Story

NEWS UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2011 A project brief for the restoration of Perseverance IV has been developed.  However, internal changes within the National Trust have delayed moving the project forward but this should imporve over the next few months.  In the mean time regular maintnece works has continued to ensure Perseverance does not fill up with rain water and is still kept afloat on her mooring.  Your help is still very much needed. The National Trust are able to accept donations now to go towards the Perseverance IV resotration project - so please do keep donating.  Every penny counts and we are grateful for every bit of help Perseverance IV can get. NEWS UPDATE 11TH OCTOBER 2010 It has been announced today that ownership of Perseverance IV has been transferred from the Museum of London to the National Trust.  The Museum of London have also provided an initial lump sum of funding toward the project which is really good news and very much appreciated. This is great news and will provide much needed time to launch a major funding raising campaign to enable the National Trust to restore and look after Perseverance IV for the nation. Watch this space for updates - the intention is to launch the new campaign early in 2011.   Can you help save Perseverance IV and secure her for the nation? The River Wey Navigations, a National Trust property, that uniquely runs through the centre of Surrey, has launched an appeal to raise funds to restore Perseverance IV and ensure she is maintained for future generations to enjoy her story.   Why does she need saving?  While in the ownership of the Museum of London Perseverance IV has suffered from a lack of regular maintenance due to funding shortages and is now in need of a major overhaul. This means she will have to lifted out of the water onto dry land to allow our Master Barge Builder and Shipwright to undertake works to her structure.   Why is Perseverance worth saving – why should you help?   Perseverance lV is a River Wey Barge, the tenth of eleven barges, built in 1935 by GJV Edwards and Sons of Dapdune Wharf for the last navigation owners Wm Stevens & Sons.   She is one of only three of the batch of eleven barges to survive and the only floating example.  The other two barges are Reliance, owned by the National Trust and kept on the graving (dry) dock at Dapdune Wharf, and Speedwell owned by the Waterways Trust and kept at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port where she is believed to be in a very poor condition.   Perseverance is particularly significant to the River Wey Navigations and is an iconic reminder of the commercial importance of the navigations in days gone past and the people who worked and lived along them.   Where will she be kept if the appeal is successful?   Perseverance will be kept at Dapdune Wharf in Guildford where she was originally constructed and initial plans are that she could used to actually provide boat trips for booked groups visiting the Dapdune Wharf How much money is required?   £200,000 is needed now to raise enough money to look after whilst the additional £300,000 needed for a full restoration is secured. The £200,000 will also create a maintenance fund to ensure annual maintenance can be funded forever and that she does not fall into this state of disrepair again.   What will happen to Perseverance if the appeal isn’t successful?   Regrettably the Museum of London nor the National Trust have funds available to look after Perseverance.  If she cannot be saved now, her details will be recorded and then she will be broken up   How long have we got?     Since the National Trust took on ownership of Perseverance IV during October 2011 a very limited amount of emergency work has been undertaken to ensure Perseverance remains water tight and afloat - for now.  The Trust will embark on a full fund rasing campaign in the spring of 2011.  Our own Shipwright, after insepction of Perseverance, feels she may survive as she is at the moment for another 18 months or so - but the longer essential work is put off, the worse the decay and damage taking place to Perseveracne IV.   How can you help?   Make a contribution towards her rescue, upkeep and restoration now. Any amount will help us towards reaching our target.   Tell all your friends and family about the Perseverance and her plight.   You may be able to help in ways we haven’t thought of yet. If you think you can help, please contact the river Wey Navigations on 01483 561389 or e-mail <a href="mailto:riverwey@nationaltrust.org.uk">riverwey@nationaltrust.org.uk</a>.     Thankyou for taking the time to visit Perseverance's JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now.