The SS Great Britain
Ever since the American ship SS Savannah became the first paddle steamer to cross the Atlantic in 1819, there had been a steady growth...
Hammocks
Towards the end of the fifteenth century, European trading ships had developed to the point where they were weatherly enough to embark on...
A ship called Liberty
The longest campaign of the Second World War was one that is frequently overlooked. Unglamorous and lacking in easy-to-grasp decisive...
The Other Admiral - Lord Cuthbert Collingwood
There were two British Vice-Admirals at the Battle of Trafalgar. One was first to reach the Franco-Spanish line; commanding the division...
Figureheads
Figureheads are magnificent things. Most of the world’s maritime museums boast several ranks of them, in a wide variety of styles, sizes...
The loss of HMS Crescent
HMS Crescent was a 36-gun Flora class frigate launched in 1784. She was one of a new breed armed with a main battery of 18 pounder...
Tattooing in the Navy
During the age of sail, seamen took great pride in maintaining a distinct appearance from mere landsman. Most refused to cut their hair,...
A Ship called Victory
HMS Victory is probably the most famous warship in the world, thanks to her association with Nelson’s death at Trafalgar and because she...
The Restless Life of William Dampier – Buccaneer, Explorer, Naturalist and Author
William Dampier was born near Yeovil in Somerset in 1651. Orphaned as a boy, he was apprenticed to a ship’s captain at 18 and sailed with...
The Age of Sail’s Pearl Harbour
In 1667 the English crown was in trouble. Charles II had only been restored to the throne seven years before and things were going from...
