The Purton Hulks Phase 1 Report No 33 Perth Schooner Sarah MacDonad The Friends of Purton Compiled 1 st March 2010
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Contents 1.1 Vessel identification page 5 1.2 Photographic comparison page 6 1.2.1 Historic image c.1963 1.2.2 Current image 2010 1.3 Initial Assessment page 7 1.3.1 Field notes 1.3.2 Field images 1.4 Damage Report page 12 1.4.1 Damage notes 1.4.2 Damage photographs 1.5 Further research page 13 Copyright Louis Paul Barnett & The Friends of Purton, 2010 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing of Louis Paul Barnett or The Friends of Purton. All images not marked remain the sole property of Louis Paul Barnett and are not to be reproduced without prior permission in writing. - 3 -
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1.1 Vessel identification Vessel Name: Sarah MacDonald renamed Voltiac Friends of Purton Site Number: 33 D.G.P.S. grid reference: Bow 051 44.066 002 27.584 Stern 051 44.068 002 27.603 Type: Scottish deepwater Schooner Official Number: 56453 Signal Code: JKCL Builder: Perth New Ship Building Company, Perth Build date: 1867 Rebuilt: 20 th October 1915 Beaching date: August 1953 Dimensions: Length 76.6ft Width 21.3ft Depth 9.8ft Gross tonnage 99 Heading: 108 Significance: Vessel registered in Porth Madoc employed in the slate trade to Aberdeen. Considered to be the only Perth New Ship Building Company built vessel surviving. - 5 -
1.2 Photographic comparison 1.2.1 Sarah MacDonald at Purton c. 1963 1.2.2 Sarah MacDonald 13 th February 2010 (Daniell 2010) - 6 -
1.3 Initial Assessment Sarah MacDonald notes Phase 1 The Friends of Purton PHR1.3.1 Surveyor name(s) N Baker Date of survey: 12-02-10 Site description Extended linear foreshore feature representing mature grassland and riverine marsh fringe over alluvial shale, mud and silt deposits. Vessel Name Sarah MacDonald Vessel Site No. 33 Vessel type Schooner Official number 56453 Highlight vessel position on the plan: Note extent of remains: Bow: Bow stem only Port side: Hull framing survives but most planking gone Stern: Stern post and rudder visible Starboard side: mostly buried Visible external dimensions Length: 23.90m Width: 6.60m Depth: 170m Heading: 108º Visible internal height Bow: 0.44m Port: 1.68m Starboard: 0.95m Stern: 0.69m Height, in metres, of tallest visible part (state which): Port side hull framing at 1.70m Probe survey depth of buried features 0.98m Vessel O.S. Grid reference SO 68350 04070 Vessel Construction: Wooden Clinker or Carvel built oakum visible not visible. Concrete Metal Composite Stern design: Square Canoe Elliptical Not obvious Structures: Rudder Futtocks Keelson Mast step Cargo Cabin Pintle Port holes Mast fixings Internal planking stringers, wales Funnel External planking stringers, wales Chain plates Wooden knees Gunwale Engine housing Boiler Bowstem Iron knees Cross bracing Bilge pumps Keel Sternpost Ballast holds Other: Cross beam Fixings: Treenails Nails Spikes Other: Mooring/towing gear: Nuts bolts Rivets Anchors Winch Fairleads Other: Iron bow Rubbing strakes wood (sides) Samson post Cleats framing metal (bow) Wood / metal Markings Tar covering Toolmarks Rope marks Other: Builders' marks Paint (e.g. numerals) Other observed features: Field notes & observations The position of rudder in relation to the stern post suggests that much of it may remain buried in situ and intact. Some internal and external planking is visible on the port side near the stern. - 7 -
Figure 1: External view of the Sarah MacDonald bowstem (Baker, 2010). Figure 2: Starboard view of bowstem (Baker, 2010). Figure 3: Port view of bowstem (Baker, 2010). - 8 -
Figure 4: External view of Sarah MacDonald s rudder post (Baker, 2010). Figure 5: Starboard side view of rudder post (left) and stern post (right). Port side remains can be seen in the distance (Baker, 2010). - 9 -
Figure 6: Port side view of rudder post (right) and stern post (left) (Baker, 2010). Figure 7: Oblique aerial view of Sarah MacDonald. The bow is lower left in the picture (Fenton, 2009). - 10 -
Figure 8: View along the starboard side of Sarah MacDonald (from bow to stern) showing surviving iron knees (Baker, 2010). - 11 -
Sarah MacDonald damage report Phase 1 The Friends of Purton PHR1.4.1 Known historical overview of damage: Arson total destruction 1986 (see fig 1) Record all signs of observed damage (tick predominant type/s) Removal of man-made features Excavation Bait digging Graffiti Irresponsible recreation Burning Timber salvage Vandalism Vehicle disturbance BBQ Metal recovery Erosion Other activity (please specify) Climbing Trophy removal Vandalism Natural dispersal of timbers on the tide Noted period of damage: (tick) Historic Current On-going Location of damage on vessel: Bows Stern Port Starboard Entire Vessel Estimated levels of damage <30% <50% <70% to approximate remaining visible timbers Estimated archaeology remaining <30% <50% <70% above current ground levels Appraise/rate location as per environmental damage (tick) Imminent Marginal None apparent Vegetation coverage Dense Medium Low Area of deposition (tick) Bow Amidships Stern Port Starboard Area of erosion (tick): Bow Amidships Stern Port Starboard Photographs (dated copies) of newly damaged areas attached: YES NO Site photographs (tick) YES NO Submitted to archive YES NO Field Notes compiled (tick) YES NO Submitted to archive YES NO Image References Thumbnail image of damage (insert digital picture) figure 1 Continued incidents of arson SIGNED:... PRINT: L P BARNETT DATE: 31 st January 2010 TIME: 11.00 2.00 PM - 12 -
1.5 Further research * Immediate 3D laser scanning required due to eminent danger of collapse It is proposed to conduct an ongoing programme of in depth archaeological surveys to include: Phase Two: duration 2011-2014 Full DGPS site survey Comprehensive programme of historical research and data review Full off set archaeological survey Comprehensive scale drawing survey Photo-mosaic survey Full depth probe survey Phase two final report submission date 2014 Phase Three: duration 2013-2015 Aerial survey Ground penetrating magnetometer survey Comprehensive 3D Laser survey Limited excavation amidships - intersecting port/starboard to determine keel construction and condition. Limited excavation stern - intersecting rudder to determine construction and condition. Ongoing annual monitoring programme of decomposition Phase three final report submission date 2015-13 -