HMS Victory: The Big Repair Information Hub

The work to Victory will focus on replacement of the decayed planking of the hull and the damaged frames of the ship. Looking at HMS Victory in early 2022, you might think that she was in good condition. However, in reality a thin skin of paint and filler masked planking that was almost entirely rotten on the ship’s starboard side. 

As soon as the outer, sound, layer was removed, the team of shipwrights were confronted with material that no longer resembled timber and was much closer to potting compost. Carefully removing that layer of decayed material revealed that rot had spread to the frames to a much greater extent than had been assumed, meaning more repair and replacement activity would be necessary.

Conservation work began to the hull of HMS Victory. An enormous scaffolding structure has been erected over the central section of the ship. This structure fulfils three critical roles: it protects Victory from the British weather; it provides physical access to the hull for works, and it allows the public to view the works as they progress. 

The protective roof over the ship has allowed Victory to start to dry out – and the ship is now drier than she has been at any other stage in her history

Cover Structure and Visitor Scaffold Completed

The outer scaffold structure covering midships was completed, protecting midships from the elements, and the Victory Live area for the general public was completed.

Victory Live, an area of the scaffold structure allowing visitors to the the exposed midships of Victory and to see the shipwrights at work, was opened.

The removal of all of the outer-layer of planking midships was completed, fully exposing the frames of the ship in this area.

The removal of all of the outer-layer of planking midships was completed, fully exposing the frames of the ship in this area.

The platforms within the scaffold, running alongside the ship giving the shipwrights full access to the hull, were completed.

With the ship partially covered, and drying out, the first of the outer-layer of planks was removed from midships (note the hull is constructed from three layers).

With the frames now drying, the repairs have begun. Graving pieces, where small areas of damaged timber are cut out and replaced, are being inserted. For the futtocks that need replacing (each frame is made from at least three futtocks), new ones are being shaped in the workshops.