Caring for HMS Victory's fore-topsail

This fore-topsail is the only surviving sail from the Battle of Trafalgar, and it originates from the most important ship of the battle, HMS Victory. Victory was Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's flagship, and where he would lose his life during the chaos of the battle. The sail bares the marks of this ferocious battle, being peppered with some 90 shot holes.

When fully laid out the sail measures 80 feet at its foot, 54 feet at the head, and 54 deep, with an area of 3,618 feet. Its huge size is a testament to the skill of sailmakers at this time. In its over two centuries the sail has been conserved multiple times and is under constant supervision as part of the collection of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. It has recently been carefully cleaned by RB Textile Conservation, overseen by the conservation team at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, to ensure it can continue to help tell the story of the Battle of Trafalgar.

The sail needs to be cleaned as over time dirt and dust in the air settles on the sail, and over time can harden like concrete becoming incredibly difficult to remove. Additionally, at a microscopic level this grit can be abrasive contributing to the sail deteriorating. So it is incredibly important that the sail is cleaned. This is done largely with low powered vacuum suction with a soft brush, to lift the dirt off the sail.

Following the cleaning the sail was documented on a grid to record stains, areas of loss, or fraying. This is helpful as it can be compared to previous reports, including one made when the sail was first discovered, showing any signs of deterioration over time, and assess how the sail is currently being kept. So far no areas of concern have been discovered.

While the sail is not usually available for the public to view, it often forms part of the museum's Heritage Open Days events every September.

To learn more about HMS Victory, the ship where the sail would have originally hung from, you can visit her page. Want to see her in person? The ship, and the groundbreaking conservation being done to her, are front and centre at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.