City museum exhibit’s got pulling power
A piece of Royal Navy history built in Bath has been restored and put on show at the Museum of Bath at Work.
The rare ship “winch” built by Bath engineering company Stothert and Pitt and used aboard Royal Navy warships during the Second World War, has been lovingly repaired, repainted and restored to its former glory by a team of engineer volunteers from the museum - thanks to funding from the West of England Combined Authority.
Originally electrically powered, the 1.5-tonne hand-operated winch, made in the city in 1932, would have been used to lift heavy machinery aboard the ships that helped defeat Hitler’s Germany.
The winch has been mounted upon a recently mined block of Bath Stone – donated by the Bath Stone Company in Limpley Stoke - and installed on the front courtyard outside the museum.
West of England Mayor Dan Norris removed a white Ensign flag which proudly flew on the World War Ii-era HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier to unveil the winch in front of a crowd of guests.
He said: “This is an important piece of Royal Navy, and West of England, history. I want to thank Stuart and his team of dedicated volunteers who have spent months restoring this ship winch to its former glory.
“Stothert and Pitt is an important part of our great region’s industrial heritage. The cast iron items they built in Bath dotted the docks of the West, and were shipped all over the world.
“The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority I lead is committed to working with local people on projects that bring pride to our area.” Funding from the Mayor has also
nd seen the museum install new wall mounted displays in the museum galleries as well as new exterior lighting.
Museum of Bath at Work director, Stuart Burroughs, added: “Products from Bath made by Stothert and Pitt were exported across the globe and the firm was known as ‘The World’s Crane makers’, but they were famous for much more. We celebrate business and innovation in the city, both past and present, and this is tangible proof of our mission.”
Stothert and Pitt was founded in 1855 and made cast iron items in the city including the four famous Grade II listed electric cranes outside M Shed on Bristol’s harbour-side. The grant is part of a £140,000-plus mayoral fund designed to support museums and other local attractions across the region called the Small Museums Fund.