TheNational official voice forHistoric historic vessels Ships in the UK Annual Report April 2009 – March 2010 1 Contents 3 Foreword 7 1. Introduction – who we are 8 2. Forward Plan Review 20 3. Major consultations, case work and vessel project support 32 4. Strategic Development Fund 35 5. National Ship Preservation Network 36 6. The Registers 42 7. Meetings, forums and visits 44 8. Income and expenditure accounts 47 Membership of the Advisory Committee, staff and working groups 48 National Historic Ships Photography Competition winners Facing page: Photography Competition Category D – Highly commended: Low Tide Castletown IOM, Ian Kippax. Front cover: Photography Competition Overall Winner: Calder and Hebble Keel, Pauline, misty morning, Gabrielle Lorenz. 2 National Historic Ships | Annual Report 2009 - 10 1 Foreword Last year we adopted the theme ‘Heydays and Today’ at a time without first fully investigating two potential bids for ownership that we deemed critical in the journey of historic vessels from of the vessel, one from Sunderland in the UK, the other from being poor relations in the hierarchy of heritage protection in the Adelaide in South Australia. We explored the case for saving the United Kingdom to becoming recognised as an integral part of ship in a series of meetings with the bidders, Historic Scotland the patrimony of these islands. Underpinning that whole theme (as agents for the Scottish Minister for Culture) and the Scottish was the realisation of hope for the future when vessel projects are Maritime Museum (owners, and applicants for permission to properly supported and managed, with the obverse of decay and deconstruct this ship). We grant-aided a laser scan survey of her loss when the value of historic vessels is ignored and apathy sets in. hull and commissioned a survey of Irvine Harbour, where she lies ashore. These surveys have been made available to Sunderland and The first week of this reporting year demonstrated how fragile the South Australia to help with their planning. We also advised on the survival of historic ships can be. The National Historic Fleet vessel issues which the bidding parties need to address in order to secure MV Wincham was sent to the breakers yard by the society in whose a sustainable future for the ship. Discussions are still underway charge she had been, with the museum for which she was originally but the prospects of saving this grand old member of the National saved standing on the sidelines. National Historic Ships was given Historic Fleet now seem better than for many years. no time to construct a rescue partnership, something which we were confident could have been done in view of the relatively small In order to be effective in steering and developing protection sums of money required to save this ship. The lesson yet again, and policies it is vital that we have capacity to engage with government one repeated with HMS Stalker and PS Ryde, is that only appropriate and conservation agencies. The appointment of Hannah Cunliffe legislation will prevent destruction when owners lose interest, as our Policy and Project Manager has transformed our capacity to perspective, or drive. respond to policy consultations, to influence conservation agencies, to undertake case work, and to advise grant-giving bodies such In contrast to the fate of Wincham, the emigrant clipper City of as the Heritage Lottery Fund and PRISM. Our work with English Adelaide (which enjoys rare legal protection as a Grade A Listed Heritage to explore the ramifications of the Listing processes structure) has, we believe, started on the path towards recovery. for buildings, sites and monuments, coupled with changes in Persistent representations from the Advisory Committee convinced planning guidance to local authorities, has revealed a potential for the main players that deconstructing the ship could not be justified static vessels to come within the heritage protection framework. Facing page: Photography Competition Category D – shortlisted: The after guard on Mariquita off Cowes on the 6th July 2010, Alan Tulloch. 2 National Historic Ships | Annual Report 2009 - 10 3 However, more investigatory work needs to be done as legislation and to upload news items as they happen. We have put time designed for the built and natural environments might conflict and effort into search-engine research, to broaden access, with some of the conservation needs of historic vessels. and with (for the first time) accurate measures for usage, have the Very pleased to have won opportunity to develop the site in response to user requirements. Membership of the Advisory Committee finally reached full “ the award; this has created strength with the appointment of Mike Lewis as the representative Finally, this report reviews progress in developing the registers for Wales. His presence on the Committee, alongside members which we hold on behalf of the Secretary of State, the steps we are a lot of interest amongst representing Scotland and Northern Ireland, is a reminder that taking to build a national network of skills and services upon which we serve all the constituent administrations in the United training and other initiatives can be based, and how we engage members and the Kingdom, reflecting the way that the sea binds us all together. with the public. The coming year will be one of immense change and we are part of that process. As we go to press our future looks ship’s crew. Turning to the Strategic Development Grants programme some to be assured, though with reduced public funding and a different £57,000 has been disbursed to boat owners and associated projects relationship with Government. We shall use these changes as a this year, bringing the overall total awarded since July 2006 to platform to develop existing and new partnerships and report on £265,000. The feed-back we receive through correspondence, progress in our next Annual Report. As ever, we shall be judged vessel visits and our public forums emphasises how important by what we achieve. |these relatively small grants are in encouraging owners to grasp the considerable nettle that is vessel conservation. Whatever the future brings in these uncertain times, we shall do all we can to ” sustain this programme. Robert Prescott Chairman, Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships Flagship of the Year 2009 Another major event this year was the launch of our new website winner SS Shieldhall in June 2009, against the stunning backdrop of Lake Windermere. We now have a highly attractive site with simple, effective navigation tools which lead users easily to the information they Martyn Heighton seek. The format allows us to develop content as the need arises, Director & Secretary to the Advisory Committee Facing page: Photography Competition Category B – highly commended: Caulking Birthe Marie, Anja Jardine. 4 National Historic Ships | Annual Report 2009 - 10 5 1. Introduction who we are The Advisory Committee on National Historic National Historic Ships is the official voice for historic vessels in the Ships (ACNHS), which operates under the United Kingdom acting under the terms of reference as set out below: name National Historic Ships, was set up by the Department for Culture Media and Sport • to act as the primary source of advice to the UK governments on (DCMS) in July 2006. Its remit covers the national historic ship preservation and funding priorities whole of the United Kingdom with members nominated from the devolved administrations • to act as a source of advice to the Heritage Lottery Fund on in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. preservation priorities and individual applications it receives to fund Staff are based in Greenwich with the Director historic ships, and to other public funding bodies also working from his office in Bristol. The Committee would like to record its • to provide leadership and strategic vision across the national historic appreciation for the support received from the ships community and wider maritime sector by acting as a focus for National Maritime Museum, which provides advice on aspects of the preservation of historic vessels office accommodation in Greenwich, financial management support, Human Resources and The Committee does not advise on issues relating to historic wrecks, which IT services through a Service Level Agreement. fall within the remit of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites. Facing page: Photography Competition Category D – shortlisted: Vigilance at Brixham 2010, Phillippe Saudreau. 6 National Historic Ships | Annual Report 2009 - 10 7 2. Forward Plan Review We published our Forward Plan for 2008 to 2011 as part of the 2007 - 08 Annual Report. Here we report on progress in the second year of the Plan. 1. Reviewing Registration Criteria and particularly with regard to the term ‘designated’, which has a developing complementary registers in support specific and different definition in relation to buildings, sites, of the National Register of Historic Vessels. monuments and historic wrecks listed on the registers held by English Heritage. National Historic Ships continues to review the The Forward Plan laid great emphasis on developing the database vessels in the National Historic Fleet, drawing together a body of and published registers held by National Historic Ships to ensure maritime experts to compile formal statements of significance for that the information we hold is fit for purpose. Progress on this and all vessels in the Fleet. Discussions have taken place with English the review of the registration criteria is set out in ‘The Registers’, Heritage in order to compare methodologies and many common which forms section 6 of this Annual Report. points were identified which, alongside the format being developed in Conserving Historic Vessels (due for publication in the Autumn 2. Review of the National Historic Fleet 2010) will inform how these statements will be taken forward. The NRHV has been amended by amalgamating the Core Collection and Designated Vessel categories.