|
About the CUTTY SARK
A potted history of what is arguably the most famous ship in the
world.
The CUTTY SARK was built in Dumbarton, Scotland by Scott & Linton for
shipowner John 'Jock' Willis (also known as 'White Hat' Willis). She
was designed by Hercules Linton. The very exacting and onerous terms
of the contract proved to overwhelm the young firm, indeed it may be
said that the very demands of quality materials made by the owner's
representative, Captain Moodie, may very well have contributed to the
vessel's longevity.
The firm went into agreement with Wm Denny & Bros for them to finish
the construction of the vessel. She was launched at Scott & Linton's
Woodyard on 22nd November 1869 and was then taken across the River
Leven to Denny's yard for completion.
Captain Willis chose the name CUTTY SARK after a character in one of
Robert Burns' most famous poems, Tam O' Shanter. In the poem Tam is
captivated by a graveyard scene in Alloway after a night's drinking in
'Auld Ayr', where witches and the devil are involved in a macabre
dance, amongst the group being a young witch dressed in a white shift,
known then as a 'cutty sark'. When Tam, forgetting himself, yells out
"Weel done Cutty Sark!" the foul group turn on him and chase him.
Her owner had wanted her to be the fastest clipper in the tea trade
and although she was a fine vessel, she did not distinguish herself as
much as some of the other vessels that were famed for their speed. She
did however prove herself a winner when later on she was transferred
to the Australian wool run.
From 1883 to 1895 she excelled on this trade like no other vessel,
recording astonishing records. Famously she overhauled the P&O
steamship the BRITANNIA. The steamer was gambolling along at
14 to 15 knots when the, by now aged, sailing ship fled past her at 17
knots, to the utter amazement of the steamship crew!
However as steamers got faster and faster, she proved less attractive
for Jock Willis and she was sold to J.Ferreira & Co, Portugal in 1895
for £2100.
She was deployed on various trades under her new ownership and carried
the new name of FERREIRA until 1922 when she was bought by another
Portuguese firm and renamed MARIA DO AMPARO. During this time, after
losing much of her masts and rigging in a storm she was converted to a
barquentine.
A retired skipper, Wilfred Dowman saw her when she came into Falmouth
in 1922 and sought to purchase her. Eventually he realised his dream
and bought her for quite an astonishing amount, £3750. He restored her
original name and once more the ship was in British hands.
He also restored her, as far as possible, to her original appearance
of a tea clipper and had her open to the public as an historic
attraction at Falmouth. She also served as a cadet training ship and
boys would graduate from her to enter the Royal or Merchant Navy.
After Captain Dowman died in 1936 his widow, unable to afford the cost
of keeping her, sold the ship to Incorporated Thames Nautical Training
College, Greenhithe and the ship put to sea, leaving Falmouth in 1938.
During her time in Kent she continued as a training vessel for cadets,
through the war and until 1950 when a newer training vessel was
purchased and another home for the much loved clipper was sought. She
was moved to the Thames as part of the Festival of Britain's
attractions in 1951 and then returned to Greenhithe. Fearful that the
venerable old lady would end up being scrapped a society was formed to
save and preserve her. The Cutty Sark Society was set up by Frank Carr
the Director of the National Maritime Museum, with His Royal Highness
the Duke of Edinburgh as patron. Shortly before the coronation of Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Prince took possession of the ship on
behalf of the society at a ceremony.
BBC TV cameras captured the moments as she was towed into her dry dock
at Greenwich in 1954 and in 1957 HM The Queen officially opened the
vessel to the public. She has remained a popular attraction ever since
and is indeed one of Britain's cultural icons.
She is one of only three surviving composite vessels, that is, ships
built with an iron framework on which her timbers are attached. In
1998 a survey showed her to be in a condition so bad that if work was
not done to remedy her, she would become an unsafe structure.
Subsequently a programme of restoration was begun with completion
scheduled for 2008.
News item: CUTTY SARK suffers
from suspicious fire
Please read our CUTTY SARK
appeal
|
