Warship Preservation Trust

Warship Preservation Trust

The Warship Preservation Trust was based in Birkenhead, Wirral, England and hosted Europe's largest collection of preserved warships.Fact|date=June 2008 The fleet consisted of the frigate HMS "Plymouth" and the submarine HMS "Onyx", both from the Falklands War; the minehunter HMS "Bronington"; the German U-Boat "U-534" and "LCT 7074", the last surviving landing craft tank that took part in D-Day.

On 5 February 2006 the museum closed due to being required to relocate. This was as a result of a decision to redevelop the adjacent Grade II listed former flour milling warehouses.citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4625102.stm|title=Future of warships in the balance|publisher="BBC News"|date=18 January 2006|accessdate=19 January|accessyear=2006] Without a replacement berthing agreement, the Trust subsequently went into voluntary liquidation. [citeweb|url=http://archive.wirralglobe.co.uk/2006/3/1/24071.html|title=Warship trust is now in liquidation|publisher="Wirral Globe"|date=1 March 2006|accessdate=9 June|accessyear=2008] By default, ownership of the collection transferred to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC) following the demise of the Trust. [citeweb|url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11802.asp|title=HMS "Plymouth" e-petition response|work=10 Downing Street|date=1 June 2007|accessdate=12 August|accessyear=2007]

Plymouth City Council had expressed an interest in HMS "Plymouth", and the HMS "Plymouth" Preservation Trust undertook to raise the £250,000 needed to bring the warship back to her home city. [citeweb|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2006/09/15/hms_plymouth_preservation_feature.shtml|title=Campaign to save veteran warship|work=BBC|date=15 September 2006|accessdate=9 March|accessyear=2008] It had been hoped that the frigate could be berthed at Millbay Docks, but the offer of a berth was withdrawn in January 2007 by Associated British Ports. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6288817.stm|title=Warship's berth offer withdrawn|publisher="BBC News"|date=22 January 2007|accessdate=9 June|accessyear=2008] A petition, on 10 Downing Street's E-petitions website sought to encourage the UK government to provide a berth for the ship.citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6467111.stm |title=Hundreds sign up to save warship|publisher="BBC News"|date=19 March 2007|accessdate=19 March|accessyear=2007] It received 2,204 online signatures by the deadline date of 5 May 2007. [citeweb|url=http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plymouth|title=HMS "Plymouth" e-petition|work=10 Downing Street|accessdate=12 August|accessyear=2007]

In May 2006 HMS "Onyx" was sold to the Barrow-in-Furness businessman Joe Mullen, for a reported £100,000 as a 'gift to the people of Barrow'. It left Birkenhead on 13 June 2006 [citeweb|url=http://www.photoboxgallery.com/MaritimeAviationNews/3211231|title=Photo: HMS Onyx leaves Birkenhead|publisher="Maritime Aviation News"|accessdate=12 August|accessyear=2007] to form the centrepiece of a new heritage museum in Cumbria.

On 27 June 2007, the Merseytravel transit authority announced that it had acquired "U-534" to display at the Woodside Ferry Terminal. [citeweb|url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/tm_method=full&objectid=19361329&siteid=50061-name_page.html |publisher="Liverpool Daily Post"|title=Woodside Ferry to be new home for rescued U-boat|date=27 June 2007|accessdate=25 September|accessyear=2007] For technical reasons and to facilitate economical transportation to its new site, the vessel was cut into four sections. It will be displayed in this form to allow visitors better access and visibility. [citeweb|url=http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/u534/index.aspx|title=About U-534|work=Mersey Ferries|accessdate=9 June|accessyear=2008] [citeweb|url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/10/22/u-boat-s-future-is-secure-64375-19987639/|publisher="Liverpool Daily Post"|title=U-boat's future is secured|date=22 October 2007|accessdate=22 October|accessyear=2007] Beginning on 10 March 2008, the sections, each weighing up to 240 tonnes, were transported to Woodside by floating crane over a number of days. [citeweb|url=http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/u534/news.aspx|title=U-534 Latest News|work=Mersey Ferries|accessdate=9 June|accessyear=2008]

The future of the remainder of the collection is uncertain.

References


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