Cutty Sark

The Ships Blog 26th August 2010 'Afternoon Tea'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:18:00 GMT

By 1869, when Cutty Sark was built, tea had become part of the staple diet of the poor, but it was among the rich that tea-drinking had evolved into an elaborate social occasion. Tradition has it that afternoon tea was 'invented' by Anna Maria, the wife of the seventh Duke of Bedford, who in 1841 started drinking tea and having a bite to eat in the mid-afternoon, to tide her over during the long gap between lunch (eaten at about 1 o'clock) and dinner (eaten at around 7 o'clock). This swiftly developed into a social occasion, and soon the Duchess was inviting guests to join her for afternoon tea at 5 o'clock. It did not become instantly popular elsewhere though, partly because in fashionable circles dinner was eaten earlier, leaving less of a gap to be filled by afternoon tea. But by the 1860s the fashion for afternoon tea had become widespread. Such teas were elegant affairs, with tea drunk from the best china and small amounts of food presented perfectly on little china plates. On offer might be bread and butter, scones and cakes, and sandwiches with the crusts cut off.

Contemporary manuals on etiquette and good housekeeping are full of advice on how to conduct a correct afternoon tea. The idea of needing an instruction book in order to enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit with some friends seems rather alarming these days, but although nineteenth century afternoon teas were elaborate affairs from our point of view, in those days they were considered relatively informal occasions. Invitations were issued verbally or by note, and rather than attending for the entire duration guests were free to pop in when it suited them and likewise leave when they wanted to. The hostess would pour the tea, but it was the responsibility of the men to hand the cups round. If there were no men present, this job fell to the daughters of the hostess or other young women present (goodness know what happened if there were no men and no daughters available!). There was a fashion for women to wear tea gowns, but these were softer and less restrictive than evening gowns, and it was not always deemed necessary for women to wear gloves. Nonetheless many did, and the author of The Etiquette of Modern Society points out that a thoughtful hostess should always provide biscuits with tea, since these can be eaten more easily than sandwiches without removing one's gloves.

To read this article in it’s original location and for a wealth of information on tea, including interesting stories about tea, visit the UK Tea Council website www.tea.co.uk

The Ships Blog 18th August 2010 'Life On Board'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:43:00 GMT

The entire compliment of the ship was, at most, 28 men, including the Master and the First Officer or Mate.

Nationalities were mixed, Danes, Germans, Greeks, Italians, Australians, and West Indians all served on Cutty Sark. Most of the time, however, the majority of the crew were registered as British subjects.

The crew lists for Cutty Sark, one for each voyage, required under Act of Parliament and the later Merchant Shipping Act of 1835, still exist.

This act stated that the master of any vessel belonging to a British subject bound on a foreign voyage, or any British registered vessel of eighty tons or more had to carry a written agreement made before the voyage with every man on board.

This agreement was to specify the wages, the nature of the voyage and the capacity under which he was to serve. The list would also help inform the list of victuals to which the seaman was entitled.

The food was basic and monotonous. There was no way to freeze items for long voyages, unlike on ships today. Items such as fresh fruit or coffee were simply unavailable to a merchant seaman back in the late 19^th century. Several methods of preserving were available to mariners, particularly smoking and salting. Such methods did not however provide ships' crews with a healthy diet.

A cask of beef and a cask of pork would be opened every two weeks. Bread and ‘hard tack’ (ship’s biscuits) were served on alternate days. Rations for all foodstuffs were generally less than what would be expected today.

Some effort went into provisioning Cutty Sark with fresh food, but on longer voyages this was not possible. Livestock was carried on board; usually chickens or pigs. In calm weather the pigs were allowed to roam around the deck.

Fresh water was a valuable commodity: it had to be rationed and the freshwater pump was kept locked. Each man was allowed a gallon a day, but five pints of this went to the cook, leaving only three pints for drinking and washing.

If you are interested in more detailed information about each person listed as serving on board between the years 1870 – 1895 a book is available from our online shop ‘The Crews Of The Cutty Sark’.

Ships Biscuit

The Ships Blog 28th July 2010 'Fastest in her day...and ours!'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:19:00 GMT

It was reported in the news this week that modern container ships are taking longer to cross the oceans than the Cutty Sark. Travel times between Australia and Europe, are today comparable to those of the great age of sail in the 19th century.

This is due to modern shipping lines adopting 'super-slow steaming' to cut back on fuel consumption. A combination of the recession and a growing awareness about climate change emissions has lowered speeds, with many major companies operating their ships at 12 knots (under 14mph) down from 25 knots in 2007.

It’s also reported that shipping companies are adopting different ways to reduce fuel use and cut carbon emissions. Fitting ships with kite-like "skysails” or systems that force compressed air out of hulls to allow them to "ride" on a cushion of bubbles have all been tried.

Also many modern commercial ships including the Queen Mary 2 have had their hulls coated with special anti-fouling paint. This has been shown to cut around 9% from CO₂ emissions by keeping their bottoms free from barnacles and other sea life. In the mid 19^th century to prevent this happening to Cutty Sark’s hull it was sheathed with sheets of Muntz metal. Obviously in Cutty Sark’s case this wasn’t an effort to prevent CO₂ emissions but to help improve her passage through the water by decreasing the pull.

130 years ago Cutty Sark would regularly travel at speeds in excess of 17 knots. It’s not the first time that Cutty Sark has been in the news for beating fuel powered ships. In 1889, Cutty Sark was involved in a famous incident with the ultra-modern P&O steam ship Britannia. On the night of the 25th July, Britannia, doing between 14.5 and 16 knots, was overhauled by Cutty Sark doing a good 17 knots.

Robert Olivey, Second Officer on Britannia, watched the lights of the sailing ship overhauling his vessel with amazement and called Captain Hector. Neither could have known it was Cutty Sark, and Britannia’s log read with great amazement, “Sailing ship overhauled and passed us!”

So it seems that not only was Cutty Sark fastest in her day, she may well have been fastest in our day too!

The Ships Blog 20th July 2010 'Hitting The Million'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:44:00 GMT

A major milestone was reached by Cutty Sark as a museum ship 50 years ago today – the 20^th July 1960. But let an excerpt from the 1960 Annual Report explain…..

‘it is now four years since Her Majesty the Queen opened the Cutty Sark for exhibition to the public and it is with satisfaction that the Governors report that the ship still continues to attract large numbers of visitors. During the summer of 1960 no fewer than 13000 children went aboard in parties booked in advance from over 600 schools. It was therefore, not altogether surprising that the millionth visitor was a schoolboy. Anthony Heap of St Peters School, Hammersmith was received on board on the 20^th July 1960’

The ship had reached the one million visitors mark. Only fours years later on the 4^th August 1964 this number doubled and exceeded two million. These milestones would be broken again and again as the ship continued to hold a special appeal for visitors from across the world. By the time the ship closed for conservation in 2006 we’d had more than 15 million visitors.

Did you visit us back in the summer of 1960? We’d love to hear about your memories of your visit if you did?

The Ship's Blog 16th July 2010 'An Amateur Photographer'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:58:00 GMT

Best known and longest serving Master of Cutty Sark, Captain Woodget was in command of the ship between 1885-1895. Under Woodget, Cutty Sark firmly established herself as one of the fastest vessels afloat, achieving a long series of record-breaking voyages between England and Australia.

Woodget was a keen amateur photographer, encouraged to take up photography by Toby Mayall, a member of the crew and son of a London photographer. Woodget’s prints provide the only images of life on board and the amazing sights encountered by the crew on their voyages to the other side of the world. Woodget was particularly fond of his pet Collie dogs. Using them on a number of occasions as the subject for his photographs!

One of Woodget's collies on board Cutty Sark

The Ship's Blog 9th July 2010 'Cutty Sark: A Tale'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:08:00 GMT

If you’ve visited Greenwich in recent months and arrived by public transport there’s a good chance that you may have seen the DLR Art commission that is alongside both the south bound and the north bound platforms at Cutty Sark Station.

The two pieces of work are titled Cutty Sark: A Tale. The work links the themes of maritime history, astronomy and the Robert Burns’ poem Tam O’Shanter. As you may know it was this poem that inspired the naming of the ship in 1869.

The artist David Ward has contrasted an image of a comet’s tail with the image of the horsehair tail that is held in the hand of our figurehead ‘Nannie’. There are similarities not only in the appearance of the comet and the horsehair tale but also in the idea that like a comet the ship followed a set course around the world at great speed.

The Cutty Sark Trust were more than pleased to allow the horsehair tail to be photographed in such an evocative way for an art commission that lends itself so well to the station named after the ship.

Part of the art work entitled Cutty Sark: A Tale

The DLR's Public Arts Programme is inspired by the urban landscapes, communities and cultural organisations that it connects. The aim of the artworks is that they be innovative, inspirational and engaging.

DLR Art will see artworks installed across the DLR network and trackside, in adjacent public spaces and in stations and trains over the next few years. For more information in the scheme visit www.dlrart.co.uk

More information on the artist and the work can be found on display boards situated in the centre of the platforms at Cutty Sark station.

The Ship's Blog 30th June 2010 'Junior Shipmates'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:25:00 GMT

In 1953, “The Eagle” comic launched a scheme whereby boys and girls became ‘Junior Shipmates of the Cutty Sark’ by subscribing 2/6 in return for which they received a badge or a brooch, designed by Reynolds Stone RA

Reynolds Stone who died in 1979 was a noted English engraver, designer, typographer and painter.

Much of his work was done in the field of printing as a designer of typefaces, book jackets and bookplates. In 1949 he redesigned the famous clock logo of The Times. In 1951 he was invited to carve the Second World War memorial in the Grand Entrance of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He engraved the Royal Arms for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and the official coat of arms for Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1955 - still reproduced today on the cover of the UK passport.

1955 Design still to be seen on the UK Passport.

He designed the £5 and £10 bank notes respectively and in 1965 he carved the memorial to Sir Winston Churchill in Westminster Abbey.

Did you read ‘’The Eagle’’ in 1953 as a child, maybe you even received one of the Cutty Sark badges. We’d be really interested to hear from you if you did.

For more information on Reynolds Stone you can visit www.reynoldsstone.co.uk

The Ship's Blog 21st June 2010 'A New Name'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:17:00 GMT

It was on this day 21st June 1922 that Cutty Sark set sail for the first time! Hang on, that was in 1869 surely?

Well yes, of course, but it was on this day that she sailed under a new name, Maria do Amparo.

By the 1920's Cutty Sark had been sailing far longer than her expected lifespan, she had been sold by her original owner Jock Willis back in 1895, as she was no longer profitable enough for Willis to keep maintaining her. She was renamed Ferreira by her new Portuguese owners.

In 1922 she was sold again and renamed Maria do Amparo. It was with this new name that she set sail from Lisbon on the 21st June 1922.

By September of 1922 she was back in British ownership having been bought by Captain Dowman. He'd recognised Cutty Sark earlier in the year, and despite her forlorn condition he made it his aim to return her to her former glory.

Cutty Sark was lucky. Her beauty had been recognised. It was not such a happy ending for Cutty Sark's greatest rival Thermopylae. She had also found her way to Portugal by 1895, but seen as old fashioned and of little worth she was purchased by the Portuguese Navy, towed out to sea and torpedoed in a practice exercise.

The Ship's Blog 14th June 2010 'Photo Diary'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:14:00 GMT

Don't forget that we have a photo diary on our website showing the work in progress, it is currently back dated to September 2007 but we are working on having the diary available to view back to the beginning of the conservation project in November 2006.

Each month we update the diary to show the changes to the ship as we move closer to completing the works. We also hope to begin uploading selected video footage of the project soon, this too dates back to the beginning of the project! So watch this space!

The diary is viewable from the 'Photo Diary' link on our homepage or click 'Photo Diary' to view now.

The Ship's Blog 10th June 2010 'All & Sundry'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:17:00 GMT

Of course Cutty Sark is famous for being a tea clipper, racing back to London from China loaded with the new tea crop. But she would carry a vast array of other goods and cargo during her life at sea.

Before leaving London on each voyage she was often loaded with items which were destined for countries such as Australia.

The cargo manifest from 1872 details the following items to be shipped to Melbourne:

baking powder; Rickett blue; sherry; plated ware; iron; quicksilver; fruits; machinery; pianos; nails; bolts; shot; spades; shaft; fancy goods; grindery; seeds; candles; carriageware; sugar; oilman's stores; brandy; wine; hardware; tinplates; iron sheets; galvanised iron; timber; bells and stocks; anvils; hops; engine springs; currants; tobacco; malt; earthen and glassware; paper; printing material; books; drugs and chemicals; oils and paints; soft goods, boots and shoes; music and instruments; sundries.

As the voyage out to Australia took around three months some of the cargo didn’t always arrive in the best of condition. The detailed cargo information on arrival in Melbourne lists items spoilt: corn sacks, brandy, figs, wine, oil cloth, sardines, champagne.

This manifest also details a consignment for Rolfe & Co: blue, bluestone, liquorice, jujubes, carriage candles, cocoa, marmalade, vestas.

A jujube is a fruit which can be dried and has many uses including as an ingredient in traditional medicines and as a flavouring for drinks.

Looking at the cargo list it makes you wonder how many pianos dotted around Australia may have a link to Cutty Sark!

The Ship's Blog 8th June 2010 'Shipshape'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:59:00 GMT

We’re all really pleased that another important section of the ship was returned last week. This is the ship’s cutwater or beak, the wooden section of the ship that juts out from the bow helping to support the bow-sprit. With this part of the ship back in position she is really starting to get back her original graceful lines. It was these proportions which helped make her so fast in the water. The beak has undergone conservation work and has now been re-attached as the photos show.

The ship’s original owner John ‘Jock’ Willis really wanted to win the prestigious tea race and gain all of its associated prestige for his shipping firm ‘John Willis & Son’. In 1868 he had the seeds of a future design in his head. He believed that his current flagship, The Tweed, was the fastest ship afloat but was too big for the tea trade. If he could build a new ship with the same lines, but smaller…….

He had just the man to do it, a talented young designer called Hercules Linton, a partner in a new firm called Scott & Linton which had set up business at Dumbarton, on the Clyde. In 1868, Willis took Linton to see The Tweed’s bow, which was not too rounded at the forefront (the front of the keel) but with a squarer stern than the bigger ships. This was a telling factor in the Cutty Sark’s ultimate success, for it made her more stable than The Tweed and more able to carry sail. Most tea clippers needed very careful handling in heavy seas, but the Cutty Sark could be driven hard like no other.

The Ship's Blog 2nd June 2010 'The Famous Clipper'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:39:00 GMT

Cutty Sark was famous even during her working life as the fastest of the clippers, particularly on the Australia – London run. Tourists were invited on board in Sydney and in South Africa even when, after 1895, she had been sold to the Ferreira company and was flying a Portuguese flag. Enthusiasts had tried to save her for the nation during the First World War, but finally Captain Wilfred Dowman succeeded in 1922. She has been commemorated ever since, in a wide variety of media, from teabags to public houses.

The ship marked her centenary year in 1969 with amongst other things a special stamp produced by The Royal Mail. Part of The British Ships collection the stamp was released to the public on the 15^th January 1969.

The stamp was designed by David Gentleman who has produced many of Britain’s most popular commemorative stamp designs.

1969 The Cutty Sark 9d stamp

The 9d stamp was also attached to a special First Day Cover to be posted from the ship on one day only, the 100^th anniversary of the ship’s launch on the 22^nd November 1969.

We’ll be looking at some of the many other ways that Cutty Sark has been depicted in future blogs.

Cutty Sark has inspired many people to name products, buildings and even places after her. Maybe you know of places called ‘Cutty Sark’ that we don’t? Or images of her on buildings or products local to you? We’d love to hear about any of them.

The Ship's Blog 27th May 2010 'The National Drink'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:19:00 GMT

Former British Prime Minister William Gladstone wrote, "If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you."

We have a figurehead of Gladstone in our collection. The Cutty Sark Trust has one of the world's largest collections of figureheads. Most of which will be on display in the new museum space when the ship re-opens. Gladstone who was prime minister four times in the 19th century repealed the duty on tea so it could be more affordable for the working classes and incidentally was also MP for Greenwich.

The Ship's Blog 25th May 2010 'It's All In The Detail'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:50:00 GMT

Cutty Sark’s original specification makes interesting reading. When she was commissioned in 1869, her owner, the man holding the chequebook, John ‘Jock’ Willis wanted no expense spared. It is written in the original document under clause number 75 ‘The whole to be of the very best workmanship, material and finish.’ This may go some way to explain why the building of Cutty Sark bankrupted her first shipyard. The wide variety of items to be constructed and sourced for the ship is evident from a section marked sundries, ‘Four hen coops of Teak 8 ft long. Pig houses covered with teak to be found and fitted with all requisites necessary and placed where required. Racks for arms to be fitted, one four pounder gun to be found and fitted with carriage, Breech ropes and fixings, ladders for hold and Twix Deck and for Peaks and skids. Handsome stairway with perforated brass steps. Teak hand rails, Belaying pins and rigging winches at fore and main rigging. Spare tiller to be found, Gratings aft and covers for steering gear in Teak. The Block Sheaves, Hearts, Deadeyes and Bull’s eyes to be of Lignum Vitae, the pins steel. The bindings inside fore and main deadeyes 9” in diameter, remainder in proportion. A figurehead by Allan with suitable carving about the stern and to correspond with the name of the ship.’ Clause 54 details only her brass work ‘All the Bitt ends, cabin door locks and hinges, and door slides, mounting for capstan with plate and ship’s name. Helmets for compasses, Teak hand-rail in front of poop stairway and Brass perforated plates on steps of stairs, Ship’s bell 50 lbs. with name engraved, skylight hinges, Quadrants and guard side light frames to be of brass, small bell for Quarter Deck’ With this level and attention to detail in her construction it’s no wonder that Jock Willis loved the ship from the moment he saw her. He was the first of many to fall under her spell!

Welcome to The Ship's Blog 21st May 2010 'The Stern Returns'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 21 May 2010 11:41:00 GMT

Today was an exciting day for all of us here at Cutty Sark. Two years since its removal and after much careful conservation work the ship’s stern was reattached. This marks a massive milestone in our efforts to conserve the ship. The stern section was craned back into position at 11am. The operation to reunite the two bits of the ship took slightly longer than we anticipated! But eventually after about an hour and with a little gentle persuasion to get the stern over the stern post the operation was a success!

It seems a timely point for this to be happening as it’s three years since the fire that tore through the ship at the beginning of the conservation project. Since that point we’ve been hit by delays and financial worries but thanks in large part to the DCMS we are now back on track. Through this blog we will show you the conservation process in detail, as well as the reasons why we are conserving the ship and why we are all so passionate about her.