Warrior leaving Milford Haven, 1979

The Trust took charge of Warrior in 1979 after lengthy negotiations and feasibility studies. Its vision was to restore a well-preserved hulk into a national treasure. Home for the project was Grays Shipyard in Hartlepool, the total cost was £8m, underwritten by Mr Smith's grant-making charity, the Manifold Trust.

In August 1979, the 120 year old hulk began her journey to Hartlepool around 800 miles of coastline she once defended so successfully. Restoration started with the removal of 80 tons of rubbish and a thick layer of concrete, could begin lamp-posts and huts from the upper deck. Two hundred tons of concrete, broken up by pneumatic drills, revealed the deck's original, albeit rotting timbers and rusting iron.

Another shot of the upper deck, this time looking aft. In the distance the poop deck can be seen



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Restoration

HMS Victory, Cutty Sark and Great Britain had been saved by complex restoration programmes.
As a pivotal Royal Naval ship, Warrior had not been forgotten and in 1968, the Duke of Edinburgh chaired a meeting on her possible rescue and restoration. The meeting's scope widened and the Maritime Trust was set up a year later.

Even the House of Commons heard of Warrior's fate. John Smith, MP for the cities of London and Westminster and Chairman of the new Trust, told MPs that Warrior could serve as "a potent source of education and inspiration for our children....."


A view of Warrior's upper deck, taken shortly after arrival in Hartlepool. On the left of the photograph is the helicopter pad, which was situated amidships


This meticulous work exposed many details vital to her rebuilding and the eventual aim of restoring her to the condition of her first commission between 1861 and 1864. Each area of the ship was photographed, and all items logged and stored. Careful woodwork inspections for screw holes and ridges in paint could mark the exact position of original fixtures. The only original fittings in place were a few Downton pumps and a Capstan. The after magazine and mid-ships shell rooms were intact, along with their lightrooms, handling areas and hand-up holes. The area was apparently untouched since the second or third commission


All items removed from the ship were carefully checked to ensure they were not artefacts. This parcel wrapping was found in a crank of a pump on board. Addressed to Mr James Ellis, HMS Vernon, 3 Mess, Portsmouth. It was posted at 9:30am on the 28th February 1910, in Bradford, Yorkshire.