Tourism boost as HMS Victory visitors now set for 'better view than Nelson' as renovation project hits milestone
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Bosses at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which curates the 3,600 tonne ship HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, hope the spectacular view will provide ‘an absolute windfall’ to tourism.
It comes after the museum had to close its doors in March due to Covid-19 – creating a funding gap of more than £6.35m.
Now, work that began as a means to shore up Nelson’s flagship could shore up the museum that preserves it for generations to come.
After discovering that the 255-year-old ship was in danger of folding in on itself, contractor BAE Systems has spent the last two years ago replacing 22 steel cradles that have held the ship in dry dock since 1922.
In their place are 134 ‘smart props’ that provide minute-by-minute updates on the structural integrity of the ship and can be adjusted at a moments notice to stop it from sagging.
The new £3.1m support system has created an ‘absolute windfall’ in the form of an attraction that gives tourists a completely new perspective on the ship, according to Matthew Sheldon, director of museum operations.
He said: ‘Until a couple of months ago (the view of the hull) was a mass of concrete and steel – you couldn’t stand under the ship and have this view.
‘And I think you’re going to get a better view than Nelson himself – he never got to see this.
‘We didn’t begin with this as our aim but very quickly thought “wouldn’t it be wonderful if”.
‘People have been visiting for 100 years but have only seen half the ship.
‘Now it’s the ideal Covid experience with social distancing – and we may well do events throughout the year when it becomes safe.
‘I’m very proud of the museum team and the contractor team to get this ready.’
The milestone comes halfway through a 20-year £40m heritage project.
It is hoped the new space will attract previous visitors to return, as the museum find its capacity slashed by 50 per cent but its need for visitors greater than ever, according to Rebecca Hubbard, director of marketing at the museum.
She said: ‘We are hopeful that it will bring previous visitors back for a second visit, it’s such an incredible sight.’
Lord Nelson’s flagship for the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 was launched in 1765, having been laid down in 1759.
The coronavirus outbreak had brought the museum within days of insolvency, until last month when the Treasury saved it with a £5.6m in relief funding to ensure it can safely reopen.
As reported, crisis has also led it to partner with the Mary Rose Museum, offering a joint ticket so visitors can enjoy all of the dockyard’s historic ships, galleries and experiences.
Rebecca added: ‘This has been a really challenging time for us.
‘Our whole ticket structure has had to change.’
Visitors will be required to pre-book before their visit, with full social-distancing measures in place inside the dockyard.
The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – including the Museum of the Royal Navy and the Mary Rose Museum, will reopen on Monday, August 24.
What it was like under HMS Victory
FOR the first time since 1765, HMS Victory can be enjoyed in all her glory – giving the public a view that even her most famous sailor – Lord Nelson – would never have seen.
Walking underneath the 3,556-tonne warship, I was struck by her size – and the skill of the hundreds of craftsmen who laboured to build the iconic vessel.
She remains impressive even as she stands alongside the navy’s state-of-the-art aircraft carriers.
Only about 10 per cent of the original ship remains in place, but the new walkway allows visitors to get as close as possible to the ship’s original backbone, it’s 255-year-old keel.
The uncovered view means you can inspect important parts of the ship’s history – a 13ft section of her keel is obviously much newer than the rest, being a repair job needed after a bomb fell on the dry dock in 1941.