Great trading ketch

HE Ross looks at the importance of the Garlandstone and why it needs protection

- 

he late Martyn Heighton, creator and director of National Historic Ships, once said, “The Garlandstone is immensely important. It is one of the last wooden trading vessels built in the South West and was made from timber from the Cotehele Estate and built locally at Calstock. There are very few trading vessels like her now remaining anywhere.

The Garlandstone is the old boat whose rounded counter stern can be seen by anybody moving along the River Tamar and passing Morwellham Quay. I went to see her and was able to board and walk on the still stout deck planks. What was obvious was the neglect that was looking toward extinction. I was seeing more than neglect; she had become a monumental show of no importance. Once, little puffs moved her toward Ireland with a crew bored stiff by the lack of progress. Once, she felt the brunt of a Norther as she beat her wet way to Calstock to deliver fruit from Brest. She got stuck a few times making her way up the Tamar and had to string and pull lines from shore to complete a voyage.

The go-anywhere ship

The Garlandstone was one of up to 700 West Country trading ketches working from the southwest of England. The 76ft gaff topsail trading ketch was designed and built by James Goss, who had a vision that the ship could be sailed mainly coastal but with the option of deep water. She was a gamble by Goss; there was a market when construction began, but the build took six years before the ship was sold and launched on 27 January 1909.

The market was just about to move on to engine-driven vessels, and the Garlandstone did not have an engine. Goss had a reputation for designing and building safe, well-built vessels, but Garlandstone proved to be the second-to-last sailing trader to be built in the West Country.