HMS Unicorn

[anteros_lmc]

Earlier this week I had to go to Dundee for a work event so I took some time out to visit HMS Unicorn. Unicorn is a Leda class frigate built at Chatham dockyard and launched in 1824. Along with HMS Trincomalee she is one of only two frigates surviving in the UK from this era. Unicorn is particularly unusual as she has spent her entire existence in ordinary; she has never been rigged and the roof covering her upper gun deck is thought to be original. During her lifetime she has been using as a powder hulk, a drill ship and an administrative vessel and she has been berthed in Dundee since 1873.

There's no denying that with her low roof and glazed gun ports Unicorn is a distinctly odd looking beastie indeed and there is something rather sad about her enclosed upper deck. If anything, it reminded me of a rather neglected scout hall. However as you go below it's impossible not to be reminded that Unicorn was built as a fighting vessel. The headroom gets lower and lower as you descend into the hold and by the time you reach the orlop it's barely three feet. The carpenter's walk above the hold is intact and it's incredible being able to squeeze along the tiny passageway between the hull and the cable tier.

Unlike Dundee's other famous sailing ship, RRS Discovery (of which more later), Unicorn is sadly neglected and clearly in need of serious investment. However there is something about her rather dilapidated state that makes her all the more atmospheric. By the time I got down into the orlop and the hold I was almost dizzy with the experience of being there. Apart from the attendant, I was the only person aboard the day I visited so I was able to sit alone in the wardroom and the empty lieutenants' cabins for as long as I pleased. I stood outside the 4th Lieutenant's cabin for a long time, the door was locked but there was something really moving about being there.

HMS Unicorn	Roofed upper deck with deeply creepy unicorn figure head
The great guns are reproductions made from fibreglass
Great cabin	Great cabin
	Lieutenant's cabin
Lieutenant's cabin
Wardroom	Wardroom
Lower mess deck	Lower mess deck
Carpenter's walk	Orlop and hold
Cable tier	Brass signal gun from Admiral Duncan's flagship Venerable, used at Camperdown

Comments

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Your photo of the orlop gives me such an understanding of Stephen on the Surprise. And the lieutenants' cabins... it hardly needs saying.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Your photo of the orlop gives me such an understanding of Stephen on the Surprise.
It was incredibly difficult manoeuvring around the orlop, even while it was brightly lit and the ship was stationary. I can't imagine what it must have been like in the dark with a high sea running. No wonder Stephen had trouble!

And the lieutenants' cabins... it hardly needs saying.
I spent quite some time sitting in those cabins.

Unicorn

[amaraal.livejournal.com]

Gorgerous despite its creepyness... The carpenter's walk is awesome. If I ever gather enough money to buy me a ship :)
I also love her outer appearance: black and white matching in the great cabin. She really is a man of war. Thanks for all the pictures. I feel like 1824 now...

Re: Unicorn

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

She's quite something isn't she? Despite her lack of masts, she is definitely one of the most atmospheric ships I have had the pleasure of visiting.

Re: Unicorn

[amaraal.livejournal.com]

She is gorgeous! Like going into war right now. How impressive she must be WITH masts... *shivers*

Btw: how far is Dundee from Maidenhead? Maybe I'm going to visit nodbear in September again :)

Re: Unicorn

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

How impressive she must be WITH masts... *shivers*
The Unicorn Trust had originally intended to re-mast her but when they discovered that she had only ever been roofed, they decided to preserve the roof instead.

How far is Dundee from Maidenhead
Quite a long way! Though there is another Leda class frigate, HMS Trincomalee, preserved in Hartlepool which is a little closer to Maidenhead, though I don't know if it's any easier to get to!

Maybe I'm going to visit nodbear in September again :)
Huzzah!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Still an impressive ship.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

She really is incredibly atmospheric. Much more so that RRS Discovery which is rather spoiled by over interpretation.

[vespican.livejournal.com]

One of those replica great guns would look good in my front room!
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

ROFL! That's exactly what I said to the attendant! He told me that the company who made the guns sold the moulds recently, he had recommended to the Unicorn trust that they buy them, but they didn't follow up his suggestion. Apparently they are now owned by a guy down in England who will make replica's for anyone who can pay the price.

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Something to remember for the day I win the LOTTO or my books become best sellers!
Dave

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I am going to have to stare at those pictures for a long time I think. I have been thinking of those long ago men, this week, more than ever. So much life, and so much death too, in such a small space.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

So much life, and so much death too, in such a small space.
Yes, that's what I thought. And I thought of you too while I sat alone in that cabin.

I hope you're settled in your new home now and the chaos is subsiding.

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

Fasinating - having seen pictures and read about her very interesting to see these closer pictures
glad you got to go there, extremely atmospheric

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I would love to see Trincomalee now. She's another Leda class I believe, but she still has her masts.

[shepet.livejournal.com]

It's really very, very atmospheric.
But still wish that guns are not authentic. :-D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Considering how much she's been messed around she really is a remarkably atmospheric ship!