City Of Adelaide / HMS Carrick

[jbryce]

It looks like moves to save the old vessel are to be abandoned following a consultant's report saying that she can not be restored to an acceptable level.
The Sunderland Maritime Heritage group has been seeking to acquire the vessel since 2000, after it was first announced that she was to be dismantled.The ship was built at Sunderland in 1864 at William Pile's shipyard for trade to Australia and it was hoped to restore her in Sunderland and make her the centrepiece of a local Maritime Centre, to commemorate the proud shipbuilding history of the River Wear.
She has been rotting away in Glasgow since sinking in 1991 and has listed building status. It is understood that the Scottish Maritime Museum will have to seek Government permission to dismanle her.
(Good news about this ship, see posts from 12th August 2006) (Applause)

[Pat McCardle]

It looks like moves to save the old vessel are to be abandoned following a consultant's report saying that she can not be restored to an acceptable level.
The Sunderland Maritime Heritage group has been seeking to acquire the vessel since 2000, after it was first announced that she was to be dismantled.The ship was built at Sunderland in 1864 at William Pile's shipyard for trade to Australia and it was hoped to restore her in Sunderland and make her the centrepiece of a local Maritime Centre, to commemorate the proud shipbuilding history of the River Wear.
She has been rotting away in Glasgow since sinking in 1991 and has listed building status. It is understood that the Scottish Maritime Museum will have to seek Government permission to dismanle her.

See gallery/sailing ships I posted the postcard print & info this morning.
Regards, Pat

[tom e kelso]

The Carrick, originally the wool clipper City of Adelaide, and which also carried passengers on the outward leg to Oz, and penultimately the RNVR club ship in Glasgow passed to ownership of the Scottish Maritime Museum about 1992. Since then, she has been "mouldering" high and dry on a slipway which originally was part of the long defunct shipyard at Irvine. All efforts to obtain finance for her restoration over the intervening years have proved fruitless; this ,in addition to the Sunderland approach, latterly included interest from the South Australian government with the object of transporting her on a pontoon/dock-ship to Adelaide for restoration there.
Apart from justifying the cost, the plan apparently fell through because of the problems there would be in getting the sea-going pontoon over the bar into Irvine harbour without very considerable dredging costs.
Up until 2 or 3 years ago, no rent was charged for the use of the slipway, but when this changed it became an added burden to the running costs of the museum which could not be sustained. Formal application has now been made to demolish what is in effect a "listed building"

Tom Kelso

[BarryM]

The problem with the CoA was that although "everybody" said she must be preserved, "nobody" was actually prepared to put hand in pocket and stump up. The irony of it is that when somebody appeared in 2005 who was prepared to spend - and spend heavily - on restoration, it was too late. An extensive and in-depth survey revealed that by the time all the rotten bits were replaced, the end result would have been a replica and not a restored original. A case of "jack-up funnel, fit new ship". Thus the best that can be achieved is to record its demolition for posterity and salvage sections to demonstrate the composite iron/teak construction.

[James MacDonald]

Ive just seen the Scottish TV news about the intention of breaking up of the Carrick ,one of the last Clyde built clippers. At present she lies in a sorry state beached in Irvine with little chance of being restored ( a price of 15M GBP was mentioned ) Glaswegians remember her with fondness berthed at Clyde street for many years as the RNVR Club. During the news clip the news reader said her initial name was the City of Adelaide ,Well Im over the moon as Im presently looking at my wall with a large painting of the City of Adelaide. How is that for coincidence.

[Gulpers]

James,

Lots on Carrick on the Web.
Here are a couple of examples: (Thumb)
http://www.historyscotland.com/features/svcarrick.html
http://www.worldshiptrust.org/save.html

[Pat McCardle]

Ive just seen the Scottish TV news about the intention of breaking up of the Carrick ,one of the last Clyde built clippers. At present she lies in a sorry state beached in Irvine with little chance of being restored ( a price of 15M GBP was mentioned ) Glaswegians remember her with fondness berthed at Clyde street for many years as the RNVR Club. During the news clip the news reader said her initial name was the City of Adelaide ,Well Im over the moon as Im presently looking at my wall with a large painting of the City of Adelaide. How is that for coincidence.

Err!! Clyde built (EEK) No way James (Ouch) She was built at William Pile's SUNDERLAND yard as City of Adelaide (Thumb) The members of Sunderland Maritime Heritage have had so many attempts at getting funding for Her so as to restore Her to Her former glory but have been knocked back. Look at www.sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk for a full history. (Thumb) What TV station were you watching?

[John_F]

During the news clip the news reader said her initial name was the City of Adelaide ,Well Im over the moon as Im presently looking at my wall with a large painting of the City of Adelaide. How is that for coincidence.[/QUOTE]James,
Snap! Here's my painting, oil on board:
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15701/sort/1/cat/524/page/1
Painting is by C.J.Guise & executed, I think, about the turn of the last Century.
Kind regards,
John F.

[Pat McCardle]

During the news clip the news reader said her initial name was the City of Adelaide ,Well Im over the moon as Im presently looking at my wall with a large painting of the City of Adelaide. How is that for coincidence.James,
Snap! Here's my painting, oil on board:
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/15701/sort/1/cat/524/page/1
Painting is by C.J.Guise & executed, I think, about the turn of the last Century.
Kind regards,
John F.[/QUOTE]

What station?

[James MacDonald]

Err!! Clyde built (EEK) No way James (Ouch) She was built at William Pile's SUNDERLAND yard as City of Adelaide (Thumb) The members of Sunderland Maritime Heritage have had so many attempts at getting funding for Her so as to restore Her to Her former glory but have been knocked back. Look at www.sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk for a full history. (Thumb) What TV station were you watching?

Sorry Pat,
I must have picked her up wrong, but she was in Glasgow for so long she is almost ours anyway.

[Pat McCardle]

Sorry Pat,
I must have picked her up wrong, but she was in Glasgow for so long she is almost ours anyway.

Hi! James. A sorry state She is in. A few members from SMH have been to see Her on a few occaisions at Irvine but the end is nigh for what is only one of 3 composite built ships left in the world.

[nhp651]

it's quite amazing that such a repulsion to scrapping the vessel is made by such a government as the australian parliament and yet one doesn't see them leading by example and dipping into their deep purses and coughing up a few million to help save such a fine vessel.if all of these substantial protesters put their money where their mouths are instead of relying on us little people all the time,we wouldn't let such heritage be squandered in such vast quantities.

[dom]

a u.k. commercial property developer,Tim Roper,is attempting to save the highly significant Carrick, ex City of Adelide,HMS Carrick ,described as the earliest surviving clipper ship and the only wooden sailing passenger ship of the 19th cent.in Great Britain.
Mr Roper now owns the 176ft long vessel that was facing imminent destruction at her slipway in scotland. the new owner plans to move the 860 tonne ship to falmouth as a floating restaurant,art gallery,hotel collage or office space near Trelissick gardens, accessible by road or river.
launched in Sunderland in 1864 City of Adelaide carried cargo and passengers beyween London and Adelaide,Aust. researchers have estimated that more than 60% of the currant populaton of the state of South Australia can trace their families arrival in Australia to the City of Adelaide.
in 1887 she was sold and ued for cargo only,first as a collier between the Tyne and Dover,and then on the north atlantic timber trade.in 1893,she was converted to a floating isolation hospital on the river Test at Southamton,the british admiralty bought her as a training ship for volunteer reservist in 1923 and renamed her HMS.Carrick and towed her to Irvine on the Clyde, where she remained untill 1949.
renamed Carrick,she was moved to Greenock and commissioned as a naval drill ship,then late used as a Roya lNavy Volunteer Reserves of Scotland Headquarters untillshe wa abandoned in 1990. by 1991 the then 127yr old was close to being a total loss,but was salvaged by the Scottish Maritime Museum and moved to Irvine in 1992 for further restoration as a static exhibit,however,funds were not available to prevent the ship from decay

[jbryce]

(Applause) Hope that the project comes to fruition as I would hate to see the ship broken up and scrapped.

a u.k. commercial property developer,Tim Roper,is attempting to save the highly significant Carrick, ex City of Adelide,HMS Carrick ,described as the earliest surviving clipper ship and the only wooden sailing passenger ship of the 19th cent.in Great Britain.
Mr Roper now owns the 176ft long vessel that was facing imminent destruction at her slipway in scotland. the new owner plans to move the 860 tonne ship to falmouth as a floating restaurant,art gallery,hotel collage or office space near Trelissick gardens, accessible by road or river.
launched in Sunderland in 1864 City of Adelaide carried cargo and passengers beyween London and Adelaide,Aust. researchers have estimated that more than 60% of the currant populaton of the state of South Australia can trace their families arrival in Australia to the City of Adelaide.
in 1887 she was sold and ued for cargo only,first as a collier between the Tyne and Dover,and then on the north atlantic timber trade.in 1893,she was converted to a floating isolation hospital on the river Test at Southamton,the british admiralty bought her as a training ship for volunteer reservist in 1923 and renamed her HMS.Carrick and towed her to Irvine on the Clyde, where she remained untill 1949.
renamed Carrick,she was moved to Greenock and commissioned as a naval drill ship,then late used as a Roya lNavy Volunteer Reserves of Scotland Headquarters untillshe wa abandoned in 1990. by 1991 the then 127yr old was close to being a total loss,but was salvaged by the Scottish Maritime Museum and moved to Irvine in 1992 for further restoration as a static exhibit,however,funds were not available to prevent the ship from decay

[Pat McCardle]

See www.sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk for further details / hstory of vessel. Good news indeed (Thumb) She is actually the oldest surviving composite built vessels in the world.

[Gulpers]

There were three separate threads on City of Adelaide / HMS Carrick.
I’ve merged them together for continuity’s sake. (*))

[Pat McCardle]

Well done & Thanks Ray (Applause)

[Gulpers]

Nae bother Pat (*))

[bobby388]

It looks like moves to save the old vessel are to be abandoned following a consultant's report saying that she can not be restored to an acceptable level.
The Sunderland Maritime Heritage group has been seeking to acquire the vessel since 2000, after it was first announced that she was to be dismantled.The ship was built at Sunderland in 1864 at William Pile's shipyard for trade to Australia and it was hoped to restore her in Sunderland and make her the centrepiece of a local Maritime Centre, to commemorate the proud shipbuilding history of the River Wear.
She has been rotting away in Glasgow since sinking in 1991 and has listed building status. It is understood that the Scottish Maritime Museum will have to seek Government permission to dismanle her.
(Good news about this ship, see posts from 12th August 2006) (Applause)

From the Scotish Sun the Carrick is to be saved made into floating Hotel dated 24th cant remember where its getting moved to she frew the paper out but its def in it good news though.
Bobby(Glasgow)

[jbryce]

From the Scotish Sun the Carrick is to be saved made into floating Hotel dated 24th cant remember where its getting moved to she frew the paper out but its def in it good news though.
Bobby(Glasgow)

I believe it is going to Falmouth, more info here:
http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1107&ArticleID=1694894&ArticlePage=1

[BarryM]

Sorry to throw cold water on this thread but The CoA/Carrick has not been sold and is still very definitely owned by the Scottish Maritime Museum and no other. Mr Roper has made an approach to the SMM but has not made a detailed offer nor concluded a deal to date (13/10/06)

As the vessel is, uniquely, an 'A' listed building, an application for 'Recorded Deconstruction' is shortly (November) to be considered by North Ayshire Council. If granted the deconstruction will be filmed, photographed, drawings made and whatever can be saved will be conserved to demonstrate the construction and trade. If possible, parts may be donated to other museums etc., with an interest.

As I wrote above, by the time somebody came up with the money to spend on the vessel, she was just too far gone. By the time all the heavily corroded frames and rotten timbers were replaced, very, very little of the original ship would be left. Cheaper to build a replica - which is just what the old lady would become. Very sad but ships are only built for a limited life and the CoA was well past her sell-by date and nobody until now (much, much too late) was prepared to fund any work. When the UK values its Maritime Heritage instead of just paying lip-service to it, other vessels may not be too late to be saved but don't hold your breath.

[Semaj]

Funny enough I was looking at an old Taggart serial titled Cold Blood and the old HMS Carrick was shown in better times, I can't believe Glasgow let it get into that state.(MAD)

[john shaw]

this is a photo of the City of York, of about the same vintage i believe to the Adelaide, but feel free to correct me if I am mistaken

[Iain Crosbie]

Carrick now to be "deconstructed". For story see this link:
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1133748.0.0.php

[jbryce]

A petition has been started to save the vessel and background is as follows, please support and sign the petition. Many thanks in anticipation of a favourable response:

The City of Adelaide is the older sister of the Cutty Sark. These two ships are the last two 19th century composite clipper ships left anywhere in the world. While the Cutty Sark is the last tea clipper in the world, the City of Adelaide is the last passenger clipper ship. As such she is the forerunner of the SS Great Britain and the ocean liners. As a result the City of Adelaide is a maritime icon of international historical significance.

She has the potential to contribute hugely to culture, tourism and the local economy. While the SS Great Britain being the first ocean liner tells the story of the early ocean liners, the City of Adelaide uniquely can tell the story of their sailing predecessors - the passenger clipper ships. She is a forgotten icon and must be safeguarded, her condition stabilised and then eventually restored to her former glory. If she is scrapped now this option will be ruled out forever. To lose this unique, priceless and irreplaceable historic ship would be a national tragedy, scandalous, unforgivable and a huge loss to Britain's cultural heritage.

She was later used as a stationary hospital and accommodation hulk, and then spent many years as a floating Naval Reserve clubhouse in Glasgow as HMS Carrick from 1923 to 1990..


PLEASE SAVE THE WORLD'S LAST PASSENGER CLIPPER SHIP - THE CITY OF ADELAIDE BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/cuttysarksister/

She is currently at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine. You will find the historic details of her here:

http://www.nhsc.org.uk/index.cfm/event/getVessel/vref/433

[BarryM]

Will any of the signatories put their hands in their pockets rather than just sign their names and why haven't they done so in the past? Some will - most wont and that's the tragedy of this vessel: too little and far too late. The City of Adelaide is simply too far gone to be saved and, as I have explained before, restoration would be so extensive that all that would result would be a replica. There are other vessels which can be saved - far better to finance those.

The Scottish Maritime Museum Trust which owns the CoA is struggling to get enough funding to keep the other artefacts it has in good order and at present cannot open year-round because it cannot afford the staff wages. Will the petition signatories contribute to those?

These sort of petitions are just too easy to sign up to; far more difficult to take concrete action.

Barry M

[BarryM]

The petition also has its facts wrong,i.e. "The City of Adelaide was the forerunner of the SS Great Britain".

The GB was built 1843 - The CoA was built 1863.