THE ‘RISING SUN’ SAILS AGAIN

The ‘Rising Sun’ sails again. Replica of rare survivor of 18^th century whaling industry installed in Anstruther.

Following meticulous research and expert craftsmanship, the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Fife, is proud to unveil a replica of the former “shipstone” of the Anstruther Whale Fishing Company and a ‘Rare Survivor’ from a little-known period of Scottish maritime history.

The original stone (now on show within the Museum complex) was erected to mark the founding of the Company in 1757 and is thought to depict its first ship, the ‘Rising Sun’, one of two that ventured to the Greenland whaling grounds from the town at that time.  In its place, the replica has been inserted into the gable of the former Company building alongside the vennel which, to this day, bears the name “Whale Close”.

The replica has been carved by artisans at Graciela Ainsworth Sculpture Conservation and is based on painstaking research.  The extreme weathering of the original stone, subject to wind, rain and salt spray over 250 years, meant that the original design was difficult to decipher.  With the help of historical depictions, models, and scans of the stone itself, the late Dr Robert Prescott (maritime historian at the University of St Andrews and longstanding Museum Trustee), and archaeologist Steve Liscoe were able to approximate the shape, rigging, and position of the vessel.

This has been translated to a new work that captures the spirit and meaning of the original and clearly identifies the historical significance of the building on Anstruther’s harbour front.

Mungo Campbell, Chair of the Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust, said:

“In bringing together world-class museum research and the practical application of unique craftsmanship and skills, The Scottish Fisheries Museum enjoys an international reputation. The recreation and reinstallation of the ‘Rising Sun’ shipstone offers a visible expression of our work – one that will be enjoyed by our local community and by visitors to Anstruther for many years to come.”

The Anstruther Whale Fishing Company (1756 – 1762)

The Anstruther Whale Fishing Company was established in early 1757. A series of letters survives in the National Archives of Scotland, in which Sir John Anstruther, 2nd Baronet, invites the Earl of Leven to be a partner.

The two men were joined by Baillie Waddle, a ship builder, James Anderson a Ship Master, Sir Philip Anstruther, David Anstruther, and Mr Fall, the brother of Sir John Anstruther’s wife, Janet.  His father, Captain James Fall, was involved in the slightly earlier East Lothian and Merse Whalefishing Co. in Dunbar.

Generous Government bounties designed to encourage whaling during the period led to a number of small towns around the Firth of Forth establishing companies, acquiring and fitting out vessels, and taking their chances at the emerging Greenland fishery in the mid-18^th century, foreshadowing Scotland’s involvement in the industry and the 19^th century development of industrial whaling in Leith and Dundee.

The Anstruther Company acquired two boats and the first, the ‘Rising Sun’ captured one whale in its first season.  Subsequent seasons were unsuccessful, however, and the venture was ultimately short-lived.  The ‘Rising Sun’ was sold to the timber trade while the Company’s second vessel, the ‘Hawke’, was crushed in the ice and lost.

The Ship Stone

The ship on the stone has always been regarded as being the first vessel operated by the Anstruther whaling company. Whether this is an actual depiction of the ‘Rising Sun’ is arguable, though for all intents and purposes it is highly probable that it is indeed intended to represent that vessel.

Initial research funded by Museums Galleries Scotland Recognition Fund in 2013 – 14 enabled a photogrammetric survey of the stone (a series of 3D scans showing minute changes in the depth of the surface layer) by archaeologists at W A Coastal and Marine.  This revealed surprising levels of detail and confirmed that the carving shows a whaling ship of the mid-1700s.

However, the surface of the stone has suffered badly during its 250 years of exposure to the elements and much of the bas relief of the ship has been lost.  With natural flaws in the stone having been enhanced by erosion it leaves even the more prominent features indistinct and difficult to interpret.  Therefore, comparison to other 18^th century vessels of the type has been used to understand much of what the mason was depicting when the stone was originally carved.

Whaling ships at this time were generally vessels that used existing, established hull forms or were existing vessels bought and refitted for the whale fishery. The records pertaining to the ‘Rising Sun’ indicate that she was such an existing vessel bought from trade for conversion so must have been some years old and have had a former life, most likely as a merchant vessel.  At this time of the expansion of the Scottish whaling fleet this was a common solution and generally the ships of choice were east coast collier barques due to their strong construction and cargo capacity.

Both the surviving details on the stone and the painted evidence indicate that the vessel was three masted and square rigged.  This has been replicated with reference to contemporary depictions of similar vessels.  The design of the flags is based on the rules governing the correct use of flags and jacks by merchant vessels in the mid-18^th century and the emblems of the owners.

The design has been painstakingly translated by stonemasons from the award-winning Graciela Ainsworth Studio.  Principal sculptor Csilla Karsay installed the replica into the façade of the building in September 2024.  The original stone, having been cleaned and stabilised, can now be seen inside the building, housed in the appropriately themed ‘Whaling Gallery’ where the story of the Company and the industry it helped to shape, is told.

For more information, visit www.scotfishmuseum.org

Specific information on the Shipstone and the Anstruther Whale Fishing Company can be found at: https://www.scotfishmuseum.org/the-anstruther-whale-fishery-company.php