Grangemouth Heritage- Charlotte Dundas,the ship nobody wants

Launched by the catholic Provost of Falkirk in 1986, the 2/3rds scale replica of the World's first steamship "Charlotte Dundas" has had a chequered career. In fact the history of this replica is almost as interesting as the history of the ship it represents. The hull was built at MacKay's in Arbroath , then it lay for many years at the boatbuilders yard in Grangemouth ( Old Dock)for a leisurely "fitting out project" as part of a Youth Training Scheme. This came to an end with the repositioning of youth employment schemes in the early 1990's. Charlotte Dundas then spent 3 years floating aimlessly on the Forth and Clyde canal in the vicinity of the "Falkirk Wheel". Eventually British Waterways demanded that it be removed. Now, (embarrassingly) , the hulk languishes- unloved- back in MacKay's Boatbuilder's yard at Arbroath, while options for her future are assessed....


http://www.tope.nl/tope_show_entry.php?event=17&pic=21

http://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/2006/07/replica_histori.html

http://www.falkirkonline.net/For%20Visitors/Heritage/Charlotte%20Dundas.aspx

http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/Historic-boat-on-the-move.1626497.jp


It's interesting to make comparisons with Port Glasgow's replica of Henry Bell's "Comet" , a similar project which presumably provided the inspiration for Falkirk District Council's "Charlotte Dundas" replica. The Comet replica has been proudly exhibited in Port Glasgow since the 1960's.

http://www.portglasgow4u.co.uk/townshistory/replica.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• grangemouth
• arbroath
• falkirk
• district
• council
• disrespect
• shame
• wheel
• charlotte
• dundas
• hulk.

[incongra]

I accidentallly deleted a comment from one of William Symington's descendants which was pasted here. I apologise for this, and hope you will write it again. I pressed "remove" instead of "reply". Sorry again.

[leloby]

Now I know where the honoured and acclaimed architect of the award winning 'Sharly-D' housing/shopping complex of utopian ideals got his inpiration. This is the ship of dreams and can provoke wistful expressions and in many an old Portonian. But look at it......its one of the most boring and lacklustre vessels ever to take the water. Makes the Comet look positively 'sexy' in comparison.

[incongra]

Well if I was cynical I would say that it has come to symbolise FALKIRK district council's disrespect for GRANGEMOUTH'S industrial heritage. But even ex- Provost Goldie is disappointed by the fate of this vessel. The big problem seemed to be in the fabrication of the replica engine, which would have been a huge and forbidding task. This also proved to be a stumbling block with Port Glasgow's "Comet"- But they surmounted it. That black gloss paint is excellent though- look at the shine on it?

[incongra]

Thanks for your kind comments. I try to be as historically accurate as possible so if you can point me in the direction of sources that show mr. goldie was not in fact a roman catholic I'll be more than happy to change it.

[macwea]

I beleive a couple of the lcoal Councillors, Spears and MacDonald are working on getting the ship included in the £25 million Helix project. There's also talk of a sculpture celebrating the ship in the regenerated town centre.