H.M.S. VICTORY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18398, 3 June 1925, Page 13

H.M.S. VICTORY.

WORK OF RESTORATION. A NELSON MUSEUM. (rROM OIT. OWX COXMSPO.VDMT.) LONDON, April 15. on XeUon's ship Victory has so far progressed that outwardlv she has I'ccn made as she was in .the year of Trafalgar. There is much to he done between decks, however. • L i°„ f -IT thc all 'P was I' ut »«*<> drv dock in ].?L_ s i K > showed the scars nf";, century ot patching and periodical neglect. Jli-re was danger then that she might founder at her moorings. Through the efforts ot Admiral of the Fleet Kir I'oveton Sturdee and others, a subscription fund v.-as raised to save her from destruction and to restore her to the senjblaiicn of the proud three-decker of »'« fighting days. To naval men the Victory means more even than Nelson and Trafalgar. She was ahravs an admiral's ship. Keppel, Hardv, Howe, liood, de Saumarez, Yorke, and others trod her-decks, and she was in action at Lshant, Brest, Gibraltar, Toulon, and *f.. Vincent, as well as at Trafalgar. 1 nose who are directing the restoration have made it a labour of love, and every possible record has been searched that would help iu bringing the ship back to what she was in 180,). The work will take perhaps another year to complete Cwrites a special correspondent of "The Times""). Tt is intended that the decks shall be shown cleared for action, with all the guns run. out. The Victory's probable armament, at Trafalgar was ?,0 long 32-pounders on thc lower deck, 28 long 24-pounders on the middle deck, ,10 long 12-poundcrs on thc main deck, 12 short 12-pounders on the quarter-deck, and two long 12pounders and two GS-potmder oarronades in the forecastle. Eight of the 32pounders on the lower deck and four of the 24-pounders on the middle deck aro in the ship; the others will have to be replaced by models.

How Food Was Cooked. The galley is to be and-visit-ors will be able to see how food for a ■ ship's company of 850 men was cooked. J Part of the deck will also lie arranged to show the messes for the men as they would be at meals. Masts and rigging will be to scale, and complete so far as standard rigging is concerned, but it has been found impossible, owing to the cost of maintenance, to replaco tho rigging in homp. Lifts and braces will be of hemp, as they always have been, but otherwiso steel wire must be used, fitted in the fashion of 1805. Booms will be stowed with spare spars and boom boats. Pull details of these have been given in the Poster collection, even down to the manner in which they were painted. The ward-room is being recreated and newly panelled, but, as now, it will be reserved for the accommodation of the executivo officers' of the ship.- It was discovered recently that the bulkheads in the ward-room cabins were the original canvas bulkheads used in wartime.. They "have become so coated with paint, however, th-it they resemble wooden panelling. There is strong evidence to prove that the existing bulkhead of the ward-room is part of the ship as she was commissioned in 1803. The fittings and bulkheads in tho admiral's r.nd captain's cabins arc being replaced in accordance with information reproduced in tho Carr Xanghton report prepared for tho "assistance of tho Technical Committee after?a search of all the available Admiralty documents. Beak Bow Restored. J Considerable strengthening was necessary before the ship was raised. Below i the water lino she was niuch decayed, -and a- good deal of hew timber has liad to bo introduced. Tho ship's side was bored afc intervals to locate decayed parts, and according to what was discovered tho inside and outside planking was renewed. The beak bow and carving have been restored and present a remarkably handsome appearance. A now belfry, presented by Mr R. Lionel. Foster, is in position on the forecastle deck. Restoration of the outside carving of the stern is complete, but the sashes, panelling, and other work inside are still engaging the attention of the carpenters. As tho work has proceeded the committee have found that many things have been required that wero not foreseen, and it may become necessary to ask tho public for more money if the restoration is to'bo, as perfect as it is desired that it should be. Officers' cabins, storerooms, shot racks, the after capstan wheel, tiller and ropes, boats, anchors, and many other things have [ still to be put right. It is good for ' tho present that so much has already beou achieved. "With regard to accuracy/' it may bo that the original painting has boon restored. Through the Trafalgar logs of various ships the exact method of mixing the paint was traced. The carpenters in Nelson's days had to lop; everything they put into tho paint. It is hoped eventually to carry through a scheme of providing a museum on the wharf alongside the Victory to contain tho Nelson relics now housed in Portsmouth Dockyard Museum. These inolude tho death mask of Nelson presented by tjhe Queen, and the original dockyard model of- the Victory as launched, presented by the King. There are other relics of Nelson and his fleet in private, ownership, and if the museum is built it is hoped that the originals or replicas of as hianvaof them as possible may be obtained for exhibition.