Daniel Adamson Preservation Society

Company Number: 05088619    Registered Charity: 1104681

 Press Secretary

John H. Luxton 

236 Smithdown Road

Liverpool

L15 5AH

Tel: 07973363370

Email: luxtonjh@btinternet.com

For 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

v      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.

v     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.

v      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.

v      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.

v      Since then members have expended over 9000 hours work on her towards full restoration.

v      During 2005 the Daniel Adamson was because of her importance placed on the “Designated List” of craft on the National Register of Historic Vessels.

v      When restored the “Daniel Adamson” will be the oldest operational Merseyside built ship in the world.

v     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.

v      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.