FAMOUS SOUTHAMPTON LANDMARK ‘CALSHOT SPIT’ LIGHT VESSEL SAVED FROM THE SCRAP MAN
The 170 ton Lighthouse Ship has been transported through the streets of Southampton to the Solent Sky Museum back in December 2019. The Calshot Spit was a well-known landmark in the city of Southampton for many years when it guarded the gates to Ocean Village. The Lightship will be restored and opened for the public to enjoy.
The Lightvessel LV 78 Calshot Spit is a rare survivor of the classic lightships which have protected Britain’s seaways since the eighteenth century. Built in 1914 by Thornycroft in Southampton, the ship guided all the great liners of the golden age of sea travel into the city. Inside the ship are crew cabins, a tiny galley, and workshops for the crew of six who lived and worked in cramped and basic conditions for up to six months at a time, keeping the light and foghorn functioning. The lantern was operated during fog, and also at night, from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise. In addition to their duties operating the light, crews kept a record of passing ships.
Calshot Spit was retired in 1965 and replaced with an unmanned buoy. She was placed on public display at Ocean Village, where she became a popular ‘gate guardian’ until increasing residential development forced her removal in 2010. Solent Sky stepped in to save her from the scrap-man’s torch and transported her by road to a temporary home at Southampton docks, where extensive work has been carried out to restore her.
Now, the Calshot Spit has moved again from Southampton docks, and is ready to move to permanent display at Solent Sky Museum. Once installed at the museum, the Trustees of Solent Sky have drawn up plans to complete her restoration and open the vessel to the public as a cafe so that visitors can enjoy this wonderful historic vessel up-close. Alongside others, it’s the support from ABP that has made it possible to move this historic vessel to its new home.
About Solent Sky
Hampshire and the Solent region were the centre of the world for aviation research and development between 1910 and 1960. More than 26 aircraft manufacturers made this area their home and built everything from biplanes to spacecraft, and of course the legendary Spitfire. Solent Sky depicts the incredible story of aviation in Hampshire and the Solent region, with more than 20 airframes from the golden age of aviation.
Solent Sky Museum has preserved the aeronautical heritage of Hampshire since 1974. Since its inception, the museum has developed a reputation for rescuing local heritage which was under threat. In its 40+ years of operation, the museum has expanded to incorporate more endangered heritage, most notably acquiring the Short Sandringham flying boat Beachcomber, one of only three
such surviving aircraft, in 1984. More recently, the museum has expanded once again to offer the Hampshire Police and Fire Heritage Trust a large space for their displays of local history, and
workshops for the restoration of artefacts. Now, Solent Sky stands at the brink of another major expansion to rescue endangered industrial heritage – the Lightvessel LV78 Calshot Spit.
For further information please email us on aviation@spitfireonline.co.uk or telephone 02380 635830.
Credit: http://www.investinsouthampton.co.uk/news/story.aspx?id=tcm:64-423621