Tell Tales

DEVON

Sharing traditional skills

Newly launched Cremyll Maritime Training aims to create a community of people learning and sharing the skills of traditional boatbuilding and seamanship.

Based at Cremyll in Devon, the project is part of a wider series of initiatives driven by Dominic and Barbara Bridgman and their fellow directors Robert Webster, Simon de Groot and Debbie Risbourough.

The CIC, or Community Interest Company, was formed in 2016 to save the Tamar sailing barge Lynher from destruction.

“Our objective is simple: to introduce more and a wider range of people to learning the skills required to preserve our maritime heritage," said a spokesman.

Thanks to the Earl of Edgcumbe they have secured the Gymnasium, built as a training centre by the Royal Navy at Cremyll in 1899, as a base for their range of vocational courses in traditional seamanship and boatbuilding, environmental initiatives and more subjects.

“At Cremyll we have the opportunity to convey our passion for the local maritime heritage and be a point of contact and advice for other maritime projects. The aim is to share experience and knowledge to foster a wider and stronger maritime