Helping secure the future of RRS Discovery: Made in Dundee, Designed for Adventure
by Visit Dundee Volunteer in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
RRS Discovery's conservation and maintenance needs extend beyond our current mast and rigging project. Any overfunding we receive will go directly towards this work in helping secure Discovery for current and future generations to enjoy.
The Royal Research Ship (RRS) Discovery is one of Britain's most important historic ships, and is registered as part of the UK's National Historic Fleet. She was one of the last wooden three-masted sailing ships to be built in Britain and is the only example of this type to survive, a unique record of Dundee's proud shipbuilding past, and renowned worldwide for her Antarctic exploration heritage.
Built in 1900 for Captain Robert Falcon Scott's first Antarctic expedition, the RRS Discovery was the first ship to be specifically designed for scientific research and for work in the polar regions, and incorporates a number of unique design features. In addition to the association with Captain Scott, Discovery's long career connects her with many other famous polar explorers and scientists such as Sir Ernest Shackleton, Edward Wilson, Tom Crean, Sir Alister Hardy and Sir Douglas Mawson.
As her custodians, Dundee Heritage Trust always seeks to interpret and conserve the ship to the very highest standards to reflect this international importance. We now need to carry out essential repair and conservation work to a significant part of Discovery's overall rig, with major work required to her masts, spars and bowsprit along with the rigging. This work commences on the 31st October 2016 and is anticipated to be completed by June 2017.
We are proud to operate two five-star visitor attractions and accredited museums in Dundee. Here are just a few comments from visitors to Discovery Point:
"One of the best museums we've ever seen - certainly the best ship museum"
"Amazingly good experience which made the Antarctic come alive"
"Outstanding attraction not to be missed"
"An exhibition to be proud of"
Dundee Heritage Trust is a small independent charity that also operates Dundee's social history museum, Verdant Works. We start each year with less than 5% of our annual income coming from external subsidy and are reliant on the success of a range of fundraising activities in order to carry out major restoration and conservation projects. RRS Discovery is the largest object under our guardianship.
Identified as essential work in a recent survey of the ship, the total cost of this project is £350,000 - with the £40,000 we hope to raise through this campaign playing a very important part.
With work commencing on 31 October 2016 it will take up to a year to complete our project and are hopeful that this could be as soon as June 2017. Each phase of work will carry its own distinct costs to complete and we want to use the funding donated by you to reinstate the masts and rigging, to Discovery's original rigging plan, when the conservation phase has been completed....your support will literally help us put Discovery back together again!
An important part of Dundee's history we also want to play our part in her future success and your support will help establish Discovery as a striking jewel at the heart of Dundee's new Waterfront development.
We genuinely cannot overstate the importance of your support - you are helping us conserve a ship that is linked directly with the DNA of an incredible and dynamic city. As Dundee continues to evolve, your support will help ensure that RRS Discovery remains an important reminder of the city's past and a symbol of its ambitious future.
This project has been approved for funding through the Heritage + The Crowd match funding. It has received a bridge of 25% towards its fundraising target from Heritage Lottery Fund.
This project offers rewards in return for your donation