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Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

A Naval officer tours HMS Victory, during the Trafalgar bicentenary celebrations October 2005.

The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has a wide range of exhibits dedicated to the history of the Royal Navy. The earliest ship on display is the Mary Rose, the only sixteenth century warship on display anywhere in the world. Look for the life size figure of Henry the Eighth who stands outside the Mary Rose Museum. The Mary Rose was the most powerful ship in Henry's navy. In 1545 the Mary Rose capsized and sank in Portsmouth harbour, while the king watched from the shore. She was eventually salvaged in 1982, and the large section of the ship which has survived is now maintained in a carefully controlled environment at Portsmouth. In the Mary Rose Museum there is an audio visual theatre showing a film every half an hour which describes the history of the ship and its salvage. School children get to carry out a Tudor gun drill with an iron gun. There are also many displays showing all kinds of exhibits from the ship, ranging from cooking utensils to backgammon sets to guns. The display illuminates life on board ship, and Tudor life generally. The Mary Rose itself is in a separate building a short walk from the museum.

"England Expects" flag message on HMS Victory

Coming towards the present, Portsmouth Dockyard is home to HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship during the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This ship has become a national symbol, and Nelson's message to the fleet before the battle: "England expects that every man will do his duty" has entered the national vocabulary. This message is flown from the masts of Victory at Portsmouth. Ironically the crew of Victory was actually a very mixed group, even including a few Frenchmen, and the changing identity of England is fittingly illustrated by a ship we often think of as symbolising the certainties of the past. (See our article on Trafalgar for more details.) Visitors can walk around the ship, or take advantage of guided tours.

A satellite image of HMS Victory can be seen by clicking on this link. Switch the map to satellite view and simply zoom in.

 

 

HMS Warrior (Photo Courtesy of Portsmouth Dockyard)

Ships seem particularly evocative of their time in history. On the Victory you are still in the age of sail. Grand and ornate officers' quarters dominate the stern of the ship. Below decks the huge cannons of the time still sit behind the same wooden walls that the Tudor gunners on the Mary Rose would have recognised. But visit HMS Warrior and things have changed dramatically. Warrior was built in 1860 and this first iron clad ship shows the changes that industrialisation had brought to life. Below decks there is the factory floor of the stoke holds. All the grand officers' quarters have gone. This is a more business-like place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HMS Liverpool

Finally bringing the story up to date, there is an exhibition on the modern Royal Navy, which includes a new gallery called InterAction which demonstrates technology used by today's navy. Harbour tours allow visitors to view modern navy ships at anchor.

Opening Times: The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is open every day except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. From April to October opening times are 10am - 6pm, last admission 4:30pm. From November to March 10am - 5:30pm, last admission 4pm. There is some car parking on site.

Directions: Take the M275 into Portsmouth. Follow the brown tourist signs from there. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on Portsmouth Dockyard.

Access: wheelchairs can be hired, and adapted toilet facilities are available. A Special Access Route has been laid out around the Heritage area. Specific exhibits such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior have their own arrangements where people with mobility difficulties can view part of the ships, and view video presentations. The Royal Naval Museum has a ramp to all five galleries and a tactile display available by appointment.

 

Contact:

telephone: 023 9283 9766,

e-mail: enquiries@historicdockyard.co.uk