HMS Winchester (1822) facts for kids
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HMS Winchester
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Winchester |
| Ordered | 23 May 1816 |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Laid down | November 1818 |
| Launched | 21 June 1822 |
| Commissioned | 16 September 1822 |
| Renamed |
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| Fate | Sold for breaking 8 April 1921 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | 60-gun Southampton-class frigate |
| Tons burthen | 1,468 11/94 bm (as designed) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 44 ft 3.25 in (13 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 6 in (4 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 450 |
| Armament |
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HMS Winchester was a large sailing frigate of the Royal Navy. She was designed to carry 60 guns, but like other ships of her type, she actually carried 52 guns. The ship was built at Woolwich Dockyard in England. She was started in 1816 and launched on June 21, 1822. From 1831 to 1861, Winchester sailed to places like North America and Southeast Asia. Later, she became a training ship for young people, first named Conway and then Mount Edgcumbe. She was sold in 1921.
Contents
Life at Sea: Winchester's Service
Early Years and Important Commands
Even though HMS Winchester was ordered in 1816, she wasn't launched until 1822. She officially joined the Royal Navy on September 16, 1822.
In October 1829, Captain Charles Austen took command of Winchester. He was the brother of the famous writer Jane Austen. At this time, Winchester was the main ship, called the flagship, for the Royal Navy in North America and the West Indies.
From 1834 to 1838, the ship served in the East Indies, an area that included parts of Asia. Captain Edward Sparshott was in charge during this time.
Serving as a Flagship Around the World
In 1842, Winchester became the flagship for the Cape of Good Hope Station in South Africa. Captain Charles Eden commanded her there.
In 1852, Captain Granville Gower Loch took over Winchester. She was sent to China and the East Indies to replace another ship as the flagship. In 1852 and 1853, Winchester helped in military actions along the coast of Burma during the Second Burmese War.
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In April 1853, Rear Admiral Fleetwood Pellew made Winchester his flagship. By September 1854, he was near Hong Kong, leading the East Indies and China Station. There was a difficult situation where the crew felt unhappy about not being allowed to go ashore. To keep order, Admiral Pellew had to send officers to get the crew to follow commands.
On May 11, 1854, Rear Admiral Sir James Stirling raised his flag on Winchester. Soon after, news arrived that war had started with Russia (the Crimean War). Stirling wanted to stop Russian ships from hiding in Japanese ports. He led a group of four ships, including Winchester, to Nagasaki, Japan. There, he signed an important agreement called the Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty with Japanese leaders.
Winchester also played a part in the Second Opium War. Her smaller boats and some of her crew helped in an attack on Canton (now Guangzhou), China.
Exploring New Waters
In August 1855, during the Crimean War, Winchester and another ship, HMS Barracouta, explored and mapped the waters of Peter the Great Gulf. This was the first time these waters were charted by the British, as they were looking for a Russian fleet.
Becoming a Training Ship: Conway
In 1861, Winchester was given a new job. She became a training ship in the port of Liverpool, replacing an older ship named HMS Conway. So, Winchester was renamed Conway. She was used to teach and train young people who were homeless or in need. In 1876, another ship took over the name Conway, and the former Winchester was returned to the Royal Navy. She was then renamed HMS Mount Edgcumbe.
Becoming a Training Ship: Mount Edgcumbe
In 1874, a group was formed to create a training ship for boys in Plymouth. The former Winchester, now named Mount Edgcumbe, was anchored in the River Tamar near Saltash. On March 28, 1912, another training ship in Hull closed down. The boys from that ship were moved to Mount Edgcumbe to continue their training.
The training ship Mount Edgcumbe closed down on December 4, 1920.
End of Service
HMS Winchester, known as Mount Edgcumbe by then, was sold on April 8, 1921. She was then taken to Queen Anne's Battery to be taken apart.
