A Ship Out Of Water

A replica 16th century galleon's been installed into Totnes Steam Quay.

The new 12 metre long play ship, hand crafted in the traditional methods of the period, with grown oak frames and larch planking, has been paid for by a  £50,000 lottery grant. 

The grant was confirmed a year ago and Totnes based architect Ann Morris of Fuse Architecture then drew up plans for a one-off Elizabethan ship that would meet current play regulations and not be full of gadgets but designed to promote imaginative play.

Her drawings of a three-masted galleon with provision for wheelchair users have been used by Old Mill Creek traditional boat-builder, Ashley Butler, to work up his own drawings in Imperial measure and build the craft.

She says it's been great fun: 

An official opening is planned after timber seating has been installed around the galleon  and a special storyline set in stainless steel describing how the original ship would have been victualled and armed. She will be ‘launched’ in the traditional way breaking a bottle of bubbly over the bows.