A Naval Review: Part 1

by Paul Chamberlain

This article will be the first of a series that looks at what is available to researchers of different aspects of the Napoleonic period, by looking at some of the museums, archive collections, and recently published books covering the subject. No one article can hope to cover all there is to study on a particular topic. However, it is hoped that the reader will find something of interest in these guides, and use them to pursue such an interest further. The following will take a look at some of the sites and collections that are of use to the naval historian of the period. Addresses and telephone numbers are included to help in planning your visits. Please note that all prices quoted are for 1996.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

This is probably the most famous naval museum in the country, containing as it does three well-preserved ships and the museums that complement them. However, this site does contain more than just these three vessels.

The first dockyard to be built at Portsmouth was constructed on the order of King Richard I in 1194. From that date onwards the site was associated with many famous ships and seamen. The Napoleonic Wars saw Portsmouth Dockyard become the world's largest industrial complex, with steam power being used to pump water from the dry docks and to power machinery to make ship' s pulley blocks.

Throughout the 18th century many new buildings were constructed to cope with the ever-expanding dockyard, including a Naval Academy built in 1733; the forerunner of Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. The naval storehouse, officer's quarters and the Great Ship Basin are all part of the story of the dockyard and the Royal Navy in Portsmouth that is told in the Royal Naval Museum. Booklets are available that describe the various buildings and dockyard facilities and their history. Admission to the dockyard is by admission to the ships displayed there.

HMS Victory

THE most famous ship in the world, and preserved here in Portsmouth. The ship was laid down in Chatham Dockyard in 1759, and so was an elderly vessel in 1805, the year that is most associated with her. She cost ś63,176 to build and over 2,000 mature oak trees were used in the construction of her hull. She is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, and on-going restoration work aims to return her to her Trafalgar condition by the year 2005. Aside from being a superb example of a naval vessel of the period, she is very much a living testament to Admiral Nelson, with whose story HMS Victory is very much entwined.

There are guided tours of the ship, and the admission price includes a visit to the Royal Naval Museum, just a few yards from the vessel.

Times of opening:

March - October 10.00am- 4.50pm.
November - February 10.00am - 3.50pm.
Closed on Christmas Day.

In recent years Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has improved its information service to visitors. When you visit their site you will be able to acquire numerous leaflets and books giving all manner of historical information about the exhibits. HMS Victory is no different. The free guide leaflet contains information about Nelson and his flagship, including a cut-away drawing of the vessel.

Royal Naval Museum

This museum tells the story of the Royal Navy from its earliest days up to the present. The Victory Gallery describes the rise of the Royal Navy, with particular emphasis on the role of this service during the Napoleonic Wars. The construction of HMS Victory; her service; battles and crew are presented using all manner of period artifacts, paintings and many superb models to illustrate all aspects of the naval story of the period. There is a panorama of the Battle of Trafalgar complete with sound effects, painted by the artist W.L.Wyllie in 1929.

The Lambert McCarthy Gallery looks at the life of Lord Nelson, both public and private, with personal items, commemorative ceramics, portraits and paintings. This section will be a focus for commemorations of Nelson' s triumphs (including Emma Hamilton!) throughout this the Nelson decade up to 2005. This means that new exhibits will be shown over the years. Following through from this part of the museum is the Douglas-Morris Gallery that examines the age of fighting sail 1793-1859, with a very good section entitled The Great World War 1793-1815. Medal displays, dioramas, uniforms and weapons make this a particularly interesting display. I noted a very good exhibit on the various theatres of operation of the Royal Navy during this period, with descriptions of many amphibious operations the force was involved in. The Wyllie Gallery looks at the advent of steam from 1806 onwards, and this section plus the Lewin Gallery bring the story up to date. The museum has a very well-stocked gift shop.

Times of opening:

If you wish to see a specific exhibition then I suggest that you call in advance to check that the Gallery will be open when you visit. Occasionally a Gallery may be in use for a private function. Telephone 01705 826682.

The Royal Naval Museum has extensive records and a library that are available to serious researchers. For information contact: Royal Naval Museum, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3NU. Tel. 01705 733060.

To plan your visit and get the most out of the ships at Portsmouth (it will take a day to study HMS Victory and the collection in the museum) I suggest that you contact the Public Relations Office, Flagship Portsmouth Trust, Porter's Lodge, Building 1/7 College Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, POI 3LJ. Tel. 01705 839766. This office will be able to tell you more about the other attractions such as the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior, both worth a look as well. Throughout the year the Dockyard is host to a variety of other events designed to enhance the presentation of the site. For example, in February 1996 the US Marine Detachment 1797 from the Boston-based USS Constitution Museum Foundation presented drill displays by HMS Victory. It is worth contacting the Public Relations Office to obtain information on these special events.

Admission prices:

The other attractions at the dockyard cost extra, but if you want to make a day of it they do an All-In Ticket (all three ships plus the museum) for 9.90, 5.90, and 8.90 pounds respectively.

Friends of the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory

If you have an interest in the Royal Navy and would like to pursue this interest further, then the Friends of the Museum may be an organisation you would find useful. Benefits include free admission to the Royal Naval Museum and the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich; discounts in the Royal Naval Museum shop; newsletters and a Year book containing news and articles; special tours and free admission to lectures held at the museum. Membership also gains you access to the Museum's library and archives, by special arrangement. For membership details contact:

The Secretary, Society of Friends of the Royal Naval Museum and HMS Victory, R.N.Museum, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, POI 3LR.

Society for Nautical Research

This is an international society for all those interested in maritime research, nautical archaeology, ships and shipbuilding, naval history and seafaring in all periods of history. They publish a quarterly journal called The Mariner' s Mirror containing varied articles on naval history. The Society also publishes occasional books, and stages lectures and seminars.

For details contact: The Membership Secretary, The Society for Nautical Research, 5 Goodwood Close, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9JG.

Royal Naval Philatelic Society

This is for the philatelists amongst you. This society was formed in 1972 and issues around four Commemorative Covers each year that celebrate specific naval events. Each cover consists of an envelope with the artist's picture in full colour, with a stamp (or stamps) from a recent commemorative issue franked by a special handstamp authorised by the National Post Office. Ship or Squadron badges, or relevant military decorations, are often featured on the Cover. Whenever possible these Covers are issued at Foreign Post Offices, if appropriate.

Looking down the list of Covers issued since 1972 I note commemorations of the Battle of Trafalgar, the Battle of the Nile, the Glorious First of June, plus other periods of naval history. Membership of the society costs 10.00 pounds, renewable each year for 5.00 pounds. A newsletter is produced giving details of forthcoming Covers, which members may purchase at discounted rates.

For details contact: Royal Naval Philatelic Society, 19 College Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ. Tel. 01705 820921.

Chatham Historic Dockyard
(Photos courtesy of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust)

Chatham Dockyard was at the forefront of the Royal Navy's defense of the country for 400 years, from the reign of Henry VIII until its closure in 1984. When the Navy left there remained an area of some 400 acres including the most complete Georgian dockyard in the world plus a later yard built for the steam-powered navy. This area has been developed under the auspices of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, to be preserved as a living, working museum.

From 1700 until 1815, the dockyard at Chatham saw the construction and launch of 125 ships. This total included large first-rates, such as HMS Victory, and small sloops and brigs. Aside from the construction of ships, the dockyard also repaired and maintained vessels, and was at the forefront of the war against Napoleonic France.

Chatham Historic Dockyard contains a variety of restored buildings, all demonstrating the construction, maintenance and repair of ships of the Royal Navy throughout the life of the site. The Wheelwrights' Shop (built in 1780) was the centre for the repair of the wheels used on the many dockyard carts. The old Masthouses and Mould Loft (1753-58) now house the Wooden Walls Gallery which tells the story of the construction of the third-rate ship Valiant through the eyes of a young apprentice, William Cockrell. The sights, sounds and smells of the dockyard of 1758 are recreated here. This gallery is housed within seven interlinked, timber-framed masthouses, that were built mainly from recycled ship's timbers.

Other restored buildings and works include the Covered Slips built later in the l9th century; the Dry Docks; the restoration of HMS Gannet (launched in 1878); the Clocktower Building (built 1723); Admiral's Offices (built 1808); Commissioner's House (built in 1704 and the oldest naval building to survive intact in the country); and the Anchor Wharf Storehouses (1778-1805).

The 18th century Ropery (see photo at left of the 1791 Double Ropehouse), measuring one-quarter mile long, is still used today to make the large quantities of rope necessary for ships' rigging, using the techniques of the 19th century.

The old Joiner's Shop is now home to the Ordnance Gallery which houses a fine collection of naval muzzle-loading guns. Many of these weapons have been retrieved from use as bollards around the area, and have been carefully restored. The replica carriages have been made by the Dockyard's own craftsmen (photo at right shows the loading of a 24-pounder).

The dockyard is very much a working museum, and the Historic Dockyard's conservation unit allows visitors to see work in progress, such as the conservation of ship's figureheads and items of an archaeological, social and industrial nature. The Lead and Paint Mill (the Navy had a requirement for paint almost as great as it's need for rope) now houses the Chatham Dockyard Historical Society Museum; a collection of photographs, artifacts and models telling the story of the dockyard and the people who worked there over the centuries.

As with Portsmouth Dockyard, the site at Chatham is oriented towards the entire family, not only the naval historian. Visitors can try their hand at breaking out a flag in the Sail and Colour Loft, or tying knots in the Ropery. It is a place to go to learn about the building of the ships of the Royal Navy over the centuries, and a place at which to enjoy a relaxing day out. Each month throughout the year there is a special events weekend, each covering a different theme. There are shops, restaurants and picnic areas on site.

Times of opening: 1 April - 3 November, 10.00am - 5.00pm.

In February, March and November the site is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10.00am - 4.00pm.

Admission rates:

For more information contact: The Visitor Manager, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TE. Tel. 01634 812551.

Friends of The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust

In 1984, the Historic Dockyard was placed in the care of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, an independent charity whose task it is to restore and preserve this important part of the national heritage. The Friends of the Trust are involved in helping with this task. Benefits of membership are; free entry to the Dockyard; twice-yearly newsletter; special 'Friends Only' events; advance details of al Special Events; and an annual lecture programme. Earlier this year they had lectures on Before the Ironclad: The Royal Navy's Industrial Revolution, and History of Trinity House. More are planned for later in the year. Subscriptions are: Adults 21 pounds; Concessions 10 pounds; Junior (16-18yrs) 10 pounds; Family 25 pounds. For more details contact Friends of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust at the Dockyard's address above.

Part 2 of this article will appear in the next issue of this magazine, and will take a look at the National Maritime Museum; Archive Collections; and suitable books for studying the subject.

Part 2: A Naval Review

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com