Name Pinmill

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.

PINMILL was built as an open passenger launch by the Whitstable Barge Co. and fitted out by the Dan Marine Motor & Shipbuilding Co., Ipswich. She is of carvel timber construction, having oak beams and mainly elm planking. Her teak wheelhouse originally consisted only of two sides and a front for use by railway staff. Her primary mode of propulsion was an engine. Her original engine was a 2 cylinder Dan paraffin engine, but this was replaced in 1916 by a single cylinder British Kromhout engine, which survived until 1967. Her current engine is a three cylinder 35 bhp Lister built in 1966. She underwent major conservation works in the 1990s which included substantial re-planking, re-fastening and re-caulking. The steel engine room casing was replaced with modern materials. Her hull was originally painted dark blue, but she was painted white in 1996 for sun protection purposes. In 1998 her forward shelter was removed.  She is now undergoing further conservation work.

2.      What are the vessel’s associational links for which there is no physical evidence?

Associations with people or places.  Off-ship research.

PINMILL has strong regional associations to the East Coast resulting from seventy-five years of continuous service in Harwich Harbour, with: the Great Eastern Railway; the London and North Eastern Railway; British Rail; and more recently, with Sealink.  She was first employed by Sir Thomas Lipton’s company in 1911 distributing victuals to the Navy under government contract and the following year was purchased to act as a ferry operating within Harwich Harbour for the Great Eastern Railway Company Ltd.  PINMILL is significant for having served the Royal Navy during both World Wars.  In the First, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty to service the Harwich Force and she was again commandeered between 1939 and 1945. The rest of PINMILL’s working life saw her operating either as a passenger craft or a workboat.  She has been recorded on the National Register of Historic Vessels since 1996 and copies of drawings showing her original configuration as an open decked launch still survive.

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?

PINMILL was originally designed and built as an open passenger launch with a pointed bow, a transom stern and a plumb straight stem. As a small ferry boat she was designed to be functional rather than aesthetically appealing, but her bright yellow central funnel and canopied after deck nevertheless contributed to a cheerful and reassuring presence. She continues to be conserved for operational use and will re-enter commercial trade as a passenger boat according to her original function.  However, she will be based in future on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.  

Source: NHS-UK team, 13 April 2017. 

This statement was developed as part of the Heritage Lottery funded First World War project. http://www.ww1britainssurvivingvessels.org.uk/