A significant step in Hartlepool’s waterfront regeneration has been announced as the borough council seeks a specialist heritage contractor to work on the paddle steamer PS Wingfield Castle.
The vessel, moored at the Museum of Hartlepool, is seen as a treasured symbol of the town’s maritime history.
Emergency repairs have already taken place but a £1.8 million grant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, administered by Arts Council England, means a dramatic transformation can now be undertaken.
This next phase will see the ship relocated to land at Trincomalee Wharf for extensive hull and deck restoration along with the installation of new moorings and improved public access infrastructure.
Work is scheduled to begin before the end of the year with the bulk of the work to be undertaken between next summer and spring 2027.
Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, who chairs the council’s economic growth and regeneration committee, said: “The Wingfield Castle is a cherished Hartlepool icon, and we’re looking for a company with proven expertise in maritime heritage to help us restore her to glory and reopen her to the public.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the DCMS and Arts Council England for their generous support.
“This project is part of a much bigger story with £150 million being invested in Hartlepool’s physical regeneration, including the stunning new Highlight wellbeing hub.
“There’s never been a more exciting time to live, work, and invest in our town.”
If further funding can be secured, the PS Wingfield Castle’s historic interiors will be restored, breathing new life into the vessel and offering a fresh way to explore Hartlepool’s rich maritime story.
The restoration is a key part of the council’s Tides of Change Project whereby initial work, funded by a National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant, is under way to reimagine the Museum of Hartlepool and the PS Wingfield Castle as dynamic attractions that celebrate the town’s heritage in bold new ways.
The council hopes to complete the full transformation by 2029.
Built in Hartlepool by William Gray & Company in 1934, the PS Wingfield Castle is one of the country’s last surviving paddle steamers and a member of the National Historic Fleet.
Rescued by the council in 1986, the vessel served for many years as a museum and café and became a popular feature of the town’s waterfront.
Interested companies can find full tender details at www.open-uk.org by searching for PS Wingfield Castle – Phase 2 Works. The tender reference is #OPEN20251601 and the deadline for submissions is Friday, October 17 at 2pm.