October 2024
The wheel on board the Spurn Lightship is one of the many focal points with visitors and played a vital role in its hey day.
The Spurn Lightship had no engines but it could steer. This steering gear and wheel were used when the ship was being towed into position or back to shore.
This steering gear had a special mechanism. If the person steering wanted to set the wheel to straight ahead (amidships), they simply had to let go of the wheel. It would then return to that position automatically. In the dark they could check this had happened by feeling for a small notch or stud on one of the wheel’s spokes.
Thanks to volunteers Graham N, Phillipa and Graham I, the wheel has been restored and will take pride of place on board once again.
The oak wheel was stripped back to bare wood with organic stripper using a brush and to remove the paint. Paint in some of the areas was tough to remove and they had to use a metal scraper and some of the old scars of its life remain. This part of the process took two days to complete.
The next stage was sanding the wheel to even it out and this also took two days to complete, and this was needed prior to staining.
Graham then started staining the wheel and three further coats of varnish will be needed to create depth and show anomalies of years working at sea. The end grains have absorbed varnish and may need further coating.
Other elements of restoration included removing the paint of the hub, cleaning the brass with wire wool and raking out and cleaning the original screw holes. As part of this work, an Admiralty mark on the wheel was uncovered along with two additional holes that Graham thinks might have held long gone makers marks.
The finishing touches were made with the hub being painted along with the brass being polished.
Graham has enjoyed restoring the wheel and has volunteered for Hull Maritime for several years, conserving artefacts from the maritime collection as well as the Fishermen’s Mission Bethel Boards loaned to us from STAND, which will go on display in the North End Shipyard visitor centre.
He started out as an apprentice French Polisher and has always had an interest in woodwork. In his spare time, he carves wood and builds wooden ships to scale and his latest creation is a model of the Mary Rose, which has taken nearly four years to complete.
Our thanks go to both Grahams and Phillipa for their continued support and giving our maritime treasures some vital TLC.
