ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN 2-YEAR PROJECT TO RESTORE HISTORIC CRANES

COLEG Meirion-Dwyfor students have begun a major two-year project to restore Georgian cranes at historic fortress Caer Belan.

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Learners studying Marine Engineering in Pwllheli will use 21st-Century design techniques to aid the refurbishment of two cranes which have stood at the fort's dock since the early 1800s.

Along with lecturer Ellis Morey, the students visited the site near Dinas Dinlle, Pen Llŷn recently to take measurements and make technical drawings of the cranes, which they will use to create computer-aided design (CAD) blueprints.

This summer, staff and students will transport one of the cranes to the Hafan campus in Pwllheli, where they will restore it to its original glory before beginning work on the second crane.

Caer Belan was built in 1775 by Thomas Wynn, later to become Lord Newborough, who was worried about potential attacks to Britain's coastline amid the American War of Independence. During the Second World War it was used as a base for the Home Guard and for rescue launches.