But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flower, it’s bloom is shed;
Or, like the snow-fall in the river,
A moment white, then melts forever.
Robert Burns
16 Comments CherryPie on Jan 25th 2015
Wyllie shows the Victory at sunset on the evening of 21 October. She is very badly damaged after the heavy cannonade she endured during the approach to battle.
Nelson’s flag flies half-mast, as a sign of mourning. And the lights of the cabin windows (middle row) are dark. This was the first indication to many in the rest of the fleet that Nelson was dead. “No lights in the Admiral’s cabin!”*
*Information next to the painting
12 Comments CherryPie on Jan 24th 2015
On 7 May 1765 a magnificent new ship of the line was floated out of the Old Single Dock in Chatham’s Royal Dockyard. She was HMS Victory, a first-rate battleship and the largest and most up-to-date ship in King George III’s Royal Navy. In the years to come, over and unusually long service, she would gain renown leading fleets in the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic War. She achieved lasting fame as the flagship of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson in Britain’s greatest naval victory, the defeat of the French and Spanish at the Battle of Trafalgar.
It is almost impossible today to imagine the physical brutality of fighting at sea in sailing warships. These great wooden battleships, under acres of sail, confronted each other at point blank range, their crews intent on smashing and capturing the other ship. Their heavy guns blasted tons of iron, shattering hulls, splintering masts and yards, overturning gun carriages and filling the air with deafening noise and blinding smoke.
She may seem beautiful to our eyes, but Victory was built principally as a huge and complex machine of war. Every man in her 820 crew played a vital part in operating the ship and ensuring that ultimately she was in the right place and ready to fire her deadly broadside iron shot.*
The Admiral’s Quarters
The Upper Gun Deck
The Sick Berth
*From the Royal Navy HMS Victory guidebook
16 Comments CherryPie on Jan 23rd 2015
This quarter-scale replica of The Victory’s Original Figurehead was carved by Trevor Ellis.
When first launched the Victory had a most elaborate figurehead. It symbolised the many victories that Britain had won all over the world in 1759. In the centre is a bust of King George the Third.
On the starboard side (first photo) is a figure of Britannia. She is trampling on Discord and is being crowned by Peace. Below are two figures representing Asia and America.
On the port side (second photo) is a figure of Victory. She is trampling on rebellion. Above her Fame is sounding a trumpet to celebrate the victories. Below her are figures representing Europe and Africa.*
*From a signboard next to the figurehead.
6 Comments CherryPie on Jan 22nd 2015
The upper floor of ‘The Victory Gallery’ houses the ‘Spirit of Figurehead’ display which showcases a wonderful collection of ship figureheads from the late 18th century.
16 Comments CherryPie on Jan 21st 2015
HMS Trafalgar:
Built as a First Rate of 120 guns at Woolwich and completed in 1841, 2694 tons. Took part in the bombardment of Sebastopol in 1854, being towed to her position in the line by the RETRIBUTION (paddle).
Converted to a two deck screw ship of 90 guns at Chatham in 1858-59 and in 1873 was renamed BOSCAWEN, when she became a seaman boy’s training ship at Portland. Sold in 1905, the year in which boy’s training became shore based at Shotley near Ipswich.*
*From a signboard next to the figurehead.
8 Comments CherryPie on Jan 20th 2015
I invite you to read my post about my visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on the Broad Oak Magazine blog.
8 Comments CherryPie on Jan 19th 2015
