Four ageing structures that form an iconic part of Bristol's skyline need urgent conservation work so they don’t become “industrial relics”.
An appeal has been launched to raise £35,000 to repaint the cranes outside the M Shed but the council insists their future is not under threat.
They were built in the 1950s, when the harbourside was a bustling port, to shift cargo ranging from bacon and cabbages to barrels of Guinness.
When the docks closed the cranes were nearly sold for scrap but the council and a pressure group stepped in to save them, before they passed into the care of Bristol Museums in 1989.
Volunteers have since clocked up thousands of hours each year keeping them in working order, but they will need to bring in a specialist crew to repaint them.
The Bristol Museums Development Trust’s fundraiser says: “Riveted steel structures such as these depend upon a well-applied, protective paint scheme to prevent corrosion.
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“If rust is able to form and build up between the riveted surfaces, it could blow the joint apart. Without this work the cranes could become unusable and return to being nothing more than industrial relics.
“Our cranes are unique in that they still work and are frequently open to visitors to explore.
“Ordinarily they would be running throughout weekends across the summer, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the vital part they played in the working life of the dockside.
“These cranes are a significant part of our industrial heritage, there are very few left in the country like them and almost none in public ownership.”
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The four cranes outside M Shed are an important landmark in the city and a link to Bristol’s history as a busy port. Their future is not under threat.
“The cranes require some maintenance, repainting and conservation work and the Bristol Museums Development Trust is raising money to support this work taking place.”
