HMS Unicorn is the most original wooden ship remaining from the 19th century and the oldest British-built ship still afloat.
Launched in 1824 at Chatham, she reached Dundee in 1873 and spent nearly a century as a Royal Navy training ship. After moving to Victoria Dock in the 1960s, the Unicorn Preservation Society (UPS) took ownership in 1969, ensuring her preservation as a museum and heritage site.
Now, UPS is looking to enhance HMS Unicorn’s place as a cultural heritage asset through an ambitious restoration and development project that aligns with Dundee’s wider waterfront regeneration plans.
East Graving Dock has been proposed as HMS Unicorn’s potential future home. Constructed between 1869 and 1875, it sits within Dundee’s Victoria Dock and is B-listed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Beckett Rankine carried out surveys of East Graving Dock to inform a larger options study for the vessel’s conservation.
A visual inspection, a drone survey and underwater scan – the latter two carried out by SEP Hydrographics – were conducted to assess the dock’s condition and identify any further investigations that may be required.
Beckett Rankine was appointed to perform an options study on the long-term preservation of HMS Unicorn. The findings went on to inform UPS’ conservation plan, and are the foundations of the Project Safe Haven that aims to preserve the vessel for posterity.
The aim was to find the best way to preserve as much of the ship’s historic material as possible whilst ensuring her stability and safety for public visitors.
The study involved thorough investigations of the ship and available methods of transporting her to a new, permanent home. It concluded that HMS Unicorn should be preserved long-term under a rainwater cover, in a dry condition, and supported in an appropriate cradle.
Additionally, stakeholder engagement – including a public consultation with over 2,500 participants – demonstrated overwhelming support for HMS Unicorn’s conservation and development.
The investigations identified and prioritised the repairs, including targeted interim works to strengthen Unicorn’s hull. The strengthening will enable her safe transit into the dry dock when the vessel can be fully surveyed to inform Unicorn’s long-term preservation plans.
Beckett Rankine has been appointed as project manager overseeing the hull strengthening programme of works, designed by Fenton Holloway.
We are also conducting a drying-out study to assess how best to prepare the vessel for drydocking, which will include preservation management of the historic fibre and considerations such as treatments, climate control and painting options.
