History (3)

Those who have visited Portsmouth Dockyard in recent years will have seen the stunningly restored HMS 'Warrior' - one of the world's first iron clad battleships. She was launched within a few months of the 'Frederick William', whose design instantly became obsolete so it is not surprising that immediately on launching she was 'paid off' into the reserve fleet at Portsmouth. She later spent two years as an Irish coastguard vessel but in 1868 she was laid up indefinitely in Portsmouth and with her machinery removed was earmarked for service as a hulk.

So the 'Frederick William' changed her name yet again, to become the second 'Worcester' and was moved to Greenhithe in 1877 where she could comfortably accommodate over 150 cadets, though at one time it had been suggested 250 was a suitable figure! For the next 60 years she served her purpose well and many improvements were made over the years. She was eventually connected to the shore for power and water supplies, but the problems of maintaining a ship whose construction had commenced a century before became more and more acute and thoughts were turning to a possible replacement.

This silver model of HMS 'Worcester' (II)
was presented by cadets to Queen Victoria and
can still be seen at Osborne House, Isle of Wight.