Looking at RRS Discovery’s last restorations in 2016

Dundee Heritage Trust is the only independent charity in Scotland that cares for two Recognised Collections of National Significance (our Jute and Polar Collections), whilst operating two five-star visitor attractions. We are custodians of over 9,000 inspiring objects at both Discovery Point and Verdant Works Museum; including the Royal Research Ship (RRS) Discovery.

The RRS Discovery is currently undergoing a major conservation project; but did you know this is not the first time that the ship has undergone restoration in Dundee? In this blog, we’ll look at Discovery’s repairs in 2016. 

The expert team at Dundee Heritage Trust continually assess and repair the RRS Discovery, however the last time she received repairs on this level by external shipbuilders was back in 2016.  

With the RRS Discovery being launched in 1901 and having stood the test of time for 115 years, repairs were necessary at the time. When it came to repairing the ship in 2016, there were several hurdles that the team needed to overcome to make it a success. 

The entirety of the 2016 renovations took seven months to complete and were fuelled by a £40,000 crowdfunding campaign. 

Kickstarting on 1 November 2016, the spars on the ship were removed, along with the upper main and foremasts. After they were taken down, they were transferred to the T. Nielson & Company shipyard in Gloucester for refurbishment and rebuilding. 

Arriving in Gloucestershire, the masts and rigging were refurbished by T. Nielson, over the course of April and May 2017. 

The masts were brought back to Dundee, but after arriving, they of course had to be installed back on to the ship. It was a daring task, involving cranes to reinstate the enormous masts.  

By early July 2017, works were completed, and the ship reopened to the public after months of renovation. 

How do the 2016 and 2024 renovations compare? 

The 2024 renovations are slightly different, however, the principle remains the same; to ensure that the RRS Discovery can be enjoyed by visitors for generations to come. 

The 2024 major conservation project has come with thanks to funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund; who donated £1.4 million to Dundee Heritage Trust to aid Discovery’s renovation. Work was announced in February 2024, and work is currently ongoing. Despite this funding, the Trust continually fundraise towards the continued care of the RRS Discovery; with museum admission fees, hospitality and fundraising generating over 98% of the charity’s income. 

The difference with RRS Discovery‘s current conservation project is that there is a focus on other areas of the ship, with the work revolving around the stern and deck.

This time, work is being carried out by JPS Restoration. The major works program for the Discovery will encompass essential restoration on various sections of the ship’s ageing wooden structure.  

Initially, priority is being given to the deck and stern support. Restoration will begin with the internal hull, bow, and propeller shaft, addressing decay in the stern timbers. The portside bulwarks will be tackled in a subsequent phase, with work expected to extend throughout 2024 and into 2025. 

Conservation engineer Jim Mitchell from Industrial Heritage Consulting says: “JPS Restoration Ltd and Industrial Heritage Consulting have worked on many projects together over a number of years and in many locations, but we feel particularly proud and honoured to be given the opportunity to carry out this significant piece of restoration work on such an iconic vessel.  

“It is an opportunity to demonstrate that such work can be carried out in Scotland by Scottish companies and we will be harvesting a broad swathe of skills to confirm this. We hope to work with Dundee Heritage Trust to build in an element of training and skills sharing, and we are already speaking to the Scottish Maritime Museum’s pioneering Boatbuilding school about being involved… We look forward to talking to the visitors about this amazing project.”

The ship remains open to visitors, allowing them to see the restoration first hand; something that couldn’t be done during the previous renovations. Everyone at Discovery Point looks forward to welcoming people aboard to see the ship as they’ve never seen it before and to witness traditional heritage engineering skills!