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Email:
luxtonjh@btinterneFor Immediate Release – November 23,
2005
Media Release
Heritage
Lottery Fund – Project Planning Grant Awarded
The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, which is working to restore the
“Daniel Adamson” Britain’s sole surviving steam tug – tender, is pleased to
announce that it has been successful in an application for a Heritage Lottery
Fund Project Planning Grant.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has notified the society that a Project Planning
grant of up to £50,000 towards the cost of drawing up a Conservation Management
Plan and associated surveys has been awarded.
The award of the Project Planning Grant along with other funds means that work
to restore the vessel can now proceed to the next stage. As part of this,
asbestos will be removed from the vessel to facilitate a detailed survey of the
ship’s structure, interior and mechanical components. All areas of the vessel
will be examined both to determine its condition and how her historic integrity
can be maintained.
The completed survey will enable the Society to develop a fully costed plan to
return this historic vessel to full working order and ensure her preservation
for the enjoyment of future generations.
Commenting on news of the award, Daniel Adamson Preservation Society Chairman
Tony Hirst said: “This grant is a major boost to achieving the Society’s
objective of restoring the Daniel Adamson to her former glory. We believe that
it will also be a catalyst for raising further funding towards this goal. We
are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support”
Commenting on the award, HLF's regional manager Tony Jones said, “The Heritage
Lottery Fund has always recognised the important role that our industrial past
has played for local communities as well as its ability to attract volunteers
and visitors. I'm extremely pleased that HLF has helped fund the next stage in
this project allowing valuable planning and research to get underway."
Ends
NOTES FOR
EDITORS
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The
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and
learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic
buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating
traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for
everyone to enjoy. Since its conception, HLF have supported 16,600 projects
allocating over £3.3 billion across the UK.
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The Daniel Adamson is a unique twin-screw steam tug-tender (means built for
both towing barges and carrying passengers) constructed in 1903 for the
Shropshire Union Canal and Railway Company by the Tranmere Bay Development
Company in Birkenhead.
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Originally named “Ralph Brocklebank” the vessel was purchased by the Manchester
Ship Canal Company in 1921 where she served as the company’s hospitality tender
carrying directors, guests, dignitaries and potential users of their canal on
inspection tours of the canal until late 1984 when she was retired from
service. Since then until March 2004 she was a static exhibit at the Boat
Museum in Ellesmere Port,
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The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society was formed in 2004 as a registered
charity, with the objective of restoring her to her former glory and active
passenger carrying on the Merseyside and Cheshire and Manchester waterways.
Since then members have expended over 9000 hours work on her towards full
restoration.
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During 2005 the Daniel Adamson was, because of her importance, placed on the
“Designated List” of craft on the National Register of Historic Vessels.
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When restored the “Daniel Adamson” will be the oldest operational Merseyside
built ship in the world.
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The
Society acknowledges the support of Carmet Tugs, Geoff Heaps & Partners, James
Walker Sealing Technology, John Tiere and Company, JPS Scaffolding, Liverpool
Pilots. National Museums, Liverpool, Makita UK, Mersey Docks and Harbour
Company, Merseyside Fire Brigade Museum, North Western Ship Repairers, Peel
Holdings, Sealex Ltd, Sigma Coatings, Svitzer Marine and Wymark Ltd.
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For further information please go to the society’s web site
www.danieladamson.co.uk. High-resolution photographs of the Daniel Adamson
suitable for reproduction can be downloaded from
www.danieladamson.co.uk/press/press.htm.
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