Below Deck Aboard Kathleen & May, West Country Coastal Schooner

Originally the Lizzie May, a great Ferguson & Baird survivor from No. 51 shipyard. Commissioned in 1900 by the Coppack family of Connah’s Quay, N. Flintshire when Capt. John Coppack was the Lloyd’s agent for the Port of Chester, it is said that he took exception to a number of knees in the design of the vessel and insisted all be replaced! It is thought that one reason why she has lasted so well is that she was over-engineered, untypical of similar vessels of her time, with a double-ribbed hull to the standards laid down for Royal Navy vessels.

She is one of the few remaining links to the long-vanished trading fleets that used to sail Britain’s waters and were a way of life to entire communities. Her importance to national heritage was recognised by the BBC Home Service who dedicated a programme to her in 1956.

Currently for sale, maintenance is led by a team of community volunteers and T.Nielsen & Co. Hopefully she can be retained and restored to operational sail for another 150 years so that future generations can appreciate the traditional maintenance and conservation skills and techniques used and how the coastal trade of the British Isles was served by 100s of these vessels for many, many years.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:

11.00-16.30

Sunday 15 September:

11.00-16.30

Location & directions

Kathleen and May, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL1 2EH

Directions:

Kathleen & May is lying in the water in Gloucester Docks adjacent to the shipyard and dry-docks of T. Nielsen & Co. There is no car parking on-site but there are car parks nearby. The historic docks are well sign-posted with brown signs on the main approach roads and sat nav postcode is GL1 2EH. The Kathleen & May is a short walk on a paved surface from the car parks. Cars are not allowed to cross Llanthony Bridge. Arriving by train, the Docks is approximately a 20-minute walk.

Contact on day:

Karen Taylor

Telephone number:

+447972259810

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Due to the historic design of the ship, access is via a narrow gangplank and a steep ladder to the cargo hold and crew quarters and is unsuitable for access to wheelchair users and those with severely restricted mobility. As part of the experience, lighting is atmospheric- low, but adequate lighting. The ship also has some uneven wooden floors and restricted headroom. Our team of volunteers are on hand to help people get on and off and the ship. For visually impaired visitors, a volunteer will talk them through the safety information where required.

Additional information

Drop-in, not ticketed – maximum number onboard at any given time is 50, so entry will be monitored Family day, includes free kids activities, including Treasure Hunt, Design Your Own Flag, Maritime Quizzes All dogs welcome. Water bowls are outside the vessel quayside. Duration - unlimited

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