A significant injection of funding is required for major preservation work on HMS Unicorn to ensure its existence for future generations. Work has already begun on phase one of the work, to restore strength and robustness to HMS Unicorn’s hull and thereby improve her resilience at her current berth and ready her for her projected move to the nearby East Graving Dock.
The vision and mission of the Unicorn Preservation Society, established in 1968 to protect and preserve HMS Unicorn, is to deliver a world class museum experience, safeguard the future of the ship, inspire those who visit and work with the charity and offer lifelong learning and engagement opportunities for the charity’s local communities and beyond.
Project Safe Haven, which will see the development of a Maritime Heritage Centre at the heart of Dundee, is the vehicle through which this will be achieved. Project Safe Haven will see a purpose built, environmentally sound Heritage Centre for visitors, learners and the community and will house collections, events and larger group activities.
Ticket prices halved
Meanwhile, HMS Unicorn 2025 ticket prices have been cut in half as moves made to improve visitor accessibility.
The Unicorn Preservation Society has made moves to make Scotland’s oldest ship as accessible as possible for visitors by significantly reducing ticket prices and improving disabled access to the popular Dundee tourist attraction and accredited museum, which this year celebrates its bicentenary.
The ship, which Trip Advisor ranks as one of the top three visitor attractions in Dundee, will be offering half-price tickets from December to the end of January to encourage visitors during the traditionally quieter winter months.
Guided tours will be available giving visitors the opportunity to explore the 200-year-old ship, learn about its history and discover what life was like on board.
The Unicorn Preservation Society has also invested in improving accessibility to the ship, by replacing the old main entrance gangway.
This has been made possible by a £26,775 grant from the FCC Communities Fund and a £3,000 grant from the Bruce Wake Charitable Trust. Engineering and fabrication company Clow Group Ltd also offered a significant discount to undertake the installation.
The new gangway includes a second, lowered handrail for wheelchair users. Two additional new gangways will also be installed over the next six months.
