White Rose 1899

White Rose 1899

We embarked upon a project to restore a 19th century gaff cutter, White Rose. The Ashburner Brothers built the yacht, in Barrow in 1899. The White Rose was sold to the Furness Maritime Trust in 1987, and in April 2007 we moved her into the Dock Museum ready to be restored to her former racing condition.

The conservation of White Rose was a three-year project. The first year was about stabilising her. Year two focused on restoring her hull, deck and coach roof.

Interestingly the boat was extended three times, around 1905 to 1912. In the midsection the bow and the central hull overlap, as does the beam shelf, it’s very neat, clever but made a full replank below waterline interesting. A similar scarfing techique was used on the stern, eventually extending the boat by 9ft6′ to her present length 39′ 6″.

The original deck larch, also showed many of the extensions but was too tired to save, inspection rrevealed that underneath the deck beams in the main to be sound , as was the pitch pine beamshelf.

The stem, as well as the counterpost needed replacement.

The third and final year of the project we rebuilt the coachroof and cockpit to original photos, we rebuilt the interior, fitting deck gear and a dummy mast, but a full length boom, bowsprit and their associated standing and running rigging.

The Dock Museum acquired funds for this project from the Furness Maritime Trust, Barrow-Borough Council and donations from visitors. “White Rose is a beautiful vessel and it’s exciting to see more of the original boat. You can see the pine hull and she looks like the race-winner that she was for so many years. It was so dramatic having White Rose lifted in through the roof of the building and I’m delighted at the excellent high-end finish.” Sabine Skae, Dock Museum. 

White Rose 1899
White Rose 1899
White Rose 1899
White Rose 1899
White Rose 1899
White Rose 1899
White Rose 1899