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SS Robin
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| "This
picture was taken on Friday the 18th of October .This ship was
used
for coal. The ship is going to be used by schools to see pictures.
It was used hundreds of years ago." By Darren |
The SS Robin is moored in Docklands and is being restored
to give it a new lease of life in Canary Wharf's West India Quay as a
photography gallery and education centre. It is a classic 19th century
steamcoaster, Robin's history is linked to the story of Docklands.
The last of her kind in the world, she was built in 1890
at Orchard House Yard in Bow Creek, London. Steamcoasters such as Robin
plied the Thames until the 1950's. The work of Robin, like many other
ships was vital to the economy of the UK. Robin last steamed the Thames
in 1974.
During the 160- year life as a working dock system West
India Dock contributed significantly to the prosperity of the UK, and
by 1860 the Isle of Dogs had become the trading hub of the world.
We found
out lots of things about the SS Robin from David Kampfner. |
| Now he
wants to find out things from you!
Click the  Quicktime
play buttons to hear his questions. If you can't hear the sound
click the 
image to SEE the question.
Type your answers in the boxes
below, then click on the MOUTH below. |
The restoration of the Robin as a photography gallery will
save materials which might otherwise be scrapped. Much of the restoration
work is being undertaken with waste materials from building sites in
Docklands. Metal, wood and other materials are being reused; this means
that valuable
raw materials and energy are being saved.
You can find out more about the Robin at www.ssrobin.com
Children from Cyril Jackson school visited the SS Robin and interviewed
David Kampfner about the work being carried out on the ship:
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| "I
took the picture of the robin ship. It is a very old
ship.
It was made about one hundred years ago. The ship was
built in 1890". By Khayser |
When did the boat first get built? It was built in
1890
Was it in the War? It was in the Spanish War, the
Spanish Civil war in 1930.
Where did this boat travel to first? It was built
down the road in Bow. It needed engines which were in Scotland,
so it had to go to Scotland to get it's engines. It was pulled;
towed all the way to Scotland for it's engines. It's a big
old steam engine. |
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| "I
like this picture because it shows the cranes that load
and unload the cargo from the ship. The ship is going
to be a photography gallery when it is finished."
By Daisy |
What do you want to turn this boat into? We want to turn
it into a photography gallery, so we can get schools coming
in, and learning about the world through pictures. We want it
to be a floating classroom, but you're not allowed to jump off!
What kind of pictures are you going to put on the boat?
It's going to be, what we call documentary; pictures of the
world, of places you may have travelled to, or you may not
have travelled to.
When about are you going to build the photo gallery?
We are starting now and we hope to get it together in about
two years. It sounds like a long time, but it's a lot of work.
Why are the ropes ripped and dirty? Have you heard
the expression "Money for old rope" That means money for nothing.
There are lots of good expressions that come from the sea,
that's one of the things we want [children] to learn about.
We also want to have storytelling on the ship.
Do you know any good storytellers? Are you a good storyteller?
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| "This
picture was taken on Friday the 18 of October this ship
was used to transport coal. The boat on top is a lifeboat
because it travels long distances." By Asef |
Are you going to be using brand new materials to fix the
boat, or recycled materials? We would like to use recycled
materials, we want to use some of the materials that come
from these building sites, because they throw a lot of stuff
away. We are trying to get hold of some wood now. |
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