Tay-berthed ship’s daily work, rest and play for youngsters

Thanks go to Dundee University’s Archive Services team for the picture below showing the juvenile training ship Mars, which was broken up almost a century ago.

The unit’s Dr Kenneth Baxter has been looking into the vessel’s story, and says: “A familiar sight in the Tay for almost 60 years, the ship started life as HMS Mars and was launched from Chatham Dockyard in 1848. She was the last of nine two-deck, 80-gun second-rate ships in a line built for the Royal Navy, also known as the Vanguard-class after the first of their number.

“After service in the Crimean War and being stationed in the Mediterranean, it was announced in 1869 that she had been offered by the Admiralty to a committee based in Dundee which was seeking to establish a training ship on the Tay.

“This scheme was motivated by a desire to provide a useful occupation to homeless, destitute and deprived boys, with the fear that they could otherwise fall into criminal activity. It was also noted by some of the promoters that there was a concern about a shortage of young men with seamanship skills and that such a scheme would help to tackle this issue.

“Her arrival in the Tay in mid-August 1869 attracted much interest and steamer trips were organised to allow locals to see the vessel, which was moored off Woodhaven. An official opening ceremony, attended by over 500 people who were ferried to the ship from Dundee and Newport, was performed on October 20 1869.

“Over the years she would be home to thousands of boys, including many sent to her by magistrates after engaging in criminal behaviour as she functioned as an industrial school. By 1929, she was judged in poor condition and was closed. In June of that year, she was towed away from the Tay to the Forth where she would be broken up.”

This Perthshire scene from the very early 20th Century shows Methven’s Church Road and Logiealmond Church, built in 1793.