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HMS Ganges Figurehead

The Trustees of the museum are pleased to announce that the Figurehead of the old HMS Ganges has been donated to the HMS Ganges Museum by the Trustees of the Royal Hospital, Greenwich.

The Figurehead, dating from 1821 comes from of the second ship to bear the name of ‘Ganges’. Launched in Bombay in 1821 the ship saw service with the Royal Navy in many regions of the world and was the last warship under sail to carry the flag of a Commander in Chief.

In 1861 the ship was withdrawn from the fleet and converted to a training ship for boys entering the Royal Navy and, from 1865, was moored at Mylor in Falmouth harbour. In 1899 the ship was moved from Mylor to Harwich and boys training aboard the ship continued on the river Stour.

In 1905 boys training was moved ashore to a new purpose built training establishment and the Figurehead moved ashore with the boys then under training. Between 1905 and 1976, when HMS Ganges closed as a boys training establishment, the Figurehead was located at various locations within HMS Ganges. It is known that during the Second World War it was positioned under the mast, facing the parade ground and shortly after that time it was moved under cover into Nelson Hall.

Figurehead on the move. Now being restored.

In 1976 when HMS Ganges closed the Figurehead was presented to the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, Suffolk and was displayed at the front of the school. It was a fitting resting place for the Figurehead, then some 155 years old, as HMS Ganges and the Royal Hospital School had enjoyed close sporting links for many years.

In what we all see as a final move for the Figurehead, now some 185 years old, it is to return to Shotley and take pride of place in the HMS Ganges Museum as the most significant item of artefact to survive from the old sailing ship. Over time its condition has deteriorated and it will now be restored before returning ‘home to Shotley’.