VicS
Well-known member
- Joined
- 13 Jul 2002
- Messages
- 48,007
I'm surprised that todays news that £13M of lottery money is to be available for restoration of the Cutty Sark hasn't got on here. It has now so let's see what reactions it generates.
The Cutty Sark
- Thread starter VicS
- Start date
Well It's been at least an hour since this item was posted and no feedback. I'm not a footie / cricket addict, and there's nothing on telly, so I'm assuming that nobody's interested - OR you're all keing in well considered replies.
On the other hand...
I'm seriuously beginning to wonder whether there's any sense in restoring absolutely everything in sight, without any real consideration of what's going to happen to the object once it's been restored.
"We"'ve had a go a the Cutty Sark once before; why does it need more money spent on it again?? Perhaps it is not sustainable?
The enthusiasts bust their guts making the public aware of the need, even more do ditto in carrying out the work, but what then??
I can only comment on my own experiences. A lot of very hard work was spent on restoring the Basingstoke Canal; years and years of unremitting toil by a dedicated band of folks willing to be cold and wet to acheve their ends.
Result: A muddy ditch, which - after the tree huggers have got at it, is short of water (which it always was) and is difficult to use because of that fact and the TH's who say some blasted bladderwort must be "protected". So few peeps use it. I won't because of the paperchase needed to get access.
Darn Silly, methinks.
On another tack, a rather boring (internally) factory-like building disguised as a public swimming bath has captured the public immagination and won a prize, in preference to other buildings which architecturally were more worthy...
But the important point is here - it is being used and peeps are still enthusiastic, to such an extent that even the BeeB has (presumably) stumped up a fee to use it for a show. Great!
The nub of this rant is that it is just not sufficient to raise the cash and do the job, but there must be proper consideration of why it is being done, and how it is going to be financed and managed in order to keep it going - self sustainably - in the future.
This Sceptered Isle has a huge amount of "history" worthy of preservation, wonderful people who are prepared to put their heart, soul, and money into their pet projects. But when there done - NOTHING. No coordination, no easily accesible source to find what's where and so on.
There I'm done.
If you want to attack, I'm happy, I've cast my glove in the ring, my back is broad, but be constructive; don't pull my specifics apart - they're on ly ill considered examples - I just want peeps to think if the whole picture, so that a National Strategy could be developed. In that I exclude:-
The National Trust
English Heritage
English Nature
and others,
'Cos they're.......
Bye.
On the other hand...
I'm seriuously beginning to wonder whether there's any sense in restoring absolutely everything in sight, without any real consideration of what's going to happen to the object once it's been restored.
"We"'ve had a go a the Cutty Sark once before; why does it need more money spent on it again?? Perhaps it is not sustainable?
The enthusiasts bust their guts making the public aware of the need, even more do ditto in carrying out the work, but what then??
I can only comment on my own experiences. A lot of very hard work was spent on restoring the Basingstoke Canal; years and years of unremitting toil by a dedicated band of folks willing to be cold and wet to acheve their ends.
Result: A muddy ditch, which - after the tree huggers have got at it, is short of water (which it always was) and is difficult to use because of that fact and the TH's who say some blasted bladderwort must be "protected". So few peeps use it. I won't because of the paperchase needed to get access.
Darn Silly, methinks.
On another tack, a rather boring (internally) factory-like building disguised as a public swimming bath has captured the public immagination and won a prize, in preference to other buildings which architecturally were more worthy...
But the important point is here - it is being used and peeps are still enthusiastic, to such an extent that even the BeeB has (presumably) stumped up a fee to use it for a show. Great!
The nub of this rant is that it is just not sufficient to raise the cash and do the job, but there must be proper consideration of why it is being done, and how it is going to be financed and managed in order to keep it going - self sustainably - in the future.
This Sceptered Isle has a huge amount of "history" worthy of preservation, wonderful people who are prepared to put their heart, soul, and money into their pet projects. But when there done - NOTHING. No coordination, no easily accesible source to find what's where and so on.
There I'm done.
If you want to attack, I'm happy, I've cast my glove in the ring, my back is broad, but be constructive; don't pull my specifics apart - they're on ly ill considered examples - I just want peeps to think if the whole picture, so that a National Strategy could be developed. In that I exclude:-
The National Trust
English Heritage
English Nature
and others,
'Cos they're.......
Bye.
Talbot
Active member
It is a well known fact that if you keep a wooden boat in salt water it is normally fine from the rot, and if you keep it dry, it is also fine. However if you keep it sort of dry but let it get soaked in fresh water every so often it will rot. Why are we surprised by this, Victory is only sustained by the continuous efforts of a large number of craftsmen. so if all this money for cutty sark is not to be wasted they will need to keep her dry.
alec
New member
The British nation appears to be obsessed with :-
1. The Past
2. Living our lives through endless TV soaps.
3. Watching Digital and SKY history channels whilst sitting in armchairs.
4. Celebrity
5. Governments.
6. Being ashamed of being British .
Anything but getting ‘more living out of life’ by doing things on our own bat.
Was Brunel obsessed with the past ? I doubt it. He just went ahead and did it.
At least lets see the Cutty Sark sail so we can have a go at it. What’s wrong with making our own personal history by our own actions ? Are we so unworthy ?. When was the last time we felt the ground on our feet ?
We CAN learn from history but most of it is a fluffy myth surely.
All those millions of pounds could be spent on youngsters feeling the ACTION of being at sea with the sense of achievement that comes with it. Why waste it on a wreck that will probably be a wreck again in 40 years.
p.s. I would like to apologise for living in this current generation.
1. The Past
2. Living our lives through endless TV soaps.
3. Watching Digital and SKY history channels whilst sitting in armchairs.
4. Celebrity
5. Governments.
6. Being ashamed of being British .
Anything but getting ‘more living out of life’ by doing things on our own bat.
Was Brunel obsessed with the past ? I doubt it. He just went ahead and did it.
At least lets see the Cutty Sark sail so we can have a go at it. What’s wrong with making our own personal history by our own actions ? Are we so unworthy ?. When was the last time we felt the ground on our feet ?
We CAN learn from history but most of it is a fluffy myth surely.
All those millions of pounds could be spent on youngsters feeling the ACTION of being at sea with the sense of achievement that comes with it. Why waste it on a wreck that will probably be a wreck again in 40 years.
p.s. I would like to apologise for living in this current generation.
Rather mixed views, I fear
It is not enough money to do a proper job of rebuilding the ship - perhaps double the amount is needed for that. The Trustees seem to be in a bit of a muddle, unclear as to whether they are conserving original structure or preserving a viable ship.
If the former, they would be well advised not to attempt this out in the rain.
If the latter, they need twice as much money.
Visitor income is too low, and has been for some time. Dumbing down the attraction as currently favoured by the National Maritime Museum may not be the best approach to raising it.
I am afraid that this is not going to do any good.
It is not enough money to do a proper job of rebuilding the ship - perhaps double the amount is needed for that. The Trustees seem to be in a bit of a muddle, unclear as to whether they are conserving original structure or preserving a viable ship.
If the former, they would be well advised not to attempt this out in the rain.
If the latter, they need twice as much money.
Visitor income is too low, and has been for some time. Dumbing down the attraction as currently favoured by the National Maritime Museum may not be the best approach to raising it.
I am afraid that this is not going to do any good.
Peppermint
New member
Re: It\'s a lot of money
If all we're going to get out of it is a static display vessel that sits waiting for it's next flirtation with the knackers yard.
I'd rather see the cash spent on a working, up to code, replica, that carried on the spirit of Cutty Sark and perhaps inspired a new generation.
History is a treasure but it shouldn't be a burden.
If all we're going to get out of it is a static display vessel that sits waiting for it's next flirtation with the knackers yard.
I'd rather see the cash spent on a working, up to code, replica, that carried on the spirit of Cutty Sark and perhaps inspired a new generation.
History is a treasure but it shouldn't be a burden.