When we think of the great Royal Naval warships of the Napoleonic era it's Nelson's HMS VICTORY that comes to mind. Or perhaps we think of J.M.W. Turner's masterpiece portrait of HMS TEMERAIRE. At the time however, it was this ship- HMS NAMUR which was the more storied vessel, and whose battle honors placed her amongst the greatest ships of her age. Today, the ship lives on as one of the great examples of British Naval repurpose, and the rare example whose timbers can still be seen today. We'll explain further below.
The model is a fine miniature scale example with nice detail and in very good condition for its age. Of particular note are the well carved figurehead and bow details with good color. On deck look for the ship's capstan, and past it the open gallery to view down into the gun decks. Beyond are tiny brass bound stairs leading aft and up to the poop deck's roundhouse. The ship's guns are set on three gun decks with additional cannons on the exposed top decks, where the maker has carefully and evenly set the model's pins at regular intervals. The quarter and stern galleries show nice pierced carving and the modelmaker has rigged the ship beautifully including the three launches which are suspended port, starboard and aft to keep them hung evenly at the ship's sides.
The supreme sailing warships of their age, British Ships-of-the-Line were classified first, second or third class by the number of cannons they carried. The model sits on a straw-work base mounted on wood, and set within an antique glass dome case for a great presentation overall.
Considered a pinnacle artform of the ship modeling craft, bone ships made by prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars are among the most collectible maritime artifacts and are a specialty of our gallery.
Launched in 1756, the 90 Gun NAMUR was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen in the capture of Fort Louisburg in 1758. She fought in the two great naval victories of 1759: the Battle of Lagos Bay and Battle of Quiberon Bay. In 1762, she led the fleet as flagship of Admiral Sir George Pocock which captured Havana from Spain, taking control of a major Caribbean port. In the American Revolutionary War she fought in the Battle of the Saintes. In 1797, she was second in line to Nelson's ship, CAPTAIN, at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, and in November 1805 took the surrender of FORMIDABLE, flagship of Admiral Pierre Dumanoir Le Pelley at Trafalgar.
She found literary fame by association- among her captains was Charles Austen, the younger brother of Jane Austen, who commanded her from 1811 to 1814. It's said his service influenced naval characters in her novels Mansfield Park and Persuasion.
HMS NAMUR is also a part of modern history. When it came time for the ship to retire in 1833 she was broken up where she was built, at Chatham Dockyard. Her timbers were used to support the floor of the wheelwright's workshop at Chatham. Though they would eventually be covered over, they were rediscovered in 1995 and identified in 2003. Archeologists estimate the timbers represent about a quarter of the ship's frame and were installed sequentially as they were removed from the ship.
These artifacts have offered outstanding insight into warship construction as they were largely left exactly as they were when they came off the ship and their being covered means they haven't degraded as they would if they were sunk or otherwise lost and refound. The timbers still show original carpenter's marks, original traces of the red paint used for Royal Naval warship interiors, and some hammock hooks and berth numbers. The timbers are now on display at the Chatham Historic Dockyard Museum.
Hull 4 3/4 inches long,
