World’s 3rd Oldest Warship Receives £800k Fund To Save It From Deterioration

The 200-year-old HMS Unicorn, one of the world’s oldest surviving warships, has received a whopping £800,000 grant from the National Lottery.

However, to unlock the full £10 million needed for the restoration, the HMS Unicorn Preservation Society must raise an additional £650,000 by April.

HMS Unicorn is the third-oldest warship still afloat, behind HMS Trincomalee, which is now a museum in Hartlepool, and HMS Victory in Portsmouth. She is also one of the oldest Royal Navy vessels still in existence.

HMS Unicorn has been in Dundee for more than 60 years, serving as a floating museum since ending her active Royal Navy service in the 1960s.

Over time, the ship has deteriorated and is now in urgent need of restoration. The preservation society is working to move the vessel to Dundee’s East Graving Dock for a larger waterfront revitalization project.

Another £3.3 million in funding is expected later this year. However, to begin the next phase of the project, the dock must first be emptied, repaired, and fitted with a new caisson and a supportive cradle to hold the ship.

HMS Unicorn was built after the Napoleonic Wars and was originally designed as a frigate. However, since the war had ended, she was never fitted with a superstructure or masts.

Instead, she served her entire career as a depot and training ship. Throughout most of the 20th century, she was used by naval reservists until her naval service ended in the late 1960s.

Matthew Bellhouse Moran, executive director of the HMS Unicorn Preservation Society, described the National Lottery funding as a “massive boost” but said that more financial support is urgently needed.

He stated that HMS Unicorn is a “symbol of Dundee’s rich maritime history” and warned that without additional support, she may not survive.

The preservation society has until April to raise the remaining £650,000 required to access the full £10 million for the project, which is known as “Project Safe Haven.”

If successful, HMS Unicorn will be moved to a permanent home in the East Graving Dock, protecting her from further deterioration.

Moran discussed the importance of securing more funding from individuals, businesses, and organisations to complete the restoration. He added that HMS Unicorn is not only a crucial part of British naval heritage but also an integral part of Dundee’s maritime identity.

With the clock ticking, preservationists are calling for urgent support to ensure that this national treasure is saved for future generations.

Reference: Royal Navy

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