The mysterious ship floor
In 1995, 167 timbers from a warship were found during excavations at the Wheelrights Shop of Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent. These had a Weinglass shape and were so high and thick that they must have been a second or third rate. And they had carpenters marks in some places which were also found on HMS Victory.
The “floor” (x) (x)
The Wheelrights Shop was built in 1786 and the ship's bottom was probably rebuilt around 1830 to stabilise it. Now it was not clear which ship was on the floor, but after 17 years historians could prove from the dates and documents that it was HMS Namur, launched in 1756 and dismantled in 1833. She was a second rate with 90 guns and saw service in the seven years war and the Battle of Cape St. Vincent.
The Wheelright’s Shop (x)
She was in active service for 47 years and then in waking service for another 28. And although she had served for so long, she was dismantled in 1833, but now someone had taken pity on her and were trying to save part of her and keep her as a floor in the Wheelsright Shop. One possible answer is James Alexander Gordon, the shipyard captain and superintendent of 1834. Gordon had risen from midshipman to fleet admiral and had an unprecedented 75 years of service in the Royal Navy.
A number of the parts reused in the Wheelwrights’ Shop were marked with guides to show where they were supposed to fit into the ship. This timber is scored ‘IIIXX S’, showing that it was the 23rd on the starboard side. The grooves cut down and across the timber were part of an onboard drainage system to expel bilge. (x)
In 1786, when Gordon was 14 years old (by which time he had been in the Navy for three years, believe it or not), he served as an ensign on HMS Namur. He took part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797 on board the Namur. It is possible that he felt a sentimental attachment to this old bucket and ensured that it continued to support the Royal Navy in a new capacity: namely, as a floor.