Sail – full of holes, but full of history

A READER recently commented inthe Courier about the lack of knowledge of Dundee’s maritime history,” writes Innes Duffus, archivist to the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee.

“What may not be known is that, after several refits following the Battle of trafalgar, there is only one genuine artefact left from HMS Victory. It is the main fore topsail which measures 80ft at its foot, 54ft at the head and is 54ft deep. Pock-marked by 90 shot holes and further apertures caused by 19th century souvenir hunters, the sail provides much information about sail construction.

“The sail had a chequered history. It was made in the sail loft at Chatham when the Victory was completing her ‘great repair’ in 1803. It remained on board ship until its removal and was placed in the sail loft when the ship returned to Chatham for repairs in January 1806. Contemporary records show that during this period the sail was repaired using 20 yds. of No.4 canvas.

“Baxters manufactured the sail and Souter and thomson, among others, produced the cloth between 1803 and 1805. William Baxter & Son was established by William Baxter of Balgavies, of an ancient mercantile family of Dundee. His sons, Edward, David (afterwards Sir David), John and William founded the house of Messrs Baxter Brothers & Co.

“Many of the ships in the navy at that time would have used sails manufactured by Baxters and others in Dundee.”

The photograph shows the sail (see story on right) which was found in a loft at Chatham after the closure there and preserved. It is on display in a shed beside the famous ship. This sail would have been made from bolts of cloth only 21” wide.