Reports of the two AGM presentations

retained, ensuring no changes to members’ payment arrangements. Mike was thanked for progressing the application and making the committee aware of its impact on the existing constitution, which will need to be updated. Jonathan Turner had conducted an online poll of members’ views on the proposal to move to a CIO; 51 members replied. The proposal was submitted to the meeting for acceptance; combining the in-person and electronic votes gave a clear mandate to proceed, as there was a quorate number of members.

Maggie Watkinson, with thanks to Peter Skidmore for the minutes of the meeting.

AGM Presentations

‘The Lambhay, Plymouth: early victualling, warehousing and fishing; early findings from evacuations close to the Mayflower steps’

Martin Read, a conservator and marine archaeologist from Plymouth University’s Marine Science Department, presented a fascinating talk about the earliest victualling yard for the Navy in Plymouth, located close to Commercial Wharf, the West Pier and the Mayflower steps at the entrance to Sutton Harbour. The emergency excavation was due to the sea wall bulging outwards and the consequent risk of collapse, causing severe damage to the road above.

Because of the need for speed the fill between the outer and inner walls was rapidly loaded into skips; it was still stratified and seemed to be mostly discarded material between layers of pebbles and sand from the estuary and possibly offloaded ship’s ballast. The artefacts were retrieved using the ‘skip-diving’ method!

There were very few metal finds (only two musket balls), and one human tooth. 70% of the finds were crinoids and ceramics; about half of the latter were foreign imports with Portuguese courseware, a rare piece of Faience ware from Portugal, and tin glazed earthenware (similar to that from Delft) in the mix and predominantly came from the Mediterranean, Portugal and south west France. The star find was half of a Murano glass bead from Venice.

The finds pointed to a seventeenth and eighteenth century three-way trade to Newfoundland with salt and supplies to engage in fishing, back to Iberia with salt cod and then a return to Plymouth with mixed goods such as olive oil, wine and fruit, as well as the ceramics, probably as a side trade.

Skip diving (Photo: Martin Read)

Some of the finds (Photo: Martin Read)

We were later able to see some of the artefacts on display. I wondered what the people who dropped the plates and pots would make of the fragments of their carelessness being displayed under a spotlight, behind glass, as rare and precious!

Jonathan Seagrave and Maggie Watkinson

The talk, delivered by Clive Charlton, focused on the ‘ten amazing days’ that Napoleon Bonaparte spent as a captive in Plymouth Sound on board HMS Bellerophon in 1815. It also outlined the background to the dramatic finale to Napoleon’s career as well as the distinguished career of the ship that carried him to captivity.

Following defeat at Waterloo in June 1815, Napoleon fled back to Paris, and thence to Rochefort, where he hoped to escape by sea. However, Bonaparte and his supporters (his ‘suite’) found their exit blocked by the Royal Navy. The main threat was the 74-gun HMS Bellerophon, captained by Frederick Maitland, detailed to guard the French coast in the vicinity of Rochefort. Napoleon determined to surrender to the British, in the hope he might be granted political asylum. After negotiations, he came aboard the ship on July 15 1815, and surrendered to Capt. Maitland.

Napoleon’s arrival on the Bellerophon must have been truly sensational for the men on board. Several recorded their impressions of the voyage back to England, notably Capt. Maitland himself whose account is available online here: www.gutenberg.org/files/28934/28934-h/28934h.htm. Maitland was acutely aware of his responsibility to get Napoleon away from France to security in England. Bellerophon set sail and on July 24, they arrived in Torbay, where word soon got out that Napoleon was on board. The ship was surrounded by small boats carrying hordes of sightseers. Fearing Napoleon might somehow make contact with sympathisers, the Bellerophon was ordered to Plymouth, where he could be more effectively guarded.

She arrived in Plymouth Sound on July 26. The authorities were very anxious; it was clear that the illustrious arrival would attract immense interest. Despite years of propaganda against him as an ‘ogre’ and ‘destroyer’, not all those eager to glimpse him were hostile. However, he was not allowed on shore, and sightseers were kept at a distance by determined naval cutters and other deterrents; two frigates also lay as guardships on either side of Bellerophon.

The ten days Napoleon spent in Plymouth Sound were sensational and dramatic. Vast crowds took to the water in the hope of catching a glimpse of Napoleon; it was estimated that as many as 1,000 boats filled the Sound on some days. This armada of anonymous small craft has long been forgotten, yet their sheer number and availability is surely an essential part of the maritime history of the south west. However, two vivid paintings still bring to life the remarkable scene in the Sound, one of which is ‘Napoleon in Plymouth Sound’, painted in the 19th century by Jules Girardet (based on eye-witness accounts) https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/napoleon-inplymouth-sound-august-1815-napoleon-on-board-the-bellerophon-at-plymouth-147691

The enthusiastic reception given to the star passenger on Bellerophon added to the urgency of deciding his fate. The government decided to exile Napoleon on St. Helena in the South Atlantic. However, a stumbling block was the condition of Bellerophon; she was unfit for another long voyage. The 74-gun HMS Northumberland was hastily prepared as the substitute and, still protesting his fate, Napoleon and 28 of his suite were transferred. The ship left Torbay on August 9, where she had waited for the rest of the escorts and supply vessels to arrive, for the long journey south.

Italics indicate an event of possible interest but not organised by the society

Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th June 2022. The Naval Dockyards Society is holding their 26th annual conference, entitled “Dockyards as nodes of naval architecture, maritime

traditions and cultural heritage” at the Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth. The conference is sponsored by the Society for Nautical Research. The keynote speakers are Sir Neil Cossons, Professor Andrew Lambert and Dr Anthony Firth. Further information is available here: https://navaldockyards.org/conferences/

Tuesday 14th June 2022. Naming of a Train Commemorating the Falklands War at

Plymouth Railway Station. The Great Western Railway is organising an event for the 40th celebrations of the Falklands War. The current plans are that an ‘in service’ train will arrive at platform 7 of Plymouth station at 1312 and depart at 1343. A service will be held after arrival and include the departure and be led by the Railway Chaplain the Reverend John Roe. The locomotive will have a special livery.

Sunday 17th to Tuesday 19th June 2022. The Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

and coinciding Falmouth Classics, Falmouth. The nautical music and song festival is free to attend as is the three-day regatta of racing, parades and onshore events. For more information see: https://www.falmouthseashanty.co.uk/ and https://www.falmouthclassics.org.uk/

Saturday 25th June (Armed Forces Day). There will be a parade of Falklands Veterans in

Plymouth during which they will be granted the Freedom of the City. The muster will be at 1300 at the Citadel and the march, lead by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, will start at 1400, progressing down Citadel Road, Elliott Street and onto the Hoe. Further information is here: https://www.plymoutharmedforcesday.co.uk/

Sunday 26th June 2022. The David Clement Memorial Service will be held between 2 and 5

pm on the 80th anniversary of David’s birth. The Pride of Exmouth will leave from Exmouth Marina to enable David’s ashes to be scattered at sea (if the weather is inclement the voyage will be up the River Exe). All members of the society, particularly those who knew David, are invited to attend by Dina, David’s wife, and, if they wish, say a few words. Dina is hoping the Exmouth Sea Shantymen will provide a fitting tribute and Martin Hazell may also sing and play. Catering will be provided. It is essential that those who want to attend contact Dina on 07928362929

or via email: dinaclement@hotmail.co.uk

Friday 8th July 2022. One Ocean - Seven Seas. 1900 - 2030 hrs

A free evening public event is being held on at the University of Plymouth in the Devonport Lecture Theatre of the Portland Place Building. It is being organised by The Maritime Foundation and supported by The Nautical Institute (as part of its 50th Anniversary Celebrations) and the University of