皇冠体育app

Culture Minister, Ed Vaizey, has placed a temporary export bar on the last remaining three-masted topsail schooner, Kathleen and May. This will provide a last chance to raise the money to keep the schooner in the United Kingdom.

皇冠体育app Minister鈥檚 ruling follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, administered by . 皇冠体育app Committee recommended that the export decision be deferred on the grounds that the schooner was so closely connected with our history and national life that her departure would be a misfortune.

As the sole surviving wooden three-masted topsail schooner, and the last Welsh-built merchant sailing vessel, Kathleen and May was found to be of outstanding significance for the study of British maritime history and naval architecture.

皇冠体育app is an impressive and unique example of an early 20th century schooner, still in full sailing condition. Commissioned by Chester ship-owner Captain John Coppack, the ship was built in 1900 by Ferguson & Baird at Connah鈥檚 Quay near Chester.

Her working life was spent in the home trade carrying a variety of cargo, sailing between Scotland, London and the Channel Islands. In her first 8 years, Kathleen & May sailed nearly 40,000 miles! She later plied between Cardiff, Ireland, Liverpool and the West Country, and was sold out of trade in 1961. Since then, she has been purchased by the Maritime Trust, and opened to the public in Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, and was towed to St. Katherine Dock London to form part of the Historic Ship Collection. In 1985, when this collection was dispersed, the schooner was sold on, fell into disrepair, before being restored to full working order.

Lord Inglewood, Chairman of the Reviewing Committee, said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Kathleen and May is a uniquely important vessel, not only to the history of the South West, but also deeply connected with the maritime history of the nation鈥�

皇冠体育app decision on the export licence application for the schooner will be deferred for a period ending on 19 February 2013 inclusive. This period may be extended until 19 June 2013 inclusive if a serious intention to raise funds with a view to making an offer to purchase the schooner at the recommended price of 拢2,000,000 is expressed.聽

Notes to Editors

1. For media information contact: Sam Gough, Media Relations Officer, Arts Council England, Tel: 020 7973 5189 or 07872 416679, Email: [email protected]

2. Anyone interested in making an offer to purchase the schooner should contact:
   皇冠体育app Secretary
   皇冠体育app Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest
   Arts Council England
   Great Peter Street
   London
   SW1P 3NQ
   Tel: 0845 300 6200

3. Anyone interested in making a matching offer and who requires further information about the schooner from the Champion should contact 皇冠体育app Secretary to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest at the above address.
4. For enquiries on the operation of and casework arising from the work of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA) please contact the Enquiries team on [email protected] or 0845 300 6200.
5. 皇冠体育app details of the schooner are:
   A three-masted topsail schooner built largely in wood with a variety of metal fastenings and fixtures, fully rigged with textile sails set from wooden spars. Built by Ferguson & Baird at Connah鈥檚 Quay, Nr Chester, North Wales and launched in 1900 measuring 98鈥� 4鈥� in length by 23鈥� 2鈥� in the beam and a tonnage of 136 gross. Currently in full sailing condition.
   Provenance: 1900: Built for Captain Coppack and originally named Lizzie May; 1908: Acquired by M J Fleming of Youghal, County Cork, and renamed Kathleen and May; 1931: Acquired by Captain T Jewell of Appledore, Devon; 1961: Sold out of trade; 1970: Acquired by the Maritime Trust from Captain Davis; 1998: Acquired by the current owner.
6. 皇冠体育app Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England, which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria. Where the Committee finds that an object meets one or more of the criteria, it will normally recommend that the decision on the export licence application should be deferred for a specified period. An offer may then be made from within the United Kingdom at or above the fair market price.
7. (ACE) champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people鈥檚 lives. ACE support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Between 2011 and 2015, ACE will invest 拢1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated 拢1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

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