Saturday, 13 February 2016

Scots oak and elm for rebuild of Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory

Combined, they will give 10 oak trees and 11 elm trees towards the 15-year conservation project on the world's oldest commissioned warship, docked at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. 
HMS Victory, which carried Nelson for his greatest and final battle at Trafalgar, was built from more than 5,500 oak trees and inspired the Royal Navy's anthem march, Hearts of Oak. 
The Aberdeenshire estates of Charles Pearson, of Dunecht, will donate 10 oaks and four elms, Lord Aberdeen, of Haddo, is to provide five elms, and Rear Admiral Christopher Hockley, of the MacRobert Trust, has promised two elms as HMS Victory - launched in 1767 - enters its 250th year. 
Andrew Baines, head of historic ships at the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), explained that recent research shows oak is the best timber to use for future conservation.

He said: "The ship comprises a variety of hardwoods from years of maintenance. The return to oak is much welcomed.
"It demonstrates the serious archaeological research we are undertaking about the ship's composition, from timber to paint analysis, and our commitment to ensure she remains sustainable for centuries to come. 
"Interestingly, we understand some 30 per cent of the fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar hailed from Scotland, so it feels entirely appropriate that timber from these estates should be playing such a big part in her future security." 
The elm, which will remain in large blocks, is being used for the ship's structure below the waterline, where it will be used for the keel, while the oak is likely to become planking. 
Once felled, following a delay due to the recent poor weather, the timber will be transported to Whitney sawmill in Hereford, where it will be inspected and sawed to specific dimensions.