Well, the Cutty Sark has gone, then.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:22 am

At least, large parts of it have.

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:32 am

What a shame - why would someone want to do this.....lets remember how she looked.......

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:40 am

I'm sure it will be repaired. It was having some restoration work done and much of the superstructure was removed and is being stored at Greewhich, Portsmouth etc....I'm hopeful we'll see it in it's full glory again one day.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:43 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6675381.stm

...........

Post by **spot** » Mon May 21, 2007 7:29 am

I shall be peeved if it was deliberate. Arson in Her Majesty's dockyards used to carry the death penalty.

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:05 am

It sure looked like it was burning evenly all over - which would be consistent with arson. A great pity, indeed.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:26 am

One person has donated £100,000 towards its restoration!

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:25 am

Visited the ship as a boy. Very sad. Let's hope the damage is not too bad.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:17 am

Uncle Kram;619008 wrote: Visited the ship as a boy. Very sad. Let's hope the damage is not too bad.

Sounds bad - extesive damage to both the decks and the hull.

Almost certainly arson as well, which makes it worse.

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:32 am

I built a model of her when I was a youngin'.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:36 am

zinkyusa;619034 wrote: I built a model of her when I was a youngin'.

A beautiful ship. My wife and I went round her last year and we took our grandson to see it two months ago - only to find it was boarded up

I certainly hope he gets a chance later in life.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:16 pm

Bryn Mawr;619038 wrote: we took our grandson to see it two months ago - only to find it was boarded up -(

I certainly hope he gets a chance later in life.

It'll probably be 2011 when that happens. The Young Master was lined up for a visit rather earlier, but he'll have to wait as well.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:58 pm

Bill Sikes;619278 wrote: It'll probably be 2011 when that happens. The Young Master was lined up for a visit rather earlier, but he'll have to wait as well.

Given the extent of the damage, do you consider that the young master will be able to visit the Cutty Sark or will he see a cleaver reproduction masquarading as the real thing?

In the words of Stanley Holloway - it's 'ad a new 'ead an its ;ad a new shaft but its the genuine original axe as cut orf is 'ead.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:37 pm

Bryn Mawr;619306 wrote: Given the extent of the damage, do you consider that the young master will be able to visit the Cutty Sark or will he see a cleaver reproduction masquarading as the real thing?

It'll certainly be bits 'n' pieces, however, the overall "effect" should be the same... there's a bit that can be salvaged, and from what I have heard a good deal of the original that wasn't even touched, as it wasn't there! It'll be different these days, anyway, I bet much stuff is "off limits" or untouchable.

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:35 am

that is absolutely criminal! What a bloody shame.

I was fortunate to clamber about on the lovely ship last may, wow I am so saddened.

911 · Post by **911** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:46 am

That's a real shame. A simple arson charge is not good enough for whomever did that. Perhaps, assault with intent to murder. Ships are called 'she', that's not too much of a stretch.

Maybe they need to bring back the stocks and let people throw rotten tomatoes at them for about a week and then put them in jail. Jail is too easy these days. People can hide from the public and hide from their crimes in jail. By the time they get out, everyone but the victims have forgotton about them. Maybe they should. . . .sorry, don't get me started. Around too many of these people and I tend to go off. . .

I hope it's beautifully restored when it's done.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:48 am

While it is really really sad, it also saddens me the amount of money this country is willing to pay out for such things to be put right when the money could go to better use to other things like hospitals.

911 · Post by **911** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:51 am

I understand what you're saying, but, without tourism most places would dry up and hospitals would really be in need.

I suppose that's why hospitals are only in major cities.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:53 am

What is the Maternity service like where you live 911? Here it totally sucks. Lack of money not to training midwives but employing them. Babies can die because of this and I almost did. Varnish it as it is, people will still visit it.

911 · Post by **911** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:01 am

We don't have midwives, just doctors and nurses, trained and certified.

The only problems we have are having to help the destitute and them not paying a dime and the hospitals closing down completely or shutting down the ER's.

Now, I'm not for turning anyone away, but if you can drive a 300 and can't pay a little on your bill, that ticks me off!

The hospitals have to take turns taking ER call. We are down to two ER's and they only take it every other day. If your doctor works at the hosptial that is not the ER of the day, you can go to that hospital anytime. Other than that, you have to go to the ER of the day and sometimes wait for hours. Mostly they handle triage very well. The problem is people who use the ER like a doctors office. Going there for colds, flu, headaches, drugs and such. That's why we have the doc-in-a-box. They were initially started to help ease the ER problems.

crazygal · Post by **crazygal** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:04 am

911;619864 wrote: We don't have midwives, just doctors and nurses, trained and certified.

The only problems we have are having to help the destitute and them not paying a dime and the hospitals closing down completely or shutting down the ER's.

Now, I'm not for turning anyone away, but if you can drive a 300 and can't pay a little on your bill, that ticks me off!

The hospitals have to take turns taking ER call. We are down to two ER's and they only take it every other day. If your doctor works at the hosptial that is not the ER of the day, you can go to that hospital anytime. Other than that, you have to go to the ER of the day and sometimes wait for hours. Mostly they handle triage very well. The problem is people who use the ER like a doctors office. Going there for colds, flu, headaches, drugs and such. That's why we have the doc-in-a-box. They were initially started to help ease the ER problems.

Oh not heard of those. Regarding paying for it, it has me thinking about a whole other new topic.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Wed May 23, 2007 1:01 pm

crazygal;619859 wrote: What is the Maternity service like where you live 911? Here it totally sucks. Lack of money not to training midwives but employing them. Babies can die because of this and I almost did. Varnish it as it is, people will still visit it. o

Where I live, in the UK, it is very good. There will always be exceptions, mistakes, and accidents.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Wed May 23, 2007 1:03 pm

crazygal;619851 wrote: While it is really really sad, it also saddens me the amount of money this country is willing to pay out for such things to be put right when the money could go to better use to other things like hospitals.

It's a sub-minescule drop in the ocean, and nothing like a tiny fraction of the budget for such other things. There is also a return on investment.

Post by **spot** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:09 am

It was, it turns out, "an industrial vacuum cleaner accidentally left switched on for two days" which caused the blaze.

That's one inept peasant who should be pelted in the stocks, whoever he was.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7643420.stm

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:23 am

I think this thread went slightly off topic !! Good to bring it back Spot.

I thought, at the time, that it was such a terrible shame, but fortunate that so much of the 'Cutty Sark's ' superstructure had actually been removed during the renovation. Don't know how she's going on now though! I have been on board her, and even after all that time since she carried tea, there was still a very strong smell of tea all over the ship ! Wonderful !!!

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:30 am

I've just looked at your 'link' Spot. What a terrible experience ! It looks as if the cameraman was either in a helicopter, able to look straight down on the remains of the Cutty Sark, or he's learnt how to fly !!! Dramatic footage.

Post by **spot** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:36 am

I'm delighted to note that the original masts, now restored, are back in place. It looks like they've made a great job repairing the damage, and having so much of the ship warehoused when the fire broke out has made the final condition a relief considering what it all looked like originally.

BBC News - Cutty Sark in Greenwich has restored masts raised

Bez called it right, when the rest of us were glooming.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:01 am

Ever since I visited the site, back in 2000, I have had mixed feelings on this.

When I was a boy, one of the first models that I had a hand in building was a model of this Clipper ship. My Great Uncle Patrice told me of the days of the Clippers and how sailing such a vessel was one of the finest things a man can do. It took me to sailing, and I often imagined the days when this fine clipper was plying the seas.

When I was in London, and found that she was on display, I had to go.

I was appalled to find the carcass, resting on pilons so far away from the sea, It was like seeing the stuffed body of Trigger, Roy Rogers' loyal steed, or a dead wolf, pillared on a rancher's fence.

I could not help thinking of her spirit, trapped in that carcass, pining for a brisk wind filling her sails, to be skipping on the waves, once again.

When I heard of the fire, my first thought was, "finally, she can rest."

But, now, there she will sit, again to pine.

Post by **spot** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:10 am

Dry dock is the only viable way to keep any wooden ship conserved if it's over a hundred years old, I'd have thought. The SS Great Britain's handled the same way, dating from 1840. On the other hand HMS Warrior's afloat and that's older than the Cutty Sark by ten years, so it can be done. Warrior's an Ironclad.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:48 pm

I certainly understand the logistics and necessity, given the desire to preserve what once was a beautiful sailing craft, but then I have to wonder the point of it.

I am reminded of those stuffed swordfish, and Marlins, hanging on walls.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:04 am

LarsMac;1378270 wrote: I certainly understand the logistics and necessity, given the desire to preserve what once was a beautiful sailing craft, but then I have to wonder the point of it.

I am reminded of those stuffed swordfish, and Marlins, hanging on walls.

What's the point of preserving anything? To be able to go and touch the past is something you can appreciate or you cannot. There's an ironhulled wool clipper in glasgow, Essentially it's a floating warehouse, set up to show how it was actually worked with old films of clippers going round cape horn that the local primary schoolkids go round, it either captures their imagination or it does not but standing in a a real one having just watched a film is very different from reading about them.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:40 pm

gmc;1378289 wrote: What's the point of preserving anything? To be able to go and touch the past is something you can appreciate or you cannot. There's an ironhulled wool clipper in glasgow, Essentially it's a floating warehouse, set up to show how it was actually worked with old films of clippers going round cape horn that the local primary schoolkids go round, it either captures their imagination or it does not but standing in a a real one having just watched a film is very different from reading about them.

I agree with you.

I have stood on the deck of many an historic vessel. But they were all in the water.

The Cutty Sark Stands on pilons, far from the water, never to feel the surge of the tide again.

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:16 pm

LarsMac;1378313 wrote: I agree with you.

I have stood on the deck of many an historic vessel. But they were all in the water.

The Cutty Sark Stands on pilons, far from the water, never to feel the surge of the tide again.

I've been to an aircraft mueum where they are all on tne ground but I see what you are getting at But personally I don't think it really matters if it makes it easier to preserve. They have the Victory in dry dock, sadly the one and only chance I have had to see it it was shut in preparation for a special event.