After watching the tale of the recovery of the Mary Rose on Blue Peter back in the day, I was very excited to finally get to see it last week. Wow! Absolutely stunning. The artefacts and the ship itself are beautifully presented for viewing. My expectations were high (it being so ingrained in my childhood) but this has to be one of the best museum interpretations I have ever visited.
The gunnery display being a highlight amongst highlights - all of the tools of the gunnery trade being on display, stuff that rarely has survived.
If you are ever in Portsmouth I strongly suggest visiting. Pricey admittedly, but the ticket gets you in to the entire RN dockyard site (including HMS Victory); as a bonus both of the RN's carriers were docked. Must confess that I was feeling very smug as my £25 teacher Art Pass got me in free of charge (and effectively paid for itself for the next two years just with that entrance fee alone).
As a young child in the United States, I remember the raising of the Mary Rose. I was probably 6-7 years old and my father spoke of it to me, probably after he had seen it in the news and in National Geographic. I remember flipping through the pages of that same National Geographic. One of the many things that inspired to dip my toes into naval wargaming. That and Paul Hague's Naval Wargaming in Miniature....
Thanks for the review. I plan to visit England in the next few years and hope that I can see the Mary Rose.
Quote from: streetgang on 12 August 2026, 11:42:37 AMThanks for the review. I plan to visit England in the next few years and hope that I can see the Mary Rose.
Remember to visit HMS Victory and HMS Warrior first, both are more relevant to naval wargaming than the Mary Rose. HMS Alliance isn't too far away either.
Jim
QuoteRemember to visit HMS Victory and HMS Warrior first, both are more relevant to naval wargaming than the Mary Rose. HMS Alliance isn't too far away either.
Jim
Mary Rose sank in the middle of the Battle of the Solent leading an attack on the French galleys involved in an invasion attempt. So surely equally relevant to naval wargaming. A "What If she had closed the gun ports" game at the very least. Tudor era naval wargaming is already much neglected as it is.
I look forward to finding a rule set that includes the rule
"If your ship has cannon below the Main Deck and you attempt to change course roll to see if you sink."
:) :) :)
Sadly I didn't have time to get the boat over to the Gosport site (included in the ticket) as had to catch a ferry over to the IoW. Somehow spent 6 hours looking at Mary Rose, Victory and Warrior (and a very fast walkthrough the RN museum, missing out on seeing Victory's remaining sail). Victory is undergoing a major restoration at the moment, so her spars have been removed, and she is encased in a temporary cover and scaffolding.
Whilst I have sailed into the Solent and Cowes, I hadn't realised the extent of the defences protecting passage into Portsmouth. The old battery at the Needles is very impressive and on a clear day you can see the Henrician forts guarding entry.
Anyone planning to visit the Royal Dockyards at Portsmouth should allow at least two days to fully appreciate everything there. I did and still ran out of time to see everything.
I remember watching the Mary Rose being raised ..fantastic.
I need to get back and revisit my anchors on the Warrior ..
As an apprentice draughtsman , I did the drawings for the trade apprentices as part of the restoration in '83 .
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