PS Wingfield Castle

PS Wingfield Castle. . , The PS Wingfield Castle is a unique survivor of a type of passenger vessel which once was common across Britain. She is a symbol of the technical skill of local people, both during her construction on this very spot during the great depression of the 1930s, and today, as Hartlepool remains a leader in preserving historic vessels for the benefit of everyone. , PS Wingfield Castle: Conservation Phase 4: 2018 to 2022 , In late 2017 the Cultural Services section of Hartlepool Borough Council started work on the next phase of the continuing conservation and interpretation of our Paddle Steamer Wingfield Castle. , , Saved from the scrap yard by the Museum of Hartlepool in 1986, the ship was opened to the public in 1995 after an extensive programme of repairs and conservation. Since then the Wingfield Castle has welcomed over 2 million visitors. Conservation of Historic Ships however is a never-ending process. For example, we renewed a number of her hull plates in 2006: long-time visitors may remember her swapping places with the HMS Trincomalee so that we could carry out this work in dry-dock. , , In recent years a series of hard winters and storms have adversely affected the ship, including reducing the life of her upper deck surfaces, and accelerating the need to refresh her paintwork above the waterline with a new anti-corrosive paint. During September to December 2017 a full physical examination of the Wingfield was carried out to help us to create a new Conservation Management Plan. , , During the autumn and winter of 2018-2019 we will be regularly working around the ship to properly cost up the plan, the next essential step for securing external funding. , , This will mean that at times certain parts of the Wingfield Castle will be unavoidably closed to the visiting public. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. We will be keeping visitors updated on progress as this work develops.