Winchester College Publication Formidable | Page 8

Restoration, 2018-19
T
he restoration of the model began with a light
surface cleaning, which removed some old fungal
growth and crystalline residues. Some minor corrections
and repairs were made to both the standing and running
rigging, with a number of incorrect features removed. It
was during this process that some of the original running
rigging was found still in place, notably the large pair
of lifting blocks and parrels that support the mizzen
lateen yard. Probably the most time-consuming part of
the restoration process was the careful removal of the
rather crudely applied modern white oil paint on the
port side of lower hull. This revealed the original Latin
inscription, written in a red matt paint, and visible in
old photographs of the model. The white paint was
also removed from the upper surfaces of the fighting
tops, together with modern silver paint from all of
the c. 300 wooden blocks and ends of the muzzles of
the 30 cannon.
Finally, a large selection of parts and `detritus` was
recovered from the hold in the hull. Amongst the general
dust and wood shavings were a number of the original
guns, together with their crude carriages, gun port lids,
deck beam pillars and a set of companionway steps. Also
recovered was a small piece of material, possibly the
remains of a sail, and small fragments of paper with
painted decoration that may be the remnants of a flag.
Simon Stephens
Detail of the hull planking with the partial removal of the white paint exposing the original Latin inscrip-
tion beneath. View of the Port side of the hull showing most of the Latin inscription revealed before touching in.
A small selection of the `detritus’ found and recovered from the hold inside the hull. Items include
broken wooden treenails, wood shavings, straw and a small piece of woven material that may be the
remains of a sail. A selection of the various items recovered from inside the hull including the turned wooden guns, gun
carriages, a ladder, five gun port lids, rigging including a set of wooden parrels from the main yard, and
two ceramic (?) spheres.
(National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)
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