Support the project…
Raising funds for Kilsby’s rear end!
We are seeking a total of £35,000 to restore Kilsby's historic stern and complete some additional works on the her bow. Once fully restored Kilsby will be ready for her first trip back to Oxford along the Oxford canal. Be part of Kilsby's story, your contributions really count, thank you!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Kilsby Theatre Boat Project.
The generosity of our supporters, partnered with the enthusiasm of our volunteers, has allowed great progress to be made on the restoration.
So far we have raised over £30,000 for the initial stages of the project, making the following work possible:
The rescue and safe transport of Kilsby to Banbury.
The strip and salvage operation on the wooden superstructure.
The safeguarding of KIlsby’s hull on a secure mooring at Tooley’s historic boatyard.
The critical reinforcing and water tightening of the hull, encapsulating the wooden bottom in a steel ‘slipper’.
The research and documentation of Kilsby’s history.
The co-ordination and management of a team of volunteers, most recently involving 15 work days at the boatyard blasting away rust and painting the inside and outside of the 60ft hull.
The maintenance of a ‘digital presence’ for the project - website, e-newsletters and communications.
What’s next?
Fundraising has now begun for Phase 5 Design, build and Deckworks. We anticipate this phase will require a further £100,000 of funding for:
Mooring fees,
project management,
communications and engagement,
Design of multi-functional space and accessibility requirements,
Restoration works: Stern, boatmans cabin, roof cover., boatman’s cabin, roof cover,
Engine
Accessible lift and toilet,
Stage system,
Equipment, furniture and sound system.
First on the list:
First on the list is the rebuilding of the stern
. A blend of the old and new, the stern (relatively modern, perhaps 1930s, but now deteriorated beyond repair) will be rebuilt to the original 1912 aesthetic, with modifications to the design below the waterline to allow for an electric engine (assuming research continues to point to this as being the best propulsion solution).
The original stern of Kilsby’s sister Boat Kildare at the Black Country Museum in Dudley.
