Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

The Figurehead

Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 31, 2018

1. The Figurehead Marker

Inscription. The Figurehead HMS Warrior was one of the last battleships to carry a figurehead. The original was made in Portsmouth at a cost of E60, but was lost in 1868 when Warrior accidentally collided with HMS Royal Oak. The figurehead's head fell off and was claimed as a prize by the midshipmen on Royal Oak's quarterdeck.

James Hellyer & Sons of Portsmouth, for many years the Royal Navy's leading decorative carvers, were commissioned to carve the replacement. After Warrior ceased active service, the figurehead was removed and placed just inside what is now called Victory Gate of the Portsmouth Naval Base. When the naval unit at Northwood in Middlesex was renamed Warrior in 1962 the figurehead was taken there, but the winter of 1963 left it so damaged that it was destroyed.

Present Day
Standing twelve feet high is the present version — Warrior’s third figurehead — all of which have been identical. It was carved from three tons of yellow pine by Jack Whitehead and Norman Gaches in Cowes in the early 1908s, and displayed at the London Boat Show of 1983. It was moved to Portsmouth Dockyard, close to the former site of its predecessor, before finally being put into place in 1985.

( photo captions )
Original figurehead in the 1870s
Second

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figurehead displayed ashore at the entrance to Portsmouth dockyard (early 1900s)
Before carving could egin, a three ton block of Canadian yellow pine was glued together to provide the outline of the head.
Jack Whitehead and Norman Gaches

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 50° 47.916′ N, 1° 6.511′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, England. Marker can be reached from Queen Street close to Wickham Street, on the left when traveling north. Located on the HMS Warrior pier in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth, England PO1 3QX, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Beware of the Wolf (here, next to this marker); Left behind by progress (here, next to this marker); The First Black Battleship (here, next to this marker); Warrior – the ultimate deterrent (here, next to this marker); A Sad and Lonely Journey (a few steps from this marker); RAF – HSL 102 (within shouting distance of this marker); Labour of Love (within shouting distance of this marker); Homecoming (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Also see . . .
1. HMS Warrior. (Submitted on September 7, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

The Figurehead Marker and HMS Warrior image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 31, 2018

2. The Figurehead Marker and HMS Warrior

2. HMS Warrior (1860) on Wikipedia. (Submitted on September 7, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 30, 2018

3. HMS Warrior

Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 387 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.