Cutty Sark bolt returns to spiritual home in Bervie

An original ship’s bolt from the Cutty Sark has been presented to the Mearns village of the famous clipper’s designer.

Hercules Linton, who drew up the plans for the 1869 vessel, is buried in Inverbervie kirkyard.

A Historic Scotland plaque to him was unveiled at the grave by Jessica Lewis, curator of the Cutty Sark at Greenwich, a popular London tourist attraction.

And at a celebratory dinner she presented an original bolt — which held the woodwork to the metal frame of the hull — to Mearns Heritage director Dave Ramsay.

It will be displayed in the Maggie Law Maritime Museum in Gourdon as part of the Museum’s Cutty Sark gallery.

Among those attending the ceremony was Marion Lapper from Dublin, a direct descendant of Mr Linton, Aberdeenshire Council Provost Hamish Vernal and Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire Carol Kinghorn.

Frank Ferguson of Arbroath Burns Club gave a rendition of Tam O’ Shanter, emphasising the words “weel done Cutty Sark”.

William Burnes, the father of Scotland’s national poet, was born at nearby Clochnahill.

Mr Ramsay said: “It was a pleasure and a great privilege to hear Jessica Lewis weave together the Cutty Sark, Hercules Linton and Inverbervie connections.

“This was a huge surprise to me, to be gifted a tremendously authentic and important exhibit, as this is the only piece of Cutty Sark ever to return to Scotland since her launch at Dumbarton in 1869. It is a major success and responsibility for the museum to have such a prized exhibit.”