Devonport, HMS Impregnable 1893
Photo ref:
31959
More about this scene
Until the 1850s, the Navy offered little in the way of pre-sea training to recruits; they were simply posted to a ship, where they learned their craft from experienced hands. In 1854 the ageing 74- gun warship HMS 'Illustrious' was given a new lease of life when she was commissioned as a harbour training ship for young seamen. In 1857 her role was extended when she received her first batch of officer cadets. It was soon apparent that 'Illustrious' was too small for all that was required of her, and in January 1859 HMS 'Britannia' (120 guns) was commissioned under Capt Robert Harris to act as a training ship for would-be officers. She was joined in 1864 by HMS 'Hindostan', which was moored ahead of her. Five years later 'Britannia' was relieved and replaced by the 1861-built steam warship 'Prince of Wales', which was then renamed 'Britannia'. In 1905 the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth was opened, and both 'Britannia' and 'Hindostan' were paid off.
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