By Isle of Wight Observer
An ambitious new scheme has been unveiled to safeguard and celebrate the Isle of Wight’s maritime heritage.
The Maritime Isle vision would see the under-used Medina Village boatyard, home to the iconic Hammerhead Crane, and Classic Boat Museum, brought into wider use while creating new opportunities for skills, jobs, and tourism.
Stakeholders attended a meeting at the Classic Boat Museum as part of a consultation on plans to turn Medina Village into a major maritime activity centre.
Under the proposals, the six-acre site of the former JS White’s yard and offices would celebrate the Island’s history of boat and shipbuilding, while also looking to the future.
The Hammerhead Crane would form the centrepiece of the scheme, helping safeguard it for future generations.
Plans also include sensitive restoration and redevelopment of the waterfront site. Building 118, a post-war boatshed, could be transformed into an exhibition space for the museum’s larger exhibits.
Proposals include a glass wall overlooking the River Medina, three floors, a café, children’s play area, conference space, and art gallery.
Chairman, Michael Loftus, said there was still significant work to do, including securing tenure or a partnership for the site, seeking National Lottery Heritage Fund support, and attracting private funding.
He said: “We believe this is all achievable, but it is very important to engage with people from the wider Island community, heritage organisations, and local and national government.”
Consultant, Dr Matthew Tanner, said the scheme had similarities with the SS Great Britain project in Bristol, which repurposed a derelict industrial site.
