HMS Victory: 'Enthusiastic' public can soon see unearthed parts of Lord Nelson's Royal Navy flagship
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Historic features of HMS Victory not unearthed for generations will soon be unveiled to the public.
Work to create viewing platforms so visitors can look inside hidden parts of Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship are carefully being constructed. This is part of The Big Repair, a £42m conservation project to preserve the 104-gun first-rate vessel.
A redesigned scaffold structure has been wrapped around the 260-year-old warship at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, hosting viewing areas where people can see the conservation. Project manager Simon Williams said the scaffolding roof will keep the weather out of the bow of the stern, allowing for internal repairs.
He told The News: “With the ornate decoration and historic timber at the stern, it’s going to be an exciting opportunity for our visitors to be metres away from the historic structure as we work on it, reveal it, and conserve it.
“It’s all part of the effort we’re trying to achieve to get visitors on this conservation journey with us. We haven’t done extensive conservation work on the stern since the 1970s. The scale of the work we’re doing hasn’t been done since 1814. This is a really unique opportunity for people to see what we’re doing.”
What is the next stage of the HMS Victory project?
Extensive work has already been completed aboard HMS Victory. Futtocks - large timber frames that form the rib of the ship - have been replaced and the final pieces are being installed. Woodboring Deathwatch beetles were attacking HMS Victory’s frame, causing several parts of the vessel to rot. The final futtocks are being installed on the starboard side of the ship.
The visitor experience is due to open this summer. To complete this, the ship’s masts will be temporarily lifted and removed in April. More repairs will take place throughout spring. Mr Williams said: “It’s one of the most high risk and technically demanding periods of the project.
“The masts were placed on the ship in 1894, so it’s the first time we’re removing them since then. This is going to be a challenging phase. Projects always encounter challenges but at the moment, we’re on track. We’re excited to bring the new experience to the public.”
Conservationists are aiming for the restoration to protect the ship from the elements over the next 50 years. Shipwright Jimmy Green, 56, has been working on HMS Victory since before the project began. He said it’s amazing to see the flagship be transformed over the years, with the next stage being the replanking phase.
“We’ve got a long way to go still,” he added, “but there has been so much change since we’ve started. From taking off the old planks and exposing all the rotten frames, to now developing the planking for the next stage when we can start putting on the planks.
“It’s like fancy weather boarding to keep the weather out. Originally it would have had to be completely watertight to make her float. It’s basically the skin of the ship. That will preserve the original parts of the ship inside like the lower gun deck.”
Mr Green said the shipwrights are excited that visitors will get to see demonstrations and watch them work. He added: “When the public are so enthusiastic, it reminds us just what an amazing project this is, and how important the ship is to Portsmouth and the nation. When you’re slogging away doing your hard work, you can forget that sometimes. It’ll be incredible once it’s all done. For me, it’s the highlight of my career.”