The Endeavour - Stondon Transport Museum, Station Road, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire, UK - Landlocked Boats on Waymarking.com

The Museum describes the ship:
'H.M. Bark Endeavour Replica

Lieutenant James Cooks' 1768 voyage in H.M. Bark Endeavour was one of the most important voyages of discovery in navigation and natural sciences. We have constructed on site a life size replica of this famous ship.

Historical Information
The "Earl of Pembroke" was a collier built in Whitby, Yorkshire in 1765. It was purchased by the Admiralty after being recommended by Captain Cook as eminently suited for the voyages proposed, and renamed her H.M. Bark Endeavour. Colliers were the 18th century equivalents of modern bulk carriers, solidly built with flat bottoms and ample storage, in fact purpose built to allow ingress in shallow uncharted waters, slow and sturdy, sea kindly and safe even in rough weathers.

The Endeavour was used on Captain Cooks first great circumnavigation of the globe in 1768-71.Accompanied by Joseph Banks and Doctor Daniel Solander over 2,500 new species of plants were discovered. Cook also became the first captain able to calculate his longitudal position with accuracy using complex mathematical formulae developed in the early 1760s. Cook was also famous for feeding his crew boiled cabbage, lemon juice and fresh greens which wiped out forever the dreaded scurvy caused by lack of vitamins, something sailors have been grateful for ever since.

Replica Construction
After due consideration and the careful study of our site we decided on constructing the Endeavour to enable children today the unique experience of seeing life as it was on these primitive ships.

We obtained a copy of the original draught 1768 from the National Maritime Museum and commenced construction in sections developed from these drawings (photographs of the different stages of construction are on display in the forward fall).

We have omitted the hold where all the provisions, water, ammunition etc were stored. Constructing our ship from the waterline up increased the headroom between the lower deck and after fall by about 1 foot for your viewing comfort.

The mess tables are suspended on ropes allowing them to be lifted up to provide extra protection for the the crew if attacked, likewise the hammocks, which incidently were hung at 14 inch centres according to the original specifications making condition for the 98 men on board somewhat cramped. We will continue fitting out over the next 12 months including suitable tableaux in each cabin, masts and rigging up to main mast top, deck guns, skiff etc.'

Is there a tour: Yes If boat is a garden what was planted in it: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   12/06/2009 bill&ben visited it