The first of 285 new homes at the former HMS Ganges are set to be ready this summer, as restoration begins on its famous 142ft mast.
The mast, which is Grade II listed, has been dismantled piece by piece as part of a £130million project by Wavensmere Homes for the Shotley Peninsula development.
Its restoration is expected to take 18 months.
The mast was put up in 1907 at the HMS Ganges naval training establishment. Last year a ceremony took place to commemorate the last time the landmark was manned in 1974.
Jim Dines, managing director of TS Rigging, based in Maldon, Essex, said: “My father trained at HMS Ganges in the 1950s and went to sea with the Royal Navy. He would have climbed this mast numerous times as part of his training.
"All the boys at HMS Ganges would have had to climb to the top platform at a height of 60ft, before hoisting themselves over the platform’s edge. I was a ships’ engineer with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary before coming ashore, and everyone who works for TS Rigging sails for both work and pleasure.
“During the time Shotley Naval Base was derelict, the mast had fallen into a poor state of repair. The iron elements had become very rusty and much of the wooden sections have severe rot, so much so, large sections of the mast had fallen away.
"We have undertaken technical surveys of every aspect of the mast, so that we can carry out an authentic restoration, using as much of the original fabric as possible."
Mr Dines said the team would ensure the mast would "continue to stand the test of time".
Once reinstated to its original condition, the mast will be accessible to the public.
Mr Dines said: "The mast has been here for nearly 120 years, and it is our job to ensure it continues to stand the test of time. Historically significant projects like this really stick in the memory. It is a privilege to be a part of it.”
The 285 homes are made up of a mix of two-bedroom to five-bedroom houses.
Of these, 81 will be available from this summer.
Wavensmere Homes’ plans for phase one at Barrelman’s Point were approved by Babergh District Council in 2021
The scheme includes a nursing home, retail and sports facilities, office space, and a hotel. The historic Nelson Hall – a former drill hall - will also be restored and redeveloped to create a public library and large café space.
Currently, the hall is being utilised to restore the mast.
Residents will have access to a gymnasium, co-working space, and a screening room to watch films on a big screen on the 60-acre site.
James Dickens, managing director at Wavensmere Homes, said: “More than 160,000 Navy recruits passed through the gates of the HMS Ganges training base, until its closure in June 1976.
"The mast is the best-known landmark across the entire Shotley Peninsula. We are proud to be reanimating this atmospheric and expansive site with the restoration of the awe-inspiring mast, the main gates, the parade ground, Nelson Hall, a mid 19th Century fort, and a Martello Tower.
“The 285 eco-focused homes we are creating here will enable local people and those relocating to the area to own their own slice of history and live amongst it.
"The scale of the 60-acre site enables us to deliver a new waterside village within Shotley, significantly boosting the local economy and amenity provision. Our highly skilled team is progressing well with the construction and restoration work, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming the first residents.”
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