An artist from Porthmadog is helping to reinstate a well-known feature of the town, by building a model ship to go above the doorway of a pub.

After receiving requests from the landlady and a number of locals, Carwyn Jones will build the traditional ship to go above the doorway of the Ship Inn.

There was a model of a ship above the pub’s entrance as far back as the 1930s, but years of abuse from the elements forced the pub to bring it down.

Carwyn, who is from Porthmadog but now lives in Bethesda, told Cambrian News how the ship building project came about.

He said: “The Ship Inn was my local for many, many years. Before Christmas, I noticed there was no ship above the door. The landlady of the pub asked if I would be willing to build a replacement.

“The local support has been phenomenal. So many people want this to happen and many have offered to help out.”

Carwyn also said when he thinks his work will be completed.

He said: “I’ve given a timescale of beginning of the summer holidays. I’ve begun work on the hull, using of a 55 kilo piece of welsh oak. It needs to be able to withstand the weather.”

“My ship will be facing the harbour, for two reasons. Firstly it’s for symbolism, so it looks as though it is sailing out to the open sea. Secondly, to make sure the sails don’t catch the wind too much.”

The ship Carwyn is building a model of is the ‘Evelyn’, a vessel which was built in Porthmadog in the nineteenth century.

Explaining why he decided to make this ship his inspiration, he said: “She was on the sea for over 30 years. She was a lucky ship, no one died on board and even when she sunk, no one was killed.”

Carwyn added: “I’m not taking cash payment. I’ll be getting paid with 10 pints and a meal, in a traditional sailor’s way.

“The ship will probably be ready before the target I set. We want to make a big deal out of the launch of the new ship.”