Name Calshot

Statement of Significance CALSHOT

1. What is the vessel’s ability to demonstrate history in her physical fabric?

Evidence for designs, functions, techniques, processes, styles, customs and habits or uses and associations in relation to events and people. How early, intact or rare these features are may impact on significance.

At build, CALSHOT was fitted with twin screw, triple expansion reciprocating steam engines which were replaced with Dutch twin diesels in 1964. As a result of the conversion, her distinctive funnel was considerably shortened. It was restored to its original height of 30 feet in 2008. Much of her classic interior remained including oak and mahogany companionways, the officers’ quarters with fitted furniture, the dining area with specially designed swivel seats, bespoke dining tables and original light fittings. Her first class passenger saloon with upholstered banquette seats and the bar were virtually as built and reflected the style of the 1930s period. At the end of the Second World War, CALSHOT was reconditioned and extra crew cabins were built in the second class accommodation area, signalling the demise of the class division. Her black and cream paintwork depicted the Red Funnel colours of her working life. A Scotch boiler built in 1928, which was used for ballast on CALSHOT, was of the exact material and dimensions as those on board the famous ocean liner TITANIC. The cast iron shell was intact with three furnaces remaining in place. CALSHOT also retained the same type of swivel chairs as those in Titanic’s second class dining saloon and the same Welin quadrant davits for her lifeboats.

2. What are the vessel’s associational links for which there is no physical evidence? Associations with people or places. Off-ship research.

CALSHOT had strong local connections to the port of Southampton where she spent more than 60 years of her life. She was the largest tug tender built by John I Thornycroft at Woolston for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and subsequently spent many years working for the Red Funnel Fleet. She served some of the great ocean liners including the White Star liner OLYMPIC, Cunard’s famous flagship RMS QUEEN MARY, RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and the MAURITANIA. During this time, she carried world famous celebrities, film stars and politicians such as Sir Winston Churchill, Charlton Heston, Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Judy Garland. The Second World War saw her requisitioned by the Admiralty and appointed to tender the Home Fleet at anchor in Scapa Flow. She later took part in the D-Day preparations on the South Coast, towing sections of the famous Mulberry Harbour to France and acting as a non-assault headquarters ship for the Juno area of the invasion force. CALSHOT also had associations to Southern Ireland, operating out of Galway in the latter half of her working life first as a tender, then as a ferry and excursion vessel. Surviving documentary evidence includes an invitation from the vessel launch day and historic photographs of her in service. CALSHOT was a rare survivor of her type, the only similar UK vessels being the passenger tender NOMADIC and the steam tug DANIEL ADAMSON. She was included on the National Register of Historic Vessels in 2007 and awarded the status of being on the National Historic Fleet.

3. How does the vessel’s shape or form combine and contribute to her function? Overall aesthetic impact of the vessel, her lines, material she was built from and her setting. Does she remain in her working environment?

CALSHOT’s form and internal layout reflected her dual purpose function, operating both as a tug and a passenger tender. She was fitted with first and second class saloons, allowing her to carry 556 passengers down below, while her large timber-built fore and aft decks gave space for steerage passengers. Her riveted steel hull was strongly constructed to facilitate her work towing and manoeuvring liners in and out of port. Aesthetically, her robust external appearance was well suited to the practicalities of her role as a tug, but the quality of her interiors in terms of both design and craftsmanship were a true reflection of the class structure and society at the time of her build. CALSHOT was afloat in Southampton Docks for many years, before being dismantled at St James' Wharf in 2022.

Author: Hannah Cunliffe, Director, National Historic Ships UK

March 2019 (updated October 2022)