Daniel Adamson gets Lottery funding

The UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund has approved a first round pass application to assist the Society work towards a second round application next year. A first round pass means the project meets the criteria for funding and the Fund believe it has potential to deliver high quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. The Society resubmitted a fresh application following an unsuccessful bid last year.

Daniel Adamson is the UK’s last steam tug tender, built at Tranmere in 1903 to operate as an Ellesmere Port – Liverpool passenger ferry and barge towing service. Later sold to the Manchester Ship Canal in 1921 as a tug and with a new art deco double-deck saloon, it acted as the directors’ inspection vessel.

The coal fired ship will be restored to public service, sailing from Liverpool Cruise Terminal or the city centre Canning Dock to destinations all over the Mersey, Weaver and Ship Canal.

Sara Hilton, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund – North West said, “We’re delighted to be giving our support to the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society for their vision to restore this very special historic vessel. We believe their latest plans have great potential and we’d like to commend everyone involved for their tenacity and passion in developing them. We’ll be working closely with the Society in the coming months as they progress the project further.”

Paul Atterbury, DAPS president and Antiques Roadshow expert said, “I am so pleased to hear that the Heritage Lottery Fund Round One application has now been approved. This is a major step and the door is now open to the road that, hopefully, will lead to the fulfilment of all our hopes. It brings the dream of seeing ‘the Danny’ back in service a big step nearer to reality. It is also a vindication of all those hours, weeks and years of dedication and hard work by the volunteer team, without which this simply could never have happened. We all know it can be done. Now the nation is starting to believe us.”