Nov 4, 2014 - A £3.6m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant application to restore Merseyside's ... hard with our consultan
DANIEL ADAMSON PRESERVATION SOCIETY MEDIA RELEASE 4th November 2014 - Immediate “New home, New Trustees & New Application for Daniel Adamson” A £3.6m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant application to restore Merseyside’s most historic Ship still afloat to full working order has been submitted after two years of intense preparation. The application on behalf of the 111-year-old SS Daniel Adamson, the UK’s last steam-powered tug tender, was made by the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS) and it is hoped a decision will be made by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Trustees in late January, 2015. Two years ago DAPS received a first-round pass* which included £37,000 development funding to work up plans for the second-round application. This £3.6m grant application is mainly for the Tranmere-built tug tender’s full professional restoration but also includes funding and support for start-up, initial staff costs and support over several years. The Society appointed activity and learning consultants Counterculture, led by Anne Millman, to develop public, schools and museums programmes - for both steaming with 100 passengers and also as a static exhibit at Liverpool, Ellesmere Port, Halton, Warrington and Salford. As part of this development work DAPS has sought learning partners which has included National Museums Liverpool, National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port and the Imperial War Museum (N) in Salford. All these organisations have given firm commitments to work with the Society once the ship is operational. As part of the incredible progress made by the Society in recent years, it has been acknowledged that the society needs to evolve from a group set up primarily to save the vessel from scrapping, to a group charged with a multi-million pound restoration to full passenger carrying condition to the highest statutory and conservation standards. This must be achieved while also delivering an excellent activity plan operating within a strict financial plan to ensure long term sustainability and excellent opportunities for public engagement, participation, learning and volunteering. This began in May when the ship was moved from Sandon Dock, Bootle, to Albert Dock, Liverpool after volunteers had completed as much of the mechanical restoration as possible. Since opening to the public in late May nearly 8,000 visitors have toured the ship and 25 new additional volunteers recruited to help maintain public access four days per week at her new berth adjacent to the Merseyside Maritime Museum on Thursday Sunday, 11am - 4pm (free entry). Another key part of the society's evolutionary progress has been at the recommendation from HLF to alter the Governance structure should the application be successful. The Society’s governing documents were altered at their recent AGM to allow for this change. If the application is successful, five of the twelve Trustees will now be from partners or core bodies in the area the society will operate. This will
maintain a good mix of people on the board to ensure best practice and experience can be brought to bear and further secure SS Daniel Adamson's future security. The Society are delighted that the search for new Trustees of suitable experience has successfully begun and given a massive boost with the agreement of Dr David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool, to become their first Trustee under the new regime. Dr Fleming's appointment demonstrates the faith others now have in DAPS, based on both its track record and plans for the future. Dan Cross, DAPS chairman, said: “We’re extremely grateful for Heritage Lottery Fund’s support while we worked on this second application. We’ve worked extremely hard with our consultants and stake holders to ensure this application gives our project the full justice it deserves. Meanwhile, the presence of the ‘Danny’ outside the Maritime Museum has brought a new dimension to Liverpool's historic waterfront and we’re delighted at the public’s superb reaction.” Dan continued: "I am also delighted that Dr David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool, has accepted our invitation to become a Trustee should HLF approve our application in January. David's excellent reputation in the Museum sector is known globally, his vision and ability to deliver on innovative and exciting projects means he will be a fantastic asset to the Society”. Dr David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool, said: "I’m very happy to have been asked to join the Daniel Adamson Trustees. The maritime heritage of Merseyside is of global importance, but it is neither easy nor cheap to preserve; it is through the can-do efforts of volunteers like those who have saved and looked after the Danny that we have a chance of ensuring that there are any full-size vessels still to see in 100 years’ time. I hope that my becoming a Trustee will help ensure that the Danny is still around a century from now.” ENDS. 764 words.
For Media Relations enquiries please contact Peter Elson on -07717 733 257 Or e-mail him at :
[email protected] For other enquiries please contact the Chairman, Dan Cross on 07979 865 391 or e-mail him at:
[email protected] For Membership enquiries please contact John Broomby, Membership Secretary on: 0161969-2903 or e-mail
[email protected] Membership enquiries can also be sent to him at: 28 Brookfield Drive, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 6QR Notes to editors o Daniel Adamson is Britain's only steam-powered, coal-fired tug-tender. The ship was built as Ralph Brocklebank, by the Tranmere Bay Development Co, at Birkenhead, Wirral in 1903. Once restored, the vessel would be the oldest, Mersey Built steam ship still operating anywhere in the world. o
With two sister ships, the tug-tender ran a passenger ferry and barge towing service for her owners, the Shropshire Union Railway & Canal Co, from its Ellesmere Port terminus to Manchester Dock, Liverpool.
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In 1921 the ship was sold to the Manchester Ship Canal Co. (MSCCo) and In 1936 a lavish art deco style double-deck saloon was fitted by craftsmen from John Brown & Co, Clydebank and although badly water damaged, the saloons will be restored. She was at this time, renamed in honour of the first Chairman of the Ship Canal Co.
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The MSCCo laid-up Daniel Adamson in 1984 after the boiler required repair work and the vessel was moved to Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. However, when MSCCo decided to scrap the vessel after vandalism problems, the current trust was formed and bought the ship for £1 in 2004.
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The Society’s progress can be followed on our website: www.danieladamson.co.uk and also we can be followed on Facebook – search “Daniel Adamson Preservation Society” and also now on Twitter where we can be followed: @dannyinsteam
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Heritage Grants* applications are assessed in two rounds. A first-round pass is given when HLF has endorsed outline proposals and earmarked funding. A first-round pass may also include an immediate award to fund the development of the project. Detailed proposals are then considered by HLF at second-round and as long as plans have progressed satisfactorily and according to the original proposal, an award for the project is confirmed.
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Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. HLF has supported 36,000 projects with £6bn across the UK www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery.
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National Museums Liverpool (NML) comprises eight venues, including some of the most visited museums in England outside of London. Their collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic. NML attract more than 2.7 million visitors every year. NML’s venues are the Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Border Force National Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
