News / Bristol Harbour
Pledge to save Floating Harbour’s much-loved Pyronaut
Thirty years since Pyronaut took her transformed title as one of the Floating Harbour’s most-loved treasures, Bristol Museums Development Trust are pledging for donations towards her conservation.
Sensitive to the changing water conditions of the harbour, volunteers are raising money to repaint the fire-float with protective paint.
“The PH level of the water has increased in recent years making it more acidic”, say volunteers at Bristol Museums Trust, “this corrodes the boat’s hull faster. With an extra protective layer, Pyronaut should be fit for service once again”.
is needed now More than ever
Originally built in 1934 for the Bristol Fire Brigade, the fire-float saved countless lives during the 1940s Bristol Blitz, as well as putting out many fires in the City Docks and a huge blaze at Bristol Hippodrome.
Agreeing to match every £1 donated up to the teams £5000 target, the Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives are helping to fundraise a £10,000 sum to purchase the protective paint Pyronaut needs to continue its legacy in the city.
The campaign which currently runs until November, has already received significant traffic, with donations from over fifty supporters so far.
Working consistently throughout the raids during the war, Pyronaut has remained active since her military service, entertaining the people of Bristol at events such as the free annual Bristol Harbour Festival, as well as offering the occasional boat trip.
A true gem of the city’s maritime heritage, the trust believe her to be more than deserving of protective restoration and hope that residents of Bristol and regular frequenters of Harbourside agree.
Main photo: Bristol Museums Development Trust
Open Water swimming to returning to the Floating Harbour
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