On BBC news this morning (21-May-2007) it was reported that the 19th century Cutty Sark moored in London was ablaze.
This piece of maritime history will be a great loss to Britain and the world.
So far the fire brigade is treating the fire as "suspicious".
Edited:
Sorry got the century wrong!
A pity indeed! I haven't read any news on this and I've been away from the telly a while too, so I am not aware of any updates to this story.
It wouldn't be unusual for some idiot to try and destroy something like this, the same way they've desecrated tombs and destroyed other objects and places of historical significance. Of course, it could have been an accident or due to negligence.
Whatever the reason, it's a great loss if an important ship like this is totally destroyed and cannot be repaired. It's a great help when people can see a physical representation of what they've read about in the history books, studied at school, or heard about on the History channel or whatever.
Personally, I think it's amazing what sailors and people of that time had to go through and endure. Recent box office hits like Pirates of the Carribean stimulate interest in the past, and it's great for kids to be able to see ships like this. If she's gone, it would indeed be a tragic loss.
Muhahahahaha, i don't watch the news
As this is resurrected with the last pointless post, does anyone know the latest news on this?
Should it be restored? Perhaps not. Surely it would be better to invest the money in building a sea-worthy sail-training ship modelled on the Cutty Sark? A week on the 'New Cutty Sark' could be offered as a national school prize for the kids who do best, make most progress, succeed against near-impossible odds, whatever. For many that would be a huge inspiration.
Just a thought.
It is sad to lose such a precious monument of time to a fire. That thing was very old and it will be missed by all of us brits.
Its a shame that a historic symbol like Cutty Sark was destroyed this way...something that demands an urgent reflection
