Cutty Sark

Cutty Sark: National Treasure this Friday BBC2 9pm

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:19:00 GMT

In just a few months Cutty Sark re-opens to the public. A BBC documentary filmed over a number of years will be on BBC 2 this Friday at 9pm.

We allowed the BBC unique access to the ship during the conservation project, the film features exclusive interviews with the key people responsible for bringing this national treasure back to life, including HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, whose affinity with the ship spans more than half a century.

Work began to conserve Cutty Sark in 2006, with a vision that was both audacious and controversial: to lift the ship three metres into the air and surround her in a sea of glass and steel.

But just months in to the project, in the early hours of the morning, fire broke out and one of the most historically significant ships in the world went up in smoke – or so it seemed.

With the damage less serious than first thought, Cutty Sark was not lost. Over the years, our conservation team has gone to great lengths to preserve the ship’s authenticity. Meet the men and women using pioneering techniques and traditional skills to save this rich slice of British history.

Visitor Assistant

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:58:00 GMT

CUTTY SARK ENTERPRISES LTD

JOB DESCRIPTION: Visitor Assistant

Responsible to: Visitor Services Manager

Purpose of Job

To provide outstanding service and to maximise admission and retail sales in order to achieve targets set by Cutty Sark Enterprises Ltd. Making visitors feel welcome when they come on board the ship and ensuring every visit is friendly, exciting, safe and clean, at the ticket office, in the shop or out and about on the ship. To promote the Cutty Sark as a first class visitor attraction through learning about all aspects of the ship and passing on this information to visitors whenever possible.

Key Responsibilities:

Visitor Reception Duties

Actively assist and direct visitors, ensuring that everyone receives the warmest welcome and exemplary service at all times, in accordance with our agreed standards.
Maintain a strong team atmosphere, by injecting enthusiasm and promoting a harmonious friendly climate.
Ensure the cleanliness and good presentation of the ship and take necessary steps to rectify deficiencies. Cleaning duties may include sweeping decks, cleaning brass and glass, WCs, mess room and offices.
On rotation, serving in the ship’s shop, at the entrance desk, as a meet and greeter and patrolling the decks. (Meet and Greeters encourage viewers to become visitors, promote the gift aid scheme, facilitate the movement of visitors around the ship and thank customers for their visit).
Assist with the logging and welcoming of tour groups and educational groups, paying attention to any specific needs as advised by the Duty Managers.
Be fully aware of, and adhere to, the contents of the Cutty Sark Visitor Care Handbook.
Other duties as may be required, including manning the ship for evening functions.

Retail Duties

To maximize retail sales via excellent product knowledge and customer service.
To re-stock shop and assist in the stock rooms as required by Duty Managers and ensure key product lines remain stocked throughout the day.
Work in accordance with the Cutty Sark’s Standard Operating Procedures.
Cash handling, including monies taken in the shop and at the entrance desk and adhering to cash and financial procedures as required by the Duty Managers.
Bank money taken during the previous day.
Mail delivery to and from the office.
Set up areas of the ship for functions, events, workshops, seminars etc. and return to their usual format after the completion of the event.
Portering of goods, materials and furniture within the ship.
Be aware of and comply with Cutty Sark’s Health and Safety Policy and act as required in the event of an emergency situation, including assisting in the evacuation of the ship in the event of a fire, security alert or other emergency in accordance with our current emergency procedures.
Patrol the ship as required, monitoring the safety and security of visitors, exhibits and the ship.
To ensure that public areas of the ship are clear of visitors at closing time, that no items are left and that all areas are checked for any potential hazard to the ship, e.g. running taps, suspicious packages etc, and any found are reported to the Duty Manager.
Demonstrate at all times the highest level of professionalism, dedication and confidentiality.

General Duties:

Participate in appropriate development and training activities when required.
Undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this job.

Skills and Experience:

Essential Skills:

Experience of working with the public, with excellent communication skills
Enthusiasm for learning about Cutty Sark’s history and stories
Enthusiasm for museums, ships or London history
Experience of working with a diverse range of people
Able to work alone and use initiative
Experience of working within a team
A commitment to good customer service
Reliability and good time-keeping skills

Terms and conditions:

Full and part time contracts are available. You will be required to work on a flexible working pattern including weekends and bank holidays. Weekend working includes both Saturday and Sunday. Your normal hours of work are 8.30am to 5.30pm. Over the peak summer period you may be required to work extended hours on pre-determined evenings.

Salary: £13,060 - £16,500

Application Details: For details of how to apply please visit www.rmg.co.uk/jobs

Closing date: 9 February 2012

We regret we are unable to reply to every applicant. If you do not hear from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume you have not been shortlisted.

Learning Volunteer

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:52:00 GMT

CUTTY SARK ENTERPRISES LTD

Role Description: Learning Volunteer

Responsible to: Visitor Services Manager (under instruction from Learning Manager/freelancers)

Responsible for: Visitors in learning groups

Purpose of Role:

Cutty Sark will be launching a brand new learning programme for families when it re-opens in April 2012. We are looking for committed volunteers to help support that programme. You will also have access to discounts in our shop and restaurant, and be able to include experience gained at the Cutty Sark on your C.V.

Key Responsibilities:

To assist freelancers and staff with the set up for workshops and activities, including preparing and tidying away materials
To help to welcome and assist families at events, ensuring they have an enjoyable experience
Support the delivery of family activities as required
Assist with evaluating the workshops and events
Assist with recording attendance numbers for events

What we’re looking for in our volunteers:

Some experience of working with children
Enthusiasm for learning about Cutty Sark’s history and stories
Excellent communication skills, friendly and welcoming
Able to work alone and use initiative
A commitment to good customer service
Reliability and good time-keeping skills

What’s in it for you?

The opportunity to develop your knowledge about Cutty Sark and heritage learning
Experience of working in a busy heritage attraction
Experience of working with the general public, families and young people
Experience of working as part of a team
Development of customer service and organisational skills
Development of communication skills

Time Commitment:

Volunteers will be needed for weekend and holiday activities, with typical hours of around 10am-4pm. We ask for a 3 month commitment in the first instance

How to apply:

Send your application to Royal Museums Greenwich who are working in partnership with Cutty Sark Enterprises Ltd

Forward a covering letter and CV, together with the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form found on the Royal Museums Greenwich website, to volunteer@rmg.co.uk. There is no need to complete an application form

Or post your application to: Helen Webb, Volunteer Manager, Royal Museums Greenwich, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF

If you have any questions about this role phone 020 8312 6543

Volunteer Visitor Assistant

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:51:00 GMT

CUTTY SARK ENTERPRISES LTD

Role Description: Volunteer Visitor Assistant

Responsible to: Visitor Services Manager

Purpose of role:

The Cutty Sark team are looking for volunteers to enhance the visitor welcome and experience. Your role will be varied, one day you might be welcoming people, another day you might be in the schools entrance helping to organise large groups of children. Volunteers will assist the Visitor Services team in providing outstanding customer service, making visitors feel welcome when they come on board the ship and ensuring every visit is friendly, exciting and safe.

We are looking for approachable people (at least 15 years old) for 2 or more days a week. You will be offered the Welcome Host qualification and gain experience in customer service. You will also have access to discounts in our shop and restaurant, and be able to include experience gained at the Cutty Sark on your C.V.

Key Responsibilities:

Pro-actively promote the Cutty Sark’s offer to visitors, ensuring that everyone receives the warmest welcome and exemplary service
Maintain a strong team atmosphere, by injecting enthusiasm and promoting a harmonious friendly climate
Ensure the cleanliness and good presentation of the ship
On rotation, assist the in-house team in the ship’s shop, at the entrance desk, as a meet and greeter and patrolling the decks
Assist with the logging and welcoming of tour groups and educational groups.
Set up areas of the ship for functions, events, workshops and seminars and return after return to their usual format after the completion of the event.
Portering of goods, materials and furniture within the ship as required
Assist in the evacuation of the ship in the event of a fire, security alert or other emergency, in accordance with our current emergency procedures
Patrol the ship as required, monitoring the safety and security of visitors, exhibits and the ship

What we’re looking for in our volunteers:

Enthusiasm for learning about Cutty Sark’s history and stories
Excellent communication skills
Reliability and good time-keeping skills
Demonstrate a commitment to deliver excellent customer service - training will be provided
Have a flexible approach to working as part of a team
Be able to remain mobile and stand for up to 2 hours at a time; some of your volunteering will be based outdoors

What’s in it for you?

The opportunity to develop your knowledge of Cutty Sark
Experience of working in a busy heritage attraction
Experience of working with the general public, families and young people
Experience of working as part of a team
Development of customer service and organisational skills
Development of communication skills

Time Commitment:

Volunteers will be needed for all activities, with typical hours from 10am-4pm. We ask for a 3 month commitment in the first instance

How to apply:

Send your application to Royal Museums Greenwich who are working in partnership with Cutty Sark Enterprises Ltd

Or post your application to: Helen Webb, Volunteer Manager, Royal Museums Greenwich, Park Row, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF

If you have any questions about this role phone 020 8312 6543

The Ship's Blog 13th January 2012 'December Photo Diary now on our website'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:37:00 GMT

The latest update to our Photo Diary showing progress of works in December has been added to our website. These include photos showing the return and stepping of all three of the ship's masts. A momentous day for the ship and the conservation team. http://www.cuttysark.org.uk/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.rpwrhbpxsuxwtdmo

The Ship's Blog 15th December 2011 'The masts are back'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:17:00 GMT

It was a big weekend for everyone involved in the restoration of Cutty Sark. Five years after they were removed for conservation the iconic masts of the ship were returned and raised back into position, once again gracing the Greenwich skyline. The day was beautifully crisp and sunny and the rigging team successfully placed all three masts across the weekend. Whilst the masts are still at only about half their final height, the next section will be raised higher over the coming months, the return of the masts really makes the ship come to life ready for her grand re-opening in April 2012. There is a real buzz on the frenetic conservation site as everything reaches completion.

Video of the masts being raised can be seen on our YouTube Channel.

We always used to put a Christmas Tree on top of the main mast so even though the mast is yet to reach it's full height we've continued the tradition this year.

Merry Christmas!

The Ship's Blog 11th November 2011 'Gilded scrollwork complete'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:36:00 GMT

After much painstaking conservation and restoration work the ship's gilded decorative pieces are all now complete. The carved wood known as 'gingerbread' features images and motifs which echo both her Scottish heritage and her original owners own personal taste.

The scrollwork is looking fantastic as the following images from the past few weeks show.

The Ship's Blog 21st September 2011 'August Photo Diary now on our website'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:25:00 GMT

The latest update to our Photo Diary showing progress of works in August has been added to our website. Work is progressing rapidly. The restored scrollwork is back, the tween deck complete, 95% of the hull planks are now back and final paint finishes are being applied. The new curved glass museum roof is being constructed and the laying of the main weather deck is now underway.

The Ship's Blog 5th July 2011 'Our YouTube channel shows video of the project'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:54:00 GMT

Our YouTube channel 'cuttysarkclippership' shows footage taken during the project and is updated with interesting video showing the ships ongoing conservation.

The Ship's Blog 1st July 2011 'Nannie is back on board!'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:17:00 GMT

The ship's figurehead Nannie has been returned to the ship this week, restored and looking fantastic. She is now back in her prominent position on the prow of the ship and is visible from all around.

Her arm which is designed to be unshipped was detached for the craning operation and will be re-attached shortly. The picture above shows her immediately after being removed from her bespoke crate ready to go back on board.

This figurehead was carved in the 1950's when Cutty Sark first came to Greenwich and was removed in 2007 for restoration. See our 'Two Nannies' blog for more information. The original figurehead carved for the ship, which is too important to keep out in the open is also being restored and will be proudly on display in the new museum space under the ship from next year.

The photo above shows Nannie, Cutty Sark's figurehead ready to be crated and returned to the ship. For more information see the figurehead section of the website.

The Ship's Blog 3rd June 2011 'May Photo Diary Lift Of Ship Complete'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:57:00 GMT

The latest update to our Photo Diary showing progress of works in May has been added to our website. The ship has now been successfully lifted as the dramatic photographs show.

The ship was lifted over three consecutive days. The temporary supports held the ship in place whilst the permanent supporting arms were attached. These arms now take the ship's weight down into the ground. The temporary scaffolding is now being removed to allow for the installation of the new museum roof and the return of the masts.

The Ship's Blog 12th May 2011 'Figurehead of Florence'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:01:00 GMT

Born on this day in 1820, Florence Nightingale is best known for her work during the Crimean War and then afterwards for her role in developing nursing as a profession. She was affectionately called 'the lady with the lamp'.

'She is a "ministering angel" without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor every poor fellow's face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night, and silence and darkness have settled down upon these miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.' The Times Thursday 8 February 1855

The figurehead of Florence Nightingale in our collection was carved at an unknown date but portrays her in the early years of her life, at about the time of the quote above. Nightingale lived for 90 years and as well as being a pioneer of modern nursing she was also a noted statistician. She did not become famous until after her time in the Crimea so the figurehead was likely carved much later than the 1850’s. It’s thought the figurehead may have come from a schooner which traded in the Mediterranean at the beginning of the 20^th century.

Our figurehead of Florence Nightingale has a detachable left arm and it is likely that she would have held a lamp aloft. She will be displayed in the new museum space with the rest of the figurehead collection from 2012.

The Ship's Blog 19th April 2011 'Transporting Tea'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:33:00 GMT

For hundreds of years China produced the only teas known to the western world. Tea came in two basic types; Green and Black. Black tea (the kind used in tea bags) is oxidised whereas green tea is un-oxidised. Each type of tea, whether black or green, was available in a number of different quantities, qualities and from a varied number of growing regions within China. Teas were given Anglicised Chinese names for consumption in Europe and America.

Some of the teas carried by ships like Cutty Sark are still readily available today. Lapsang Souchong literally "small plant from Lapu Mountain” is renowned for its tarry taste, acquired through drying over pine wood fires.

A legend states that this black tea acquired its unique taste by accident. It’s said that the Chinese army camped in a tea factory that was full of drying leaves which had to be moved to accommodate the soldiers. When the soldiers left, the leaves needed to be dried quickly, so the workers lit open fires of pinewood to speed up the drying. The tea reached the market on time and a new flavour had been created.

The real reason this black tea originally acquired its smoky flavour is due to 17th century preservation methods used by Chinese tea producers when they began to export their teas to Europe and America Their traditional green teas did not travel as well and quickly lost quality during the 15-18 month journey across land and sea. By the time Cutty Sark was sailing this journey time had been cut to 6 months.

The producers developed a method of rolling, oxidising and drying their teas so that they would hold their quality for longer. Once the teas had been oxidised, they were spread on bamboo baskets which were placed on racks in the drying room. This was built over ovens that allowed the heat to rise up through vents in the ceiling and into the drying room above. To fire the ovens, the tea manufacturers used the local pine wood from the forests that surrounded (and still surround) the factories, and as the wood slowly burned, it gave off a certain amount of smoke that was absorbed by the drying tea and gave it a lightly smoked, sappy, pine character.

The factories that made those lightly smoked black teas in Fujian province still manufacture lightly smoked Lapsangs in exactly the same way as they did 400 years ago.

A popular green tea today and back in the 1870’s gets its name from its distinctive shape: Gunpowder tea is produced in Pingshui in Zheijian Province. After it has been pan-fired to de-enzyme it, the leaf is rolled into small pellets and then dried. The pellets look remarkably like lead shot or gunpowder, giving the tea its descriptive name. The pellets come in different sizes - the smaller the leaf plucked and rolled, the smaller the pellet - and grades range from tiny 'pinhead' gunpowder to larger 'peahead' gunpowder. Gunpowder tea has a soft honey or coppery liquor with a smooth light taste.

Today (as in the 1870’s when Cutty Sark carried tea) many green teas are still made by hand using methods that have been handed down from generation to generation. However, more and more teas are now made in mechanised factories.

To get the tea safely to Europe in as fresh a condition as possible it was packed into softwood chests which were lined inside with lead foil and covered on the outside with bamboo or rush matting for protection.

The tea chests were constructed in a variety of sizes and occasionally irregular shapes to enable the cargo to conform to the finely curved hulls of the tea clippers. The chests were separated at each layer by wooden battens known as dunnage to give rigidity to the stowage of cargo and also to allow the air to circulate.

The Tween Deck and the lower hold of Cutty Sark would have been packed solidly with such tea chests.

Rare photographs from the 1880’s showing the tea production process in China can be seen on the Harvard Business School website. For more information on tea visit the Tea Council website.

The Ship's Blog 24th March 2011 'Restoring The Merchant Navy Memorial'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:46:00 GMT

In the wall at the southern end of the ship’s dry dock is a large sculptural piece. This is the memorial to the Merchant Navy. When it was decided that the ship would find a permanent new home here in Greenwich as a museum, it was felt that Cutty Sark would also be a fitting place to commemorate the men of the Merchant Navy.

The memorial was designed by the sculptor Maurice Lambert. Born in Paris in 1901, Lambert began his art training through his apprenticeship to the sculptor Francis Derwent Wood. He was a sculptor in bronze, stone, wood, concrete and glass of figurative and abstract subjects.

Maurice Lambert with the design for the memorial 1954

A review of his first major exhibition in 1929 read, 'In his hands sculpture is not merely a matter of stone or marble or bronze moulded in obedience to some established form, but an instrument of far wider range and possibilities.'

In the 1930s his work was linked with the radical Modernist sculptors such as Hepworth and Moore who drew influence from primitive art and Surrealism.

His major public works include an equestrian statue of George V in Adelaide, Australia and a series of portrait busts of Dame Edith Sitwell and Dame Margot Fonteyn, which are on permanent display at The National Portrait Gallery in London.

Dame Edith Sitwell by Lambert 1926 (NPG)

In the 1950’s Lambert was commissioned to design a number of public statues to be placed in new-build towns that were being constructed on the outskirts of London. After the War Lambert became master of sculpture at the Royal Academy Schools. He died in 1964.

By the time the ship closed in 2006 the memorial had sadly become largely forgotten and was in need of restoration. Cast in concrete from Lambert’s designs and moulds the memorial is based on the Star Of India and features a stylised wreath depicting the national flowers of the UK. The memorial has inscriptions on each side which read….

“Here to commemorate an era the Cutty Sark has been preserved as a tribute to the ships and men of the Merchant Navy in the days of sail. They mark our passage as a race of men Earth will not see such ships as these again”

“In memory of those whose service in the Merchant Navy helped to enlarge the livelihood of Britain and protect the freedom of the British Commonwealth of Nations”

The memorial looking rather forlorn in 2006.

A digital scan of the memorial to allow a new piece to be cast.

As part of the conservation project to restore the ship and her environs the memorial has recently been digitally scanned to allow new moulds to be made. The memorial is to be re-cast and re-positioned within the dry dock gallery space, giving it a much more prominent position.

The Ship's Blog 15th February 2011 'Maiden Voyage'

info@cuttysark.org.uk — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:47:00 GMT

The original advert placed for Cutty Sark's maiden voyage - 1870

Cutty Sark set sail on her maiden voyage on the 15th February 1870. There was great competition between the various ship owners who loaded goods in London's Docks.

Adverts were placed prior to a ship's voyage letting anyone who may be interested know that a ship was preparing to leave and would transport freight and or passengers. This is the advert placed by the shipping agent for Cutty Sark which was loading at East India Dock near Canary Wharf.

Jock Wilis wanted to get the best return possible from his ship, with so much competition between shipping lines it was important that a ship had a good reputation both for speed and safety. As with advertising today the virtues of his product, ie the ship, were talked up.

Mentioning her A1 rating from Lloyds of London was a way of demonstrating Cutty Sark's good condition. The ship was also described as follows 'This vessel, just launched, is, from her fine lines, expected to prove one of the fastest afloat'. Words that were ultimately to prove correct!