Shipshape again, Henry’s pride and joy
MOVE over HMS Victory – there’s a new warship in town. A revamped museum dedicated to the Mary Rose opened in Portsmouth last week, and it’s simply stunning.
In 1545 the Mary Rose, the pride of Henry VIII’s naval fleet, sank in the Solent in the middle of a major battle with the French, with the loss of hundreds of men.
It was known approximately where the ship lay but it wasn’t until 1971 that its exact location was discovered. And it took another 11 years before the remains of the ship were eventually lifted from the seabed.
I remember visiting the Mary Rose shortly after it was put on display in Portsmouth. The vessel had to be sprayed with water and later a water-soluble wax to preserve the wood, which had been submerged for 437 years.
What is astonishing is that the basic vessel has been so well preserved, offering a wonderful cross-section of the tiny decks (the average height of a crew member was 5ft 7in).
Even more amazing is the huge quantity of artefacts recovered from the wreck site – such a rich haul that historian David Starkey describes the collection of items as ‘this country’s Pompeii’.
Following a six-month closure and £5.4million redevelopment programme, the museum reopened last week.
Nobody who visits the site can doubt that the expense has been worth every penny. There are now nine galleries, and visitors can get spectacular views of the ship through new floor-to-ceiling windows. The museum also
cleverly reimagines the daily life on board the ship. It was, after all, not just a fighting craft – it was home and a workplace to 500 men, and it is incredible to think that it was able to accommodate so many.
Through the objects that have been recovered, and which are now on display, we can learn about the daily lives of sailors: what they ate, how they amused themselves, and how they went to war.
Just as fascinating is the story of how the ship was found, how it was raised and how it is now preserved for future generations.
It has provided the richest treasure trove: items that are not just valuable in themselves but pieces of history that offer an extraordinary insight into the past.
For information about opening times and ticket prices, visit maryrose.org.