The restoration of the Medway Queen has now reached its first major milestone in Bristol. On Thursday 15th October the first section of the Medway Queen’s new hull was laid on the blocks in the dry dock at Abels Shipyard in Bristol. The first section consisted of the bow section and chain locker.
This first section and the sections of the hull to follow are of riveted construction and it has required adapted technology to be developed specifically for the project. The new hull is the first all-new ship of this size to be built in the United Kingdom for nearly 50 years so there have been periods of trial and error to ensure that an old principle of construction can be built now in the 21st century.
Although there has been a delay to the laying of this first section into the dock, the extra time has been used to ensure that the correct method of riveting is carried out and that the final look of the riveted sections is similar to that of the Medway Queen fresh from the yard in 1924.
Over the coming year the construction of the hull is expected to build up pace as more bulkheads and sections are built and lowered into place on dock bottom. Further hull sections are already in mid construction in the covered shed and will very shortly be added to the bow section sitting in the dock. Unlike the modern day practice of building an entire section and then lowering it complete into the dock the method of rebuilding the Medway Queen’s hull is of a more traditional method with each piece being manufactured in the covered shed, lowered into the dock and then riveted in situ on the hull structure. The riveting process, as previously mentioned, is being carried out in the traditional method by compressing heated rivets with the hydraulic ‘iron hand’ as opposed to knocking them down with a pneumatic hand gun thus alleviating the health and safety factor of excessive noise levels for the operator and the surrounding environment. The rivets themselves are also being heated in a modern manner with an induction coil heater. This method is being used, as opposed to heating in a forge, again because of health and safety reasons.
Despite Bristol being some distance away in the South West it is now possible to watch the rebirth of the Medway Queen with a recently installed webcam that can be viewed online at www.medwayqueen.co.uk.
In addition to the construction of the hull, work is also being carried out on the Medway Queen’s engines under a separate contract with David Abels. The engines have been inspected and a criterion is being developed before a full restoration can be carried out to bring the heart of the Medway Queen back to life again.
As well as the work being carried out in Bristol, restoration work continues at Damhead Creek in Medway where Medway Queen Preservation Society’s carpenters have ordered the wood and started work on the reconstruction of the ship’s bridge. The metalwork for the structure is also being worked on by the society’s boilermakers.
Although the society has £1.86 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund this will only provide solely for the rebuild of the hull. The engines are in need of restoration and an Engine Fund has been set to raise the funds needed with details and online donations available on our website at www.medwayqueen.co.uk.
Brian Burton
Vice Chairman MQPS