About SS Robin
SS Robin’s life began at a time when industrial development and engineering expertise dominated the British landscape. Invention, expansion, enterprise were at their height, and Britain led and dominated the buoyant markets of shipbuilding, trade and manufacturing.
She’s a symbol of an unique period in British history when merchant shipping was the core of a determined spirit of entrepreneurship, turning Britain into the workshop of the world, and represents an extraordinary opportunity to explore the story of industrialisation and growth in Britain across three centuries.
In 2008 the Trust was awarded just under £2m from Crossrail to fund extensive restoration work. She was moved from West India Dock to Lowestoft, and for the past three years She’s been under wraps. Now this irreplaceable historic ship sits proudly on a new floating pontoon - like a precious sculpture - the only historic ship in the world to be displayed in this way - an amazing sight.
In July 2011 she made a historic homecoming to within a mile of her original construction site, and is temporarily moored at London’s Royal Victoria Dock while final funding and fit-out work are completed to turn her into a new cultural landmark for London.
SS Robin returned to London’s Royal Docks on July 13th 2011, having recently completed a major programme of conservation work. This rare and important ship is now moored at Millennium Mills Pier (opposite ExCeL) where a programme of final fit-out works is due to take place over 2013/14. On completion she will re-open to the public as an exciting new cultural landmark and training centre.