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Sawn-Up Replica of HMS Victory Figurehead Dates from Just Years After Battle of Trafalgar, Scientists Say

14th February 2021
The remnants of the 1815 figurehead, and (right) HMS Victory has it looks today The remnants of the 1815 figurehead, and (right) HMS Victory has it looks today Credit: National Museum of the Royal Navy

Scientists have discovered that a replica of the figurehead from the warship Admiral Nelson commanded in the Battle of Trafalgar dates from just years after the event.

Unfortunately, the 10-foot-tall sculpture was cut up by chainsaw into six pieces more than a decade ago under the mistaken belief it was a modern recreation, as the Independent reports.

Experts working with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which took stewardship of all material related to HMS Victory from the UK’s Ministry of Defence in 2012, took another look at the destroyed sculpture two years ago.

And they discovered that it was actually made in 1815 as a replacement for the original that suffered damage during that key naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars in 1805.

Now its remnants are set to be displayed to the public for the first time alongside the surviving HMS Victory in Portsmouth, once pandemic restrictions allow.

The Independent has more on the story HERE.

Published in News Update
MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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