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What is there to conserve?

The Inconstant needs continuing conservation treatment to ensure its survival. The materials of the ship's construction and the artefacts found with the ship - bottles, china, leather etc all have to be conserved. Different treatment is required for wood, ceramics, metals, fabrics and glass.

Only some parts of the lower hull were found - the bow, the fore section, the mid sections, the aft and the stern.

The timbers of the Inconstant require conservation treatment as they have been buried in damp soil since about 1855. Removal of the soil allows oxygen and fungi to cause the timber to decay. If allowed to dry the timber would crack, distort and crumble away.

The bow section (in the Old Bank Arcade) was in poor condition when found in 1997, as it had been buried in a loose, dry mixture of clay and rubble adjacent to a storm water drain where fresh oxygenated water flowed over timbers.

The rest of the ship that you see here in the Gallery was in far better condition, as it had been buried in stagnant wet conditions, which meant far less oxygen reached the timbers.

(Construction Arrangement Plan View)

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The conservation process

Conservation Process Control Laboratory

What does a Conservator do?

(Found sections side)

(Cross section through)