20 January 2025
The Wellington Trust Board of Trustees has announced a £225,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to secure the future of HMS Wellington, the last surviving dedicated Battle of the Atlantic convoy escort in the UK.
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest fought battle in the Second World War. Both the Royal and Merchant navies served together to ensure vital supplies, people and goods reached our war-stricken shores. HMS Wellington, which is moored at Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London, is of local, national and international importance.
Wellington survives today as she was bought by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners in 1947. She was moved to Temple Stairs in 1948 and her presence today galvanises the unique relationship between the two navies and the wider maritime community.
Since April 2023, the Wellington Trust has been working on a revitalisation project and new business model to secure her physical and financial future as she was at serious risk of being lost. Without this funding from the Heritage Fund, she was at risk of being lost forever and her stories would be untold.
Wellington is of local, national and international historical importance and this grant enables the Wellington Trust to accelerate the implementation of the HMS WELLINGTON revitalisation project in three key areas:
Access to the public: We plan to open the ship to the public this year so many can learn of the unique story of HMS Wellington. During her service, she has been home to mascots such as a monkey and a cat. She also saved hundreds of lives during the Battle of Atlantic rescuing torpedo victims, including Indian mariners, and the entire crew and passengers from the Royal Mail Liner Highland Patriot.
Community Engagement: We plan to extend out engagement with a wide cross-section of communities that reflect Wellington’s local, national and international importance. We will build on the success of our pilot visits with local community groups, such as Blind Veterans UK, as well as expanding our reach to national and international communities in Wales, Scotland. Ireland, the South Pacific and New Zealand – all of whom are part of the Wellington Story.
Business development: We will continue to develop our venue hire, workspace and film location business offer launched on 1 October. We are already attracting a lot of interest from documentary producers, award event organisers such as the Fighting with Pride Memorial Fund, and a wider range of organisations seeking a unique and private venue in Central London for their events.
This grant is critical to developing these areas as they will provide a learning opportunity for those that come onboard as well as vital self-sustaining revenue that will directly support our charitable objectives:
Conservation and Preservation: A heritage ship afloat needs constant and specialised experts to manage the ship’s today, and to plan for her longer-term future.
Education and Learning: Wellington has often been the first experience of being on a ship for many children and this grant will enable us to ensure the ship continues to be accessible for our popular education programme.
Chairman of the Wellington Trust, Dominic Tweddle commented on the award of this generous grant:
“We are so pleased to receive this grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. It means a great deal to us. The award of this grant enables us to continue implementing the HMS Wellington Revitalisation Project. Expanding access to wider communities and developing a broad range of activities onboard will ultimately lead to the Trust becoming financially self-sustaining, so we can conserve this important vessel for all to enjoy. And learn from. There is a lot to the Wellington story, and we look forward to welcoming many more people onboard in the future, thanks to the National Lottery players.”
Source: Press release
Image credit: Wellington Trust
Zone
South East