Shotley: Historic HMS Ganges mast returns to Suffolk skyline

Thousands of young navy cadets learned to climb the rigging of a sailing ship using the historic 142ft mast, which stood proudly for more than 100 years, having been erected in 1907.  

The Grade II listed structure was dismantled in June last year, having fallen into a poor state of repair. Its restoration was a condition of the planning permission for the Barrelman’s Point development.  

This is a Wavensmere Homes development, which will include 285 houses, a 60-bed nursing home, retail and sports facilities, a doctor’s surgery, office space, a hotel and a café. It is hoped the development will be completed by early 2025. 

A half moon of the mast ready to be fitted. Image: Heritage Marine Foundation (Image: Heritage Marine Foundation)

The mast ready to be lifted into place. Image: Heritage Marine Foundation (Image: Heritage Marine Foundation)

Lead shipwright Andy “Droid” Balfe making final adjustments before fitting the tops platform. Image: Heritage Marine Foundation (Image: Heritage Marine Foundation)

Now, after 14 months' worth of painstaking repair work carried out by the Maldon-based company TS Rigging, the mast is back where it belongs.  

Managing director Jim Dines said that the rigging and spars are back in place. The team will remain onsite for another week, he explained, to apply the finishing touches. 

Up until the mid-1970s, teenage cadets were sent to scrabble up the frame in their traditional navy dress uniform and felt caps. 

Colin Chapman was one such “Ganges boy”. Now chairman of the HMS Ganges Museum, Mr Chapman remembers many happy times spent at the site.  

“I joined as a boy in November 1963,” said Mr Chapman. “I, like many, was a naïve 15-year-old, who’d always been looked after by mum and never had to look after myself. 

“It really was an awakening for all of us.” 

The mast having finally been restored to its former glory. Image: Heritage Marine Foundation (Image: Heritage Marine Foundation)

The 'Button Boy' could stand or sit at the top of the mast. (Image: David Kindred Collection) (Image: David Kindred Collection)

The fully-manned mast with the Button Boy at the top. (Image: David Kindred Collection) (Image: David Kindred Collection)

Former EADT photographer Peter Warren's picture from the top of the Ganges Mast in 1960. (Image: David Kindred Collection) (Image: David Kindred Collection)

He was delighted to see the mast return to its former glory, and said it looked “magnificent”. 

Seeing the mast restored has provoked many happy memories. 

“It takes me back to when I was there. We used to go up on a Sunday afternoon to get a bit of peace and quiet,” he remembered. “We’d take a book up there, and enjoy the scenery. It was very peaceful – there was nobody there shouting at you!” 

More than 160,000 boys were trained at HMS Ganges, until the site was closed in June 1976.