AssetID: 55650084
Headline: HMS Victory's masts removed for first time 100 years as part of major restoration
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN The removal of all of HMS Victory’s masts for the first time in a century is now underway, as part of a major restoration taking place at its berth in Portsmouth. The work forms part of “The Big Repair”, a 10-year, £42m programme aimed at preserving Admiral Horatio Nelson’s flagship for future generations. The Victory famously fought at the Battle of Trafalgar, where Nelson died in the 1805 battle that resulted in the defeat of the French and Spanish fleets - a victory which cemented the Royal Navy’s domination of the seas throughout the 19th Century. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, a team of conservators, shipwrights, and riggers will use a 750-tonne crane to lift out the ship’s mizzen mast at the stern, the foremast at the bow and the bowsprit. Each will be carefully lowered and placed nearby for detailed conservation work. Updating on Monday’s phase, Patrizia Pierazzo, HMS Victory Deputy Project Director said: “Tonight was a great start, the team worked through some initial challenges with the mast wedges. But overall, the lift process was undertaken safely, and we now have the foremast securely removed from the ship.” The ship’s main mast was removed in 2021 at the start of the project. Once the remaining structures are taken down, work will move into its next stage, including the construction of a vast scaffold enclosure around the vessel. This structure is expected to remain in place until the project is completed in 2033. Despite the scale of the operation, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will remain open to visitors throughout. Andrew Baines, Executive Director of Museum Operations at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, said the work is a significant moment in the ship’s history. It is, “the first time Victory will have been without all her masts since the early 1890s,” he explained, adding, “Our team has planned this step in meticulous detail, but we still have to work around factors like the weather. That’s why we will carry out the lifts overnight, so we can work safely and without interruption for several hours at a time.” Once all the masts are removed, they will be safely stored, conserved, and eventually returned to the ship in 2033. Stuart Sheldon, Lead Rigger at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, said the operation would be both technically demanding and deeply significant. “HMS Victory matters to people in a way few objects do," he revealed. "That brings real pressure, and it should. This lift is complex and it needs absolute precision. Putting the plan into action on the night will be a career highlight for the whole team.” Entry to HMS Victory is included with a ticket to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which gives access to several attractions on site. Visitors will still be able to explore the ship, observe the conservation work in progress and learn more about Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar and the wider history of the Royal Navy.
Keywords: feature,photo,hms victory,royal navy,history,restoration
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