CONCERN over the fate of the last of the Devon sailing traders to have been built was expressed this week by one of the country's leading maritime and historical archaeologists.

Mark Horton, professor of archaelogy at the University of Bristol, fears that the sale of the Morwellham Quay site could threaten the survival of the Garlandstone, the important vessel moored there.

A cargo vessel, the Garlandstone was built in 1909 in nearby Calstock by James Goss. The 75ft ketch, with a gross tonnage of 75.7 tonnes and a beam of 20.2ft is one of only three such vessels to survive — and the only one in charitable ownership. It is registered on the National Historic fleet, a select core collection of the most important vessels, that includes, for example HMS Victory, surviving in UK waters.

Prof Horton, who has visited the site with his students, said: 'When it was restored, it was to "museum condition" — ie without engine, bulkheads or safety equipment — with the view it would never go to sea.

'As such it is an important survival as the other two vessels have been heavily restored to full sailing condition.

'But one consequence is that it is practically without value, and cannot be easily moved, certainly not beyond the Tamar. Disposal plans would I fear threaten the survival of this important vessel.'

He has asked the national advisory committee for Historic Ships to look into the case.

Prof Horton stressed that the potential owner should be aware the vessel carries significant financial liabilities, that would need to be taken on by any purchaser on the site.

'The Garlandstone is not only the last merchant schooner to have been constructed in the West Country, but the only one surviving with substantially intact fabric — the other two, the Irene and the Kathleen May, having been extensively restored.

'The sailing vessel was herself only restored to "museum condition" which means that she cannot sail — or indeed is in no way seaworthy any longer — so has no potential to raise income as a working vessel.'

Prof Horton said he believed that more than 100 tons of water had to be pumped from her bilges during the Christmas period and that keeping her afloat and a basic annual repair and maintenance bill would be estimated at £20,000 to 30,000 — not including 'a significantly larger sum to even get her up to basic condition'.

'It would be unthinkable to lose the Garlandstone from our national maritime heritage and I for one would campaign with vigour at any suggestion that she is broken up or modified.'

As for the historic quayside, he added: 'It is one of the most complete examples of a working Victorian and early Edwardian port, with a degree of completeness and integrity that is found nowhere else.'

Another supporter of the Garlandstone and the quayside is Martyn Heighton, director of the National Historic Ships, a non-departmental public body reporting to the Department Culture Media and Sport on ship preservation and funding priorities.

He told the Times: 'The Garlandstone is immensely important. It is one of the last wooden trading vessels built in the South West and was made from timber from the Cotehele Estate and built locally at Calstock.

'There are very few trading vessels like her now remaining anywhere. The Garlandstone is surely one of the best examples of the wooden working boats which traded around the UK coast. The only one like her is the Kathleen May in Bideford. Boats like her are very rare,

'Although we have more than a thousand vessels on the register, the Garlandstone merits a place in the top 200 of our National Historic Ships.'