Below Deck Aboard Kathleen & May, West Country Coastal -late afternoon event with vintage films
Kathleen and May, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL1 2EH
Listed on the National Historic Ships Register and part of the National Historic Fleet, she is considered the second most important preserved wooden merchant sailing craft in the UK, second only to the Cutty Sark and is still afloat in the historic Port of Gloucester.
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 07 September:
- 17.30-19.00
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 required
- Booking conditions:
- Ticketed event only. Adult- oriented centred around a few vintage films rather than the family days the following weekend. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/below-deck-aboard-kathleen-may-west-country-coastal-schooner-tickets-956921115817?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_campaign=postpublish&utm_medium=sparkpost&utm_source=email
- Booking contact name:
- Karen Taylor
- Booking telephone number:
- +447972259810
- Booking website:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/below-deck-aboard-kathleen-may-west-country-coastal-schooner-tickets-956921115817?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_campaign=postpublish&utm_medium=sparkpost&utm_source=email
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
Ticketed event only- adult- oriented centred around a few vintage films rather than the family days the following weekend.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 48
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
