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Case study

Softwing Project

Applicant: The Cornish Maritime Trust
Location: Truro, Cornwall, South West
Grant awarded: £31,200
Total project cost: £44,158
Grant programme: Your Heritage
Type of heritage: Industrial, maritime and transport

Aims of the project
To restore a historic fishing boat of local heritage importance so that its future is secured and it is accessible to the public.

Background to the project
The Softwing is a 24ft fishing boat of the type known as a Truro Rover Oyster Dredger. Dating from 1900, she was the last boat to be designed and built by Frank Hitchins at Yard Point in Falmouth harbour to dredge the oyster beds at the northern end of the harbour.

Softwing has an unusual rounded forefront – considered to be the ultimate hull form for her trade. She is one of the few Falmouth working boats to have retained her original rig, and was worked for 60 years of her life.

Before undertaking this project, the Cornish Maritime Trust already had considerable experience in managing and running restoration projects. The project also had the backing of the National Maritime Museum of Cornwall.

What did the project involve?
The project involved repairs and conservation work to Softwing, using original materials wherever possible (although a modern engine was fitted for safety reasons). Following the repair project, Softwing has been sailed and shown at many of the traditional boat shows and rallies around the South West region, and the Royal Cornwall Show. When not being demonstrated, she is on display at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.

What difference did the project make?
This project restored a locally important boat, enabling the general public to view and experience a Falmouth working boat. The Cornish Maritime Trust uses Softwing to help teach boat-handling skills. The Trust makes regular demonstrations to schools, and has used this project in particular to help it to reach disabled and disadvantaged people.

Overall, the project has enabled the Trust to expand their work and to target new audiences. The boat’s display at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall (which was constructed with HLF support worth £17m and opened in 2002) makes Softwing accessible to many thousands of visitors.

How did the project meet our criteria?
There was strong local demand for this project, which has enabled the Cornish Maritime Trust to develop new audiences for local heritage. The project was well-planned and well-costed.

Useful tips
The Cornish Maritime Trust’s ‘top tips’ are:

Plan your project carefully, and make sure that the people involved have the relevant skills and experience to carry it out.

Try to encourage new audiences to be involved in your work. Think carefully about any barriers that may be preventing people from doing this.

It can be helpful to work with other organisations with similar interests, or that are leaders in a particular field.

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