Whilst visiting my younger brother and his wife near Blyth Northumberland I requested a visit to the historic dock at Hartlepool to see the Trincomalee.

HISTORY

She is the oldest ship afloat in Europe. Built in Bombay (as it was then) and launched in 1817 she arrived in Portsmouth in 1819. She was fitted with light armament in Trincomalee and escorted to UK by another warship to prevent capture by pirates etc. She was built in Bombay of teak because the Admiralty was worried about the shortage of oak. On arrival in UK she was placed ‘in ordinary’

which I think means reserve, as the Napoleonic wars had finished during her build.

She was ‘copper bottomed’ in 1829 and in 1845 was cut-down to a much smaller ship with such modern things as iron freshwater tanks and pumps fitted.

Between 1847 and 1857 she completed two commissions, the first in the West Indies and the second in the Pacific via Cape Horn.

In 1860, after being in reserve, she spent time in Sunderland and Hartlepool as a drill ship and was towed to Southampton in 1877. In1902 she became a youth training ship, was renamed Foudroyant and moved to Falmouth, before being again moved to Milford Haven.

In 1932 she was moved to Portsmouth and became the naval training ship used throughout the war.

In 1949 she recommenced youth training. This ceased in 1986, she was bought by enthusiasts,

who moved her to Hartlepool and gave her the original name. Since then much restoration work has been done.

HARTLEPOOL’s MARITIME EXPERIENCE

The Trincomalee is in a small wet dock surrounded by a horseshoe of buildings. These buildings known as the ‘Historic Quayside’ contain many interesting exhibits. There are gunsmiths, swordsmiths chandlers etc. In one building special effects and modern technology take you through

a warship in battle, even showing you the surgeon at his gruesome tasks! In another there is a film about two landlubbers being press-ganged into the service and waking up at sea. At set times the staff fire muskets and a cannon nearly deafens everyone.

There is a play area for children and a cafe where food of a nautical nature can be bought: Bosun’s Burgers etc. I think it is licensed.

On boarding the Trincomalee a guide card can be had showing the approved viewing route. In various compartments, decks, etc other cards are there giving details about that area. The staff onboard are knowledgeable and willing to answer questions.

Unfortunately, on my visit work was being done on the main and foremasts so there was some scaffolding up there. The upper deck forward of the mainmast was roped off as was part of the gun deck below.

This did not spoil the visit at all but was not good for taking pictures of the ship. There are no restrictions on photography anywhere that I can remember.

My brother and I spent about four hours there and consider it very good value for the £5.75 it costs to go onto the quayside and into the Trincomalee.

LINDISFARNE

Whilst up in Northeast I took the opportunity to visit the island. The causeway has been raised so that it is now possible to cross to the island for about 4 hours either side of low tide. Payment is required to go into the old Priory and into a museum neither of which was of interest to me.

I did however pay and go into the Castle. I found it very interesting and probably worth the £6 or so that it cost. We had lunch and a very good pint of beer in a pub.

Les (the Rev) Newton