Visitors to the site often stand in wonderment at the sad remains of this mammoth vessel as beached in 1951 during a snowstorm. However the vast remains Sally of London latterly renamed King whilst in the employ of Gloucester based Foster Brothers, remain to tell us so much more and represent a narrow time band within British Ship building history, namely the construction of composite built ships that being timber and iron.

Sadly however, Sally has faired very badly despite her relatively safe position high and dry beyond the reach of all but the very highest of tides. Standing proud, the remains of this once mighty ship have been rendered to a mere skeleton of her former prowess, due to the wanton destruction of her green oak timbers in the search of both her phosphorous pins (18” weighing 28lbs) and copper nails that were once used to secure her long since removed copper sheaving.

Taken in isolation the construction techniques utilised by Sally’s as yet unknown builders remains of vital importance however considered in unison they form an immensely significant advancement of British ship building.

The author further wishes to state that this fact had indeed been realised by the late David R MacGregor, whom during discussion, advised that these aforementioned pins were instrumental in obtaining elevated classification within Lloyds Register, courtesy of the renowned ships architect Alexander Stevens Jnr. who tirelessly lobbied to have composite built vessels registered to higher classification and not entered in the register as experimental.

Furthermore, Stevens successfully campaigned to have the use of phosphorous bronze pins recognised as a satisfactory measure of quality, and thus enabled these sturdy built vessels to operate within lucrative markets and carry higher value cargoes. Though virtually destroyed, The Sally remains an enigma and such is of great historical significance. Research is on going…