Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Victory will appear ‘as at Trafalgar’
— Conserving Victory —
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 30, 2018
1. Victory will appear ‘as at Trafalgar’ Marker
HMS Victory was taken out of service in 1812 and remained in Portsmouth Harbour until 1922, when the ship was moved into the Royal Naval Dockyard amid fears for her deteriorating condition. The Admiralty Board ordered that Victory should be preserved and that No. 2 Dock was to be her home for the foreseeable future.
A major challenge was how to support the weight of Victory’s masts, and a clever solution was needed.
Steel pillars were extended through the hull to support the weight of the masts on the concrete wall under the keel. Additional stays were fixed from the tops to anchoring points on the dockside, a necessary step to protect her from westerly gales. Victory could now keep her topmasts, yards and rigging intact.
The next question was how should she be presented? In 1922 the Society for Nautical Research convinced the Admiralty Board that Victory should be restored and returned to how she looked at Trafalgar in 1805.
All the recent work on the ship reinforces this key decision, to present Victory ‘… as at Trafalgar’.
( photo captions )
Above: Twenty miles of rigging have been taken down during the removal of the top masts.
Right: The Battle of Trafalgar as seen from HMS Victory , painted by J.M.W.
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 50° 48.106′ N, 1° 6.552′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, England. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Queen Street and Wickham Street, on the left when traveling north. Located in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth, England PO1 3LR, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hidden layers (a few steps from this marker); Here Nelson Fell (within shouting distance of this marker); Taking a closer look (within shouting distance of this marker); A battle against time (within shouting distance of this marker); H.M.S. Trafalgar (within shouting distance of this marker); Ship shape (within shouting distance of this marker); Conservation in Action (within shouting distance of this marker); Field Gun Competition (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 30, 2018
2. Victory will appear ‘as at Trafalgar’ Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
