Save Perseverance IV
National Trust is looking to raise £200,000 in just two months to save Perseverance IV, a rare historic barge currently owned by the Museum of London, Perseverance has been stored in the water at Dapdune Wharf, near Guildford since the 1990s.
Perseverance IV, built in 1935 transported goods along the River Wey Navigations to the docks of London and is now one of only three still in existence, illustrating the important role of Britain’s industrial waterways.
Currently languishing in store on the Wey, her serious condition has put a time limit on the fundraising campaign. With the pressure on until 17 September, it is hoped to raise £200,000 to allow the National Trust to take ownership of the barge from the current owners, the Museum of London.
Another £300,000 will be needed to fully restore Perseverance and get her back in working order and on the water. Reliance, one of the other original Wey barges, is now in dry dock and can be boarded by visitors to the Navigations at Dapdune Wharf.
The Museum of London who own Perseverance IV have recently undertaken a review of their floating collection and have concluded that Perseverance lV no longer has a role to play delivering the museum’s interpretative and learning aims. They have therefore approached the National Trust to help save her and secure her long-term future for the nation.
Her worsening state of repair and links with the Wey have led to the creation of the partnership between the National Trust and the Museum of London to try and save and restore this historic barge.
Barges like the Perseverance are central to the story of the Wey Navigations, which has been cared for by National Trust since 1964. For Navigations Manager John Gibson its restoration will be integral to the continuing understanding of one our few remaining working waterways: ‘The experience of boarding our barge Reliance has brought history alive for our visitors, especially school groups. That will be magnified if we manage to raise the funds to restore Perseverance and use her as a floating learning experience upon the waterway’
To make a donation go to the Perseverance’s fundraising webpage at www.justgiving.com/perseveranceIV
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For further press information and images please contact: Sharon Cadman, Regional Marketing and Communications Manager: 01372 455045, 07917 070491, or sharon.cadman@nationaltrust.org.uk
To read more about the appeal click here
To read more on the history of Perseverence IV click here