Introduction to Shackleton’s Hut

The expedition, the hut and the Trust's conservation work

Shackleton lived by his family motto, fortitudine vincimus – by endurance we conquer. He launched his own expedition with the South Pole in his sights.

After being invalided home from Scott’s Discovery expedition, Shackleton campaigned to raise money for his British Antarctic (Nimrod) Expedition 1907–1909. He had intended to set up base in King Edward VII Land to make the journey to the South Pole. He assured Scott he didn’t intend to enter McMurdo Sound or make use of Scott’s old base at Hut Point, since Scott claimed rights not only to the hut but also to the route to the Pole.

But since Shackleton’s last visit to the area, many kilometres of ice shelf had caved into the sea, obliterating his planned landing place. So he set up base at Cape Royds, named by Captain Scott’s Discovery expedition after its meteorologist, Lieutenant Charles Royds, RN.

In 2004, after two years of planning, the Trust began a major four-year conservation programme to secure and weatherproof the building and conserve the c. 6,100 artefacts. Work was completed in 2008 and an annual maintenance and monitoring plan has been put in place.