SS Robin Trust

General information

SS Robin is a precious diamond, a national treasure and until now one of the best kept secrets in London. She is the world’s oldest complete steamship and the last of her type in the world. First registered by Lloyd’s of London’s Charles Jordan on 27 November 1890, she is a true survivor and a symbol of the innovation and
resilience of London’s East End.
With a life spanning three centuries, she has served in three countries and
unsurprisingly has an inspiring and fascinating story to tell. Her history very much reflects the evolution and diversification of London and many of our capital’s major businesses – readily accessible tales of risk, endurance, enterprise and adaptability.
Built at the world renowned Thames Ironworks Shipyard on the River Lea, where many notable vessels were manufactured, including HMS Warrior, SS Robin is now one of just three members of the National Historic Fleet’s ‘Core Collection’ moored in London, along with Cutty Sark and HMS Belfast. Like them she is an iconic
symbol of our identity and our maritime roots, which will readily inspire our future generations and become a landmark on our city’s landscape. Whilst currently perhaps the least well known of these 3 illustrious ships, the Board of the SS Robin Trust and her supporters which include HRH Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh, Lord Mawson and Jim Fitzpatrick MP, aim to change this. Moreover, with the support of HLF, the London Borough of Newham, the Peabody Trust and others the vision of the SS Robin playing a full and active part in the local community and the tourist economy is now emerging as a reality.
Celebrating 125 years in 2015 SS Robin has now returned to Newham, within a ‘stones throw’ of where she was built – a highly fitting final mooring destination. She is currently located at the Millennium Mills Pier in Royal Victoria Dock, where conservation and adaptation works are being completed to facilitate visitor, educational and community activity. However, on completion of these works she will be towed to the western end of the water – a prominent location adjacent to the Royal Emirates Airline Cable Car. Could there be a finer way to celebrate
her 125th anniversary, as at this point her new life can fully begin, performing the role as catalyst, helping to regenerate this hugely exciting but in many ways deprived area of East London?
In the future, not only will SS Robin become an ACE Accredited Museum and Visitor Attraction, offering employment and further volunteering opportunities to local residents, she will also develop a range of participatory activities for both leisure and learning, facilitating interest and study in Science and Technology,
IT, Engineering, History, the Arts and Business Planning. This work is taking place in partnership with a number of local educational establishments including Newham College, the soon to be opened Oasis Academy West Silvertown and University of East London.
SS Robin however has the perfect opportunity to be so much more than other historic ships, thanks to the unique opportunity that the pontoon on which she stands creates. ‘Robin II’, a ship in her own right, is spacious and offers abundant opportunity for our charity to engage with the community and reignite
entrepreneurship in the locality. We are currently exploring the possibility of utilising this area to support artist workshops, community enterprises and skills training facilities, thus adding to the ‘social value’ of this very special project. We are keen to engage partners at this early stage with these developments with the specific
aim of matching their aims and aspirations with our own.