T.S. CORNWALL HISTORY AND INTERESTING FACTS
Early in 1859 Sir Goorge Henry Chanbers entertained the Idea of trying to reclaim friendless and un-cared for boys who often were led into trouble through no fault of their own.
He had observed how successful the Reformatory System had been on board the T..S. Aktar In the Mersey , at Liverpool and was desirous of seeing,a similar Institution started on the Thames.
Together with some bussiness friends he approached the Admiralty for a suitable
ship and they Immediately offered him H.M.S. Cornwall, if he could raise £2,000
to start the venture. This Sir George did In a very short time and the School
Ship Society was formed in 1859. under the Reformatory Act of 1354.
In 1881 the name of the Institution was changed to the Reformatory Ship
Cornwall end later to the Training Ship Cornwall . Thus was started a venture
on the Thames which was to last for over 80 Years.
H.MS. Cornwall (first training Ship) was built as a 3rd rate,
74 gun ship at Deptford 1809 - 1812 by Barnard & Co; she was
176ft. X 43.2ft.
In 1831 she was razed to a 50 gun ship, 4th rate.
In 1859 she was lent to the school Ship Society and moored
off
Purfleet.
In 1868 she was moved to South Shields and had her
name changed to T.S.Wellesley ; here she wan used an an Industrial
School and was eventually broken up at Sheerness in 1875.
H.M.S. Wellesley (Second Training Ship 'Cornwall') was
built by
the West India Company at Bombay and launched on 24th February,
1815 as a 3rd rate. 72 gun ship. She wan built of teak like the Ganges and cost
£55.147.
Her dimension were 175.10ft X 48.4ft.
She saw active service In the Far East on several occasions, and was for a time
Flag Ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick lewis-Maitland. When she returned from
this service 27 cannon balls were found embedded In her sides.
She was loaned to the School Ship Society by the Admiralty
In 1868 and fitted out as a training ship re-named T.S.Cornwall to be moored
off Purtleet In April of that year.
Owing to Industrial development at Purfleet, she
was moved to Denton, below Gravesend in 1928.
In 1940 she was severely damaged by enemy action and subsequently sank;
She was raised In 1948, and beached at Tilbury-Ness , where she was broken up.
Her timbers were found to be still in good condition
and wore used In the rebuilding of the Law Courts in London.
Whilst at Purfleet the Cornwall had a playing field near Botany Gardens.