutty Sark.
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: avion ancien - 6th June 2016 at 21:34
Who knew a WWI Cruiser – a Jutland veteran no less – was laying in Belfast?
HMS Chicken?
By: Meddle - 6th June 2016 at 10:48
I saw City of Adelaide in Irvine when I was a kid. From memory very little was said about it back then, even at the museum there. It was little more than a mystery hulk. Glad to see it has been saved.
By: DaveF68 - 6th June 2016 at 09:29
Used to walk past ‘Adelaide’ every day when she was ‘Carrick’ in Glasgow. Like everything else, a lack of money was the big problem.
By: jeepman - 5th June 2016 at 23:00
We do have some successes………
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07dpwfj/belfasts-forgotten-hero-hms-caroline
Who knew a WWI Cruiser – a Jutland veteran no less – was laying in Belfast?
By: scotavia - 5th June 2016 at 20:20
John, good points and I fear the same is happening with airworthy older aircraft.
By: John Green - 5th June 2016 at 19:37
From a restorers point of view. Over many years I’ve owned all types of sailing and power boats. The first boats that I ever restored were former Admiralty or Customs vessels. Some of them with expensive and intricate build formulas. I remember an HDML (Harbour Defence Motor Launch) some 72 feet in length overall and built of triple, double diagonal and fore and aft skins of mahogany on oak frames, the skins interspersed with oiled Irish linen and thru’ fastened with copper roves and rivets.
Apart from the cost of hardwood timber and fastenings, the skills required to maintain and repair such vessels are now no longer plentiful – if available at all, which is why, except in certain cases you can’t give timber boats away ! Composite boats or, plastic Tupperware as they are known by some critics, are all the rage and have been so for some time because deterioration is slow to nil and plastic boats first produced in the 60’s are as good to-day as when they first saw daylight.
The timber boat repair skill base isn’t entirely bad. There have been some signs that young people are looking to acquire these skills and the means to teach still exist – apparently. Tho’ earning a living might prove to be a bit precarious.
By: TonyT - 5th June 2016 at 14:00
I often wonder if half of the problems with the Victory are down to the decision to take her out of the water, previously her weight would have been taken up across her whole hull where now it is supported on a few piers, add to that the fact the timbers have dried out so will gave shrunk and moved. They say she is literally starting to come apart at the seams.
Watching that film one feels sadness at the whole affair, it reminds me of my home town of Carlisle, the centre used to be a warren of little lanes that were rife for redevelopment and restoration, but the debate rolled on for so long as to whether to restore or rebuild that one building fell down on its own, sadly the lot was demolished and the heart ripped out of the old town. Walking to school through one of the old lanes I still remember the Lord Kitchener poster still on one wall telling the world your Country needs you.
By: stuart gowans - 5th June 2016 at 13:25
Well that was painful to watch………
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th June 2016 at 13:05
It is true to say this country has a terrible reputation in saving its maritime history but what it has currently has so much already, I recently went to the harbour in Portsmouth to see HMS Victory and the guide I was talking to was saying that the cost of preserving ships is massive for example he said a study was done after the war to save the battleship HMS Warspite (the Navies most decorated warship) but to keep her would be an estimated £20.000 a year he said unlike the states that have many preserved large warships our climate is not good for metal ships but is actually beneficial to wooden ones.
But it is great news that the City of Adelade was saved and hopefully she will have a long future.
Curlyboy
By: mark_pilkington - 5th June 2016 at 12:48
I believe there is film of the murder of Implacable. The stern Gallery and figurehead were removed and now reside in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. I keep meaning to head over to Port Adelaide and get on one of the tours of the ship. When I do I will post some photos.
Steve
yes there is, on youtube- > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vObkluMUvWo
Its certainly a pity the French didnt take her back?
At least “some” of her was preserved.
This photo of National Maritime Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Regards
Mark Pilkington
By: adrian_gray - 5th June 2016 at 12:28
Implacable was not even the last “wooden wall” to go – HMS Conway was lost in 1953: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Conway_%28school_ship%29
Adrian
By: bradleygolding - 5th June 2016 at 12:06
I believe there is film of the murder of Implacable. The stern Gallery and figurehead were removed and now reside in the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. I keep meaning to head over to Port Adelaide and get on one of the tours of the ship. When I do I will post some photos.
Steve
By: stuart gowans - 5th June 2016 at 10:21
I must have missed this the first time around, probably because we had just move and were without internet etc; it’s excellent it was saved and look forward to reading future updates on “her ” restoration.
When I look at the pictures of Implacable I’m utterly astounded that it was destroyed as late as 1949, it actually looks like a ghost ship, I guess now it is.
By: trumper - 5th June 2016 at 10:18
Well done,i can’t believe sometimes how people want to get rid of historic items,with these “austerity” years things like this will happen more and more [unless it makes a profit of course].
By: Fouga23 - 5th June 2016 at 10:15
Thanks for posting! Superb outcome 🙂
By: mark_pilkington - 5th June 2016 at 09:15
I am not sure that those who showed interest in this issue back in 2009 and signed the petition are aware that it was saved, and shipped to South Australia in 2014 where it is planned for dry dock restoration and display.
On the slip in Scotland and under threat of “Deconstruction”
On its way from Europe to Australia
On a barge in the outer harbour – Adelaide South Australia
By Bahudhara – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31024024
http://www.cityofadelaide.org.au/
ABOUT THE CITY OF ADELAIDE
The Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd (CSCOAL) is a volunteer run, not for profit organisation, dedicated to preserving the historic 1864 City of Adelaide, and making it the centre-piece of a seaport village in Port Adelaide’s inner harbour.
Donations are welcome and may be sent to CSCOAL, PO Box 535, Kent Town SA 5071.
Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Museum Fund Foundation
Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
ABOUT THE CITY OF ADELAIDE
The Clipper Ship City of Adelaide is the world’s oldest clipper ship. Built in Sunderland, England, and launched on 7 May 1864.
City of Adelaide was built by William Pile, Hay and Co. for transporting passengers and goods between Britain and Australia. Between 1864 and 1887 the ship made 23 annual return voyages from London and Plymouth to Adelaide, South Australia. During this period she played an important part in the immigration of Australia.
On the return voyages she carried passengers, wool, and copper from Adelaide and Port Augusta to London.
Constructed in 1864 to carry passengers to Adelaide South Australia.
An estimated 250,000 Australians can trace their ancestry to the City of Adelaide.
Of composite construction (iron frame with timber hull) it was the pinnacle of sailing ship design.
Older of only 2 surviving composite clipper ships.
Made 23 return voyages from England to South Australia
Among the fastest clippers on the London—Adelaide run, sharing the record of 65 days with Yatala, which was later broken only by the Torrens.
A great result, a rare and important Tall Ship saved for future generations.
Regards
Mark Pilkington
By: mark_pilkington - 16th July 2009 at 23:34
Some updates for those concerned about other forms of heritage, the Heritage listing has been removed from the vessel, and the Scottish museum has applied for the deconstruction to be approved.
The Chairman of Trustees of the Scottish Maritime Museum, Sam Galbraith, has written (6th April 2009) to the Clipper Ship ‘City of Adelaide’ Preservation Trust to advise that the plan for deconstruction of the ‘City of Adelaide’ had been submitted to North Ayrshire Council that day. As the Museum had already had preliminary discussions with the Planning Officers and Officials of Historic Scotland, they believed the plan meets the condition requirement of the deconstruction approval. In the estimation of the Museum, they anticipated that approval of the plan will be received within a very short period of time.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, the Clipper Ship ‘City of Adelaide’ Preservation Trust, South Australian Maritime Museum, The Leader City of Sunderland Council, Chief Executive of the City of Sunderland Council and Sunderland City of Adelaide Recovery Foundation.
Within the plan there is still an opportunity to obtain the whole vessel. A request to obtain the whole vessel, as long as the scheme is achievable within the timeframe of the plan and fully funded, would take precedent over the retention of elements of the vessel by the Scottish Maritime Museum. Any such proposals that can be funded and activated before the deconstruction process commences need to be notified to the Museum as a matter of urgency.
The letter’s enclosures noted that the Scottish Maritime Museum’s finances became strained c1999 with the loss of European Regional Funding assistance and the abolition of Scotland’s Regions. During this period the Museum’s applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the development of the Linthouse Building as an exhibition hall were refused. Against this background it was made clear that it would have been pointless to apply to HLF for support for the restoration of ‘City of Adelaide’. From that time all work on her ceased. Further the original free-rental period of the slipway expired and a heavy annual rental to Ayrshire Metals became due, placing further strain on the Museum’s finances.
The plan devised by the Scottish Maritime Museum Trustees is to retain a section of the hull at the bow and the stern as they have space within their Museum to display these in the distant future if they can obtain funding to do so. If the Trustees cannot obtain funding within an acceptable time frame for the deconstruction then they will abandon that proposal and concentrate on retaining small examples of the materials used in the construction of the vessel. These items have been identified as:
Two metre section of hull planking from below the water line;
Two metre section of hull planking from above the water line;
Two metre section of metal deck beam;
Two metre section of iron frame from hold;
One square metre of stern riveted plate;
The rudder (manufactured in South Australia in 1877);
One rudder support and associated iron work;
One hold support column;
One metre section of keel block;
One original poop deck cabin port with surrounding timber; and,
One complete set of midships frames – cut into manageable sections for transportation and storage until such times as they can be displayed.
Historic Scotland’s agreement to the deconstruction process means that the vessel is no longer subject to Listed Building legislation.The Scottish Maritime Museum’s Company Secretary and Acting Director, Jim Tildesley, believes that the earliest date for the actual deconstruction is the first week in October 2009.
The ‘City of Adelaide’ sits on a slipway in Scotland. The Scottish Maritime Museum, which owns the ship, has been served with a notice to remove it. With few options available to them, and mounting lease costs, they have applied for demolition which has been approved. The formal process has commenced and tenders for demolition of the ‘City of Adelaide’ are being called in a few months. The Scottish authorities have lifted the A-listed heritage status that previously protected the clipper.
We intend to make an offer for the clipper for return to South Australia in time for South Australia’s 175th Jubilee in 2011. Our goal is preservation rather than restoration; preservation being a far cheaper option. The ‘Edwin Fox’ museum in New Zealand is a good role model and example of a similar sized ship that has been preserved rather than restored.
Please support this project by donation and by contacting your local Member of Parliament in Australia or the United Kingdom.
“You dont know what you got – till you loose it!”
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: mark_pilkington - 17th April 2009 at 23:33
Just signed the petition myself… hope it works. Again, it seems that the news is not getting out. This boat needs to be saved…. seems like your work on the Lincoln is repeating itself Mark. Well done for making us aware of this ship’s plight.
Richard
Richard
I agree it doesnt seem to be an issue thats getting circulated widely enought in the UK.
Thanks for your effort, and please consider copy/pasting this message and emailing it to family, friends and work collegues and inviting and encouraging them to add their names to this UK petition.
If each supporter can pass it on to 10 others, it may get some traction?
regards
Mark Pilkington
By: RMAllnutt - 17th April 2009 at 23:10
Just signed the petition myself… hope it works. Again, it seems that the news is not getting out. This boat needs to be saved…. seems like your work on the Lincoln is repeating itself Mark. Well done for making us aware of this ship’s plight.
Richard
By: mark_pilkington - 17th April 2009 at 16:37
bump?
50 million people in the UK, but only 150 signatures interested in saving a world class tall ship from being deconstructed?
I would ask that UK forumites consider signing the petition, and also consider copy/pasting this message and emailing it to family, friends and work collegues and inviting and encouraging them to add their names to this UK petition.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/City-of-Adelaide/
regards
Mark Pilkington
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April 6, 2009 at 1:10 pm