Prince Charles admires efforts to save historic 'last of the wooden walls' Royal Navy warship submerged in docks that 'could still be saved'

As reported, calls to save former Portsmouth-based mahogany-hulled Ton-class minesweeper HMS Bronington were recently aired despite her currently semi-submerged in Birkenhead Docks, Merseyside, with little hope of being saved.

The ship, originally commissioned as HMS Humber in 1954, is affectionately viewed as the last of the ‘wooden walls’ representing an ‘important’ part of Great Britain’s naval history and is on National Historic Ship’s fleet of vessels.

But despite various attempts over the years – including from Prince Charles, patron of the now defunct Bronington Trust – no one has been able to save the once-proud ship, which continues to decay in the Liverpool harbour.

Former navy chief weapons engineering artificer Mike McBride, who served on the Ton-class minehunter HMS Iveston between 1987 and 1990, was leading the recent calls to save Bronington, with Portsmouth North MP and naval reservist Penny Mordaunt backing the move and offering to lobby government and write to the Royal Family.

National Historic Ships and the Ton Class Association have all but written off Bronington with many of the ship’s assets removed by the Imperial War Museum, National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Ton Class Association.

‘We recognise that given her current condition and the previous attempts to find a home for her, it may not be possible to save her,’ a spokeswoman for National Historic Ships said in October.

Yet despite the gloomy outlook over saving Bronington, Peel Ports Group, which took over ownership of the vessel in 2006 by default after the Warship Preservation Trust went into administration, has revealed the ship could be salvaged.

‘The vessel is currently berthed at Birkenhead within the statutory harbour of Mersey. Ongoing discussions are taking place between Peel Ports Group and stakeholders regarding the future of this vessel,’ a spokeswoman for Peel Ports said.

The spokeswoman said the firm had liaised with a number of authorities over the years, before adding: ‘It could be saved – it would need some work though. At the moment there is no real direction but if someone wants to come and talk to us then we are open to that.

‘It’s hard to make any decision and it’s not really on the agenda at the moment.’

Gary Doyle, group harbour master of Mersey Docks, said Bronington – which sank at her moorings on March 17, 2016 – was on its ‘abandoned ships list’ and said he was unaware of any recent approaches to save her after previous discussions seemingly wrote her off.

‘National Historic Ships said the best way ahead for the vessel was to dispose of her and to start looking at how we go about it,’ he said.

But with talks having dried up since, Bronington remains submerged and deteriorating in the Victoria Dock – with a glimmer of hope still remaining.

‘The ship is sat there and is not causing any problems. It is one of the things we need to deal with in due course,’ Mr Doyle said.

The harbour master told The News he thought it would need a big effort to save Bronington. ‘If there are people with enough money then anything is possible,’ he said.

‘If there are people that want to discuss it then we are always open to talking. But they would need to go in with their eyes open and be realistic.’

Meanwhile Waterlooville-based Mr McBride admitted he was pleased Bronington still had not been totally written-off after ‘virtually giving up’ on her.

‘You just don’t know who could be interested,’ he said. ‘There is high profile support with the likes of Ms Mordaunt.

‘But National Historic Ships are vital in this as they are sponsored by the government so they’ve got the money.

‘Bronington’s already done the hard work by being on the historic fleet register, meaning she is proven to be a unique vessel. But it doesn’t mean she will be saved, it still needs the funding.’

The former navy servant also revealed he received a response from Clarence House to his letter to Prince Charles over the matter. ‘It was brilliant to get the letter,’ he said. ‘It was an interesting response and nice to hear they are pleased with my efforts to resurrect her.’

Mr McBride admitted he was disappointed with the Ton Class Association for ‘giving up on one of their ships’ before adding: ‘That never sat right with me. The vessel is not just made of wood, she has an aluminium frame and was built to withstand mines and was robust.’

Mr McBride added he was considering launching a fundraising effort to save Bronington. ‘If not enough money is raised then it can always go to other worthy naval charities,’ he said.

SEE ALSO: New ship joins fleet

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