Post by Administrator on Jun 25, 2020 17:50:55 GMT
In the early 1950s, a movement began to find a permanent home for Cutty Sark and open the ship as a memorial to the Merchant Navy.
On 25 June 1957, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the ship to the public.
A home for Cutty Sark
In the early 1950s, a movement began to find a permanent home for Cutty Sark. The Cutty Sark Preservation Society was established to bring the ship to Greenwich and open her to the public as a memorial to the Merchant Navy and an icon of the bygone era of sail.
By this time, Cutty Sark was in need of a major overhaul to restore her and present her as a museum ship. On 28 May 1953, ownership of Cutty Sark was formally passed over from The Incorporated Thames Nautical Training College to the Cutty Sark Preservation Society; the ship’s papers were received by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, as Patron of the society. The ship remained in Greenhithe until February 1954 when she was towed to East India Docks for preliminary restoration work. All her masts, spars and rigging were removed except the three lower masts, and a quarter of her sea-sand ballast was also removed to facilitate the later docking of the ship. The land in Greenwich was given free of charge by London County Council. The area had been earmarked for redevelopment having suffered extensive bomb damage during WWII, and it was felt to be an advantageous position as the ship would be seen by all shipping passing up and down the river. Construction of the dock began in February 1954 by Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons and by 3 June that year, construction had progressed sufficiently for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to start the driving of the last pile and lay the foundation stone. Eventually, her berth was ready and Cutty Sark made her final journey on 10 December 1954.
LINK
On 25 June 1957, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the ship to the public.
A home for Cutty Sark
In the early 1950s, a movement began to find a permanent home for Cutty Sark. The Cutty Sark Preservation Society was established to bring the ship to Greenwich and open her to the public as a memorial to the Merchant Navy and an icon of the bygone era of sail.
By this time, Cutty Sark was in need of a major overhaul to restore her and present her as a museum ship. On 28 May 1953, ownership of Cutty Sark was formally passed over from The Incorporated Thames Nautical Training College to the Cutty Sark Preservation Society; the ship’s papers were received by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, as Patron of the society. The ship remained in Greenhithe until February 1954 when she was towed to East India Docks for preliminary restoration work. All her masts, spars and rigging were removed except the three lower masts, and a quarter of her sea-sand ballast was also removed to facilitate the later docking of the ship. The land in Greenwich was given free of charge by London County Council. The area had been earmarked for redevelopment having suffered extensive bomb damage during WWII, and it was felt to be an advantageous position as the ship would be seen by all shipping passing up and down the river. Construction of the dock began in February 1954 by Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons and by 3 June that year, construction had progressed sufficiently for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to start the driving of the last pile and lay the foundation stone. Eventually, her berth was ready and Cutty Sark made her final journey on 10 December 1954.
LINK