Shipbuilders Block Model

A large an impressive ships hull that was purchased from the closing down sale at Mashfod's ship yard at Cremyll, Cornwall in 2003.

The yard at Cremyll has a long and industrious history being established way back in 1774 and in the period 1779 – 1812 was run by John Parkin and they built 28 vessels including several customs cutters, armed privateer boats and smuggling vessels. The Banks family then took control and from 1823 -1852 they built at least 49 vessels many of them schooners for the fruit trade to the Azores and the Mediterranean. In the period 1875 – 1905 they built the first steamboats, the Armadillo and the Shuttlecock for the Cremyll Ferry in the 1880s; by WWII they received commissions from neighbouring RAF Mountbatten for smaller inshore craft. The Mashford family first leased the yard in 1930 and they soon developed a significant reputation for both quality and design of their wooden boats. During the Second World War some of their work included building small boats for RAF Mount Batten. Mashford Brothers was then acquired by Appledore Shipbuilders in 1999 but their grandiose business plans failed and went into liquidation in 2003 and the assets, including this model, were sold off at auction.

Sadly we have no idea what vessel she represents but was clearly a significant vessel. The hull carries the original grey paint that is showing significant age wear but this reflects the 'chabby chic' look currently favoured by interior designers. We have left it exactly as it came to us but the paint could easily be stripped and the hull waxed and polished but we will leave that decision to the new owners. The deck remains unpainted and carries hatch pencil marks, we assume drawn by the ships architect. We considered for a moment sectioning the model and mounted on appropriate hardwood back it would make not one but two block models but again we prefer to leave it in its original state. It is quite an impressive size measuring 59.5" stem to stern (151 cm), a beam of 9" (23 cm) and she stands 5" from the base of the hull to her deck (13 cm). Despite her history being lost a large and impressive model with loads of display potential.