A historic Dunkirk "little ship" which was used to save British troops and also featured in the Hollywood film is being offered for sale to London house-hunters - for £150,000.
The vessel, named The Mary Jane, was used in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of over 340,000 Allied soldiers that were stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940.
The 42ft (12m) cabin cruiser also featured in Christopher Nolan's 2017 blockbuster ‘Dunkirk’ as one of the boats to come to the aid of the British Army as the Nazis closed in.
Built in 1926 by Prince Phillip’s sailing companion and leading boat designer, Uffa Fox, The Mary Jane is now up for sale with Mullocks Auctioneers, in Shropshire.
The current owner has been using the vessel as a houseboat for the last 10 years but she is now selling it for offers in excess of £150,000.
It offers potential home-buyers the chance to purchase a central London property with permanent mooring right in the heart of London’s Docklands.
The average semi-detached property in the area would currently cost £722,617 while flats sell for an average of £493,000.
The Mary Jane is said to boast "very comfortable" accommodation for five adults, a galley and a fully functional bathroom.
It has been well maintained and meets full sailing specifications – so it not just a home but a sailing vessel that can be taken out on rivers and oceans.
Ben Jones, of Mullocks Auctioneers, said: “With prices in the city escalating to almost astronomical levels, this provides a perfect opportunity to live in comfort right in the heart of central London, close to all business and commercial areas.
“Everything you get with it, you can move in it tomorrow and be living in London.
“It ticks all the right boxes. There’s so many different angles to it - you could use it as an Airbnb, someone looking for a different way of life, it’s perfect."
He added: "Everyone in the mariner where it’s moored knows about the boat, and everyone loves it.
“The owner will also be living in their own slice of maritime history.
“When it first came in, I thought ‘you can’t get more historical than that’.
“The owner even has the original telegram when the Navy contacted the original boat owners to take part in the evacuations.
“It’s even been in the film Dunkirk, the history of this boat is incredible.
“This is really a golden opportunity, not just to be able to set up home at an affordable price in the heart of London, but also to own a true piece of history.”
The Dunkirk evacuation between May 26 and June 4 1940 was one of the most important and emotive events in the history of World War Two.
The rapid advance of Hitler’s armies as they rampaged across France in 1940 left the British Expeditionary Force stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk with no obvious escape.
British naval vessels did what they could to evacuate the thousands of British soldiers, but then a rallying call went out to boat owners across the south coast to help in the effort.
Hundreds of skippers responded and a flotilla of 700 vessels, ranging from fishing boats to pleasure craft, made the perilous journey across the English Channel under constant bombardment from Hitler’s dive bombers and heavy artillery.
The Mary Jane was used to get close to the beaches and then ferry troops to awaiting Naval and larger vessels, making trip after trip, until all had been successfully evacuated.
The boat also starred in the hit movie Dunkirk, appearing in numerous scenes during the evacuation and even making an appearance during the end credits.
It has taken part in several commemorations, including the 70th anniversary re-enactment in 2010 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012.
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