One of the oldest ships in the world still afloat, HMS Unicorn in Dundee is a rare survivor. Launched in 1824, not long after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the 46-gun frigate is Scotland’s only preserved warship and is the most completely original ship in the entire world to have survived from the golden age of sail. Despite being built for war, the ship never fired a shot in anger. These days it operates as a museum with a truly unusual and remarkable history.
For folk aficionados, the ship also has a special place. It has a strong folk music tradition, and recent years has seen it host gigs by Breabach, John Doyle, Ceilidh Minogue, Dàimh and Martin Simpson.
As a special treat for the festive season Unicorn was delighted to welcome local folk singer Lynne Campbell on board to sing a little Christmas message, a beautiful version of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, albeit one with a Scottish twist. Translated into Scots by Ethyl Smith, you can catch the performance here.
As Lynne herself said, ‘I love performing on the Unicorn. It’s a braw venue, and an excellent asset to the city of Dundee. She’s a glorious thing. Her acoustics are amazing, and I think I might be the only performer they’ve had in who has performed on the upper, gun, and mess decks! When you step on board, you’re stepping onto a very special piece of maritime history.’
Enjoy!
As a museum, the ship is currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, but you can keep up to date with the ship via its Facebook page and website:
FB: @HMSUnicorn
The Unicorn Preservation Society – JustGiving