The Redcar Pirate Cat is a little mystery. We know very little about this one, so I’m publishing this article speculatively, hoping that some kind soul will be able to flesh it out a bit and perhaps provide some clearer close-ups.
Photos by Stuart Redpath
What we do know is that the Pirate Cat is perched in the crow’s nest of half-sized replica of the mast from HMS Redcar: a paddle minesweeper which was destroyed off the coast of Dover on 24 Jun, 1917 when performing its duties. Eight lives were lost – seven during the explosion and one a day later in hospital. The website Lives of the First World War explains the tragic story:
“…the Redcar struck a moored mine fair and square under her mess-deck. The fore-part of the ship was blown away as far as the bridge, and the water was covered with debris and wounded men supporting themselves as best they could. The gun’s crew, and four other men in the bows, were killed instantly.”
The replica mast was sited where the Redcar Beacon now stands, and at some point acquired an eye-patched cat figure. When work on the Beacon began, the mast (plus its buccaneering feline) was transferred to a small square further down the beach next to another sculpture that we’ll cover in future.
So, if you have any info about who made this, when it was made, or anything else. Get in touch.
Me hearties.
References:
North East Statues 