The historic 80 ton crane, commissioned by shipbuilder JS White in 1912, towers about Medina Yard. It is an iconic structure that has recently been undergoing renovation.
The crane jib has been moved inland, so that scaffolding can be erected underneath it. Urgent work is needed on the main beams, where they join the turntable.
The crane has provided a fixed landmark for people in Cowes and East Cowes. It has dominated the skyline and when fire swept through Medina Yard in January 2016, the crane continued to stand tall.
The Cowes Hammerhead Crane Trust was established to preserve this iconic tribute to England’s early industrial design engineering and as a symbol of the importance of Cowes’, the Island’s and England’s, engineering and shipbuilding heritage.
