Volunteer Voices: Restoring an Icon
Volunteer Voices: Restoring an Icon
If you’ve been following our volunteer stories for a while, then you’ll be familiar with our Collections volunteer, Perry.
Perry is a retired lift engineer from the East End of London and is a keen model maker and figure collector. Five years ago, he became a Medway local and his interest in history brought him to the Dockyard in August 2024. He’s been helping us with a huge range of projects from cleaning the HMS Valiant model to creating our hidden book nooks.
Model of HMS VICTORY
After cutting his teeth on these smaller projects, we asked him to turn his attention to a large, damaged model of HMS VICTORY.
The model has been on site since the Dockyard closed in 1984. Since then, it has moved around between different galleries and storerooms, with the occasional repair. For the past three years, it has been in the Conservation Lab awaiting much-needed attention. Conservation volunteers helped to keep the model dust-free.
The recent restoration of the Commissioner’s House provided the ideal location for this grand model to find a lasting home. With the launch deadline in mind, we got cracking on the conservation project to repair it.
Repairing the Model
Sadly, the model suffered some damage in its lifetime, with old repairs being undertaken that were wrong or incomplete.
The ship wasn’t looking its best, with significant historical damage really visible at the bowsprit. Regardless, the model is still incredibly striking to view and was a staple for talks and commentary for visitors to the Conservation Lab.
Working alongside the Conservator, an initial condition report was created to document the areas of the model that needed repair. Once the scope of work was realised, Perry and the Conservator got to work.
The model is quite prone to dust, with lots of small areas to trap small dust particles. Perry worked diligently to clean the model from top to bottom to provide a clean canvas for the repairs to begin.
Over the next eight weeks, Perry carried out a series of repairs. These repairs included re-adhering broken sections, filling and inpainting areas of the hull, and re-rigging badly tangled sections. Conservation repairs follow the principles of reversibility and durability, using conservation-grade materials.
The work was painstaking and required the team to resolve complex conservation challenges. Each repair was carefully discussed, tested before application, and documented with extensive photographs. This allows future conservators to trace the work completed.
The Icon is Complete
Once the work was completed and the model was display-ready, it was carefully transported to the Victory Room of the Commissioner’s House. The model sits in a brand-new display by a boarded-up window that once looked out on No.2 Dry Dock, where workers were building the real HMS VICTORY.
With the model being just shy of 8ft long and 5 ft high, it creates an air of grandeur in an already impressive space.
We can’t thank Perry enough for lending his incredible skills in model-making to this project. He has since been nominated as a Hidden Hero in our Dockyard Recognition Scheme for this project.
Perry says, “It has been an absolute pleasure and honour to have worked on the Victory model. Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson was a hero of mine. The thought that it may end up in Commissioner’s House is just the icing on the cake.
I would just like to say thanks for giving me the opportunity.”
The Commissioner’s House Open House
During the monthly Open House, Commissioner’s House will be open all day for you to explore at your leisure. Please keep reading for information about the guided tour or afternoon tea.
