HISTORY OF BRITISH NAVY IN WOOD

Shannon News, 13 August 1929, Page 4

HISTORY OF BRITISH NAVY IN WOOD

SET OF SHIP MODELS. The famous collection of old ships’ models at the Mercury Museum, Hambio, Hampshire, has been brought by Sir James Caird for £30,000, says the London Daily Express. It is the largest private collection in the country, and contains a number of models believed at one time to have belonged to Samuel Pcpys. Offers were received from America for the collection, which was formed by the late founder of the Mercury training ship, Mr. Charles A. A. Hoare.

The collection of 200 models is arranged in two rooms at the nautical school attached to the training ship. It is 1 a history in itself of the British Navy during "the past 250 years. Ten of the models are of Stuart ships, and one of them, believed to be the oldest scale model in the country, is of Priii ccss Royal, laid down in 1640 by the pfreat shipbuilder Peter Pett. The figurehead is of King Charles I. on horseback, and all the delicate carving of the original is reproduced in replica. There are tiny three-deckers, miniatures of Nelson’s victorious fleet, early ironclads, part steam and part sail, and clippers whose speed startled our forefathers.

Sir Janies Caird is the noted Dundee shipowner. He recently bought the M ’Pherson collection of old naval prints, and he was the principal donor to the Victory restoration fund. The purchase money will endow a fund to enable the work of the school to be continued. at****