Figurehead of the HMS Windsor Castle
Basic Information
- FigID
- F0283
- InstID
- Figurehead type
- Figurehead
- Title
- Figurehead of the HMS Windsor Castle
- Vessel name
- HMS Windsor Castle
- Type (Naval/Merchant)
- Naval
- Copyright owner
- © UK MoD Crown Copyright 1983
- Copyright notes
- Photo: © UK MoD Crown Copyright 1983
- Current location
- Plymouth Naval Base Museum
- Location date
- 28/03/2013
Physical Information
- Description
- A half-length figure representing a young Queen Victoria crowned and holding an orb and sceptre. She wears bracelets and the collar of the Order of the Garter. Roses, a shamrock and a thistle are carved around the base.
- Maker
- Hellyer
- Date made
- 1854
- Place made
- Portsmouth
- Size
- Materials
- Object history
- When gunnery training moved ashore in 1907, the figurehead was set up in the RN Barracks at Devonport and later at the Royal Naval Engineering College at Manadon. Somewhere in this process her identity became confused and she was given a shield naming her as HMS Royal Adelaide-a mistake that was eventually discovered and rectified. When the Engineering College closed in 1994, the figurehead went to the shore based gunnery range, HMS Cambridge at Wembury until its closure in 2001. It was then moved to the Plymouth Naval Base Museum in the South Yard of HM Naval Base, Devonport.
- Vessel history
- Laid down at Pembroke as Victoria in 1844. Renamed 'Windsor Castle' and converted to steam propulsion on the stocks. In 1869 she was renamed HMS 'Cambridge' and replaced another ship of the same name as a gunnery school at Plymouth. After the school moved onshore in 1907, the following year she was sold for breaking up.
- Bibliography
- David Pulvertaft 'Figureheads Of The Royal Navy' (Seaforth 2011) p.192 and p.193
Ownership Information
- Owner type
- Public Institution
- Owner name
- Plymouth Naval Base Museum
- Contact details
- HM Naval Base, Devonport
- Ownership can be cited online
- Yes
- Accessible to public
- By appointment
- Data verified by owner
- No
- Date verified

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