The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Woven close to home
“Further to your question in Saturday’s column regarding the sail from HMS Victory, I attach a picture of it as it is today (see below),” emails Innes Duffus.
“Victory had several refits after Trafalgar and this is one of a very few actual artefacts from the ship from the actual battle.
“Removed in 1806, it was discovered in 1990 in a loft at Chatham and has some 90 shot holes. It has been preserved as found and is now hanging in a building beside the ship with a story board giving the details.
“Along with many other sails used in the fleet, it was woven by Baxter Brothers, James Smeaton of Hilltown, William Thomson of the Vault and Airth & Sons of Arbroath.
“The sail in question is the fore topsail and measures 80 ft at its foot, 54 ft at the head and 54 ft deep. The sail covers an area of 3,618 sq ft., pockmarked by some 90 shot holes. Like all Admiralty sails, it has a blue wavy line through it and would have been examined by the Stamp Masters confirming its measurements and quality.
“These sails would have been stitched together from bolts of cloth either 18” or 21” wide, that being the standard loom width of the time.
“Incidentally, Nelson himself had his body preserved on board the ship in a barrel of brandy and was prepared by one Mary Buick from Dundee, the wife of a gunner from Cellardyke. They are both buried in a churchyard in Kilrenny.”