RESTORATION works underway at Harwich's historic Treadwheel Crane have revealed it is unique in the UK.

The scheduled monument and Grade II* listed structure, on St Helen’s Green, dates back to 1745.

The board of the Harwich Society and the organisations involved in the project got up close to the building during the works, which have uncovered further details of the crane’s past.

It was revealed the crane is the only surviving example of a man-operated double-wheeled crane in the country.

Trudi Hughes, heritage at risk surveyor at Historic England, said: “It’s so exciting that we now understand so much more about the remains of the Treadwheel Crane and what it tells us about Harwich’s rich maritime history.

“It retains the evidence of various phases of ‘make do and mend’ repairs that would have been carried out in the old navy yard by the ‘house carpenters’.

"This evidence is being carefully retained in the repair and conservation works.

"We now know it is unique - it's the only double treadwheel crane in the country."

The structure, which has been exposed to harsh weather conditions over the years, needed underpinning, weatherboard and roof covering replacement, as well as repairs to the ground slab, timber and ironwork.

An experimental but traditional technique using Swedish pine tar and sail cloth, rather than modern paint will be used to weatherproof the conical roof and the weatherboarding.

After research revealed more about the true significance of the monument, a grant of more than £140,000 was awarded to the council from Historic England as part of the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund scheme to fund the restoration.

Tendring Council, which owns the crane, funded the remaining 25 per cent of the repair cost of almost £47,000.

Mary Newton, cabinet member for business and economic growth, said: “Harwich has a very long maritime history and this crane has stood the test of time.

"I think it’s necessary that we keep all of our historic artefacts in good working order for future generations."

The crane cost £392 to build and served the town’s docks for 260 years before it was moved to its present position in 1932.

The work is due for completion by spring.