By RICHARD BROOKS
TELL TALES
IN the early part of the 20th century, a boat – abandoned in a fi eld
in the Lake District – was being used by hens as their home for egg
laying. If only the birds had known the signifi cance of their abode.
When retrieved in 1934, it turned out to be a one-time sailing yacht,
built around 1780 for local big-wigs, the Curwens, who lived on Belle
Isle, the only inhabited island on Lake Windermere. They had used
the boat, which measured 7.7m, for sailing and racing. Once rescued,
it was later bought and renovated by George Pattinson, a boat
devotee, who in 1977 set up a steamboat museum on the side of
England's largest lake. Sadly, the little museum ran out of money
and was, over the years, part destroyed by the weather (it rains
a lot in Cumbria!) and occasional lake fl ooding. It closed in 2006.
Today, the restored yacht Margaret is one of the iconic vessels in
the newly opened Windermere Jetty Museum, which stands on the
footprint of the old museum Costing £20m (nearly two thirds of
which came from the National Lottery), the new museum is a much
sturdier and classier edifi ce. With 25 boats on display and a handful
to be seen in the process of conservation, the museum is an
attractive and fascinating venue.
Margaret, which is in the main hall, is thought
to be the oldest existing sailing yacht in the UK. Her
neighbours include Beatrix Potter's 4.7-metre long
dinghy, built in 1890, in which the author pottered
around on the lake beside her home. It was
rescued from the waters in 1976. Also on display
is a letter from Potter and her sketch of her
dinghy with a note "we have a boat".
Other important vessels include Branksome,
a 15.5m former pleasure boat, built by GeorgeBrockbank for a well-heeled local lady. Very luxurious, it has walnut
panelling, velvet upholstery and leather seats. Nearby is Dolly,
a 12.8m-long steamboat with a clipper bow. Poor Dolly spent
60 years at the bottom of nearby Ullswater before being salvaged.
She is one of the oldest mechanically powered boats in the
world. Another steamboat is Osprey, 13.9m long and built in- Beautifully preserved, she will be used to ferry people
from the museum's jetty on 40 minute trips around Windermere,
at a cost of £10. The museum itself charges £9 for entry.
Among the other boats are Raven, which, at 22m, is the longest.
Built in 1871, it was a working boat, delivering supplies to locals. In
contrast is Britannia, built in 1879 as a private steamboat, but broken
up in 1950. The restored skylight of this magnifi cent one-time 33m
boat is on show along with some of the classy cutlery and china
used by its original wealthy owner, Colonel George Ridehalgh.
There are some more modern boats too such as the six- metre
long Trimite, a formula 1 catamaran, built in 1982 which, in the
following year, notched up 144mph on the lake. Nearby is the
4.6m Shanida III, one of fi ve hydroplanes in the collection. Again
used for racing, its top speed was 118mph.
While the restored boats are the star
attractions, Stephen Beresford, the museum's
senior conservationist, highlights the other
vessels currently being restored. "We mean
to use conservation skills and pass them on.
We will also have apprentices. We want this
to be a living and breathing place."
windermerejetty.orgSPECIAL REPORT
Windermere Jetty Museum opens its doors
Clockwise, from top left: The 1902
Osprey in the docking shed; the main
exhibit area; Beatrix Potter’s Tarn boat;
the sympathetically designed new
museum; jetties reach over Windermere
Below: Arthur Ransome’s sketch book