In view of the success of the Gollath as a Training Ship off Grays, the Metropolitan Asylums Board decided to establish a similar training ship and applied to the Admiralty for the loan of a suitable vessel who sanctioned the use of H.M.S. Exmouth. The ship was transferred to the L.C.C. under the local Government Act of 1929 and continued to be used as a Training School until 1941, when the Council decided to conduct it as a School Of nautical Training for resident pupils.

The first Exmouth was a 91 gun 2nd rate ship , built in 1840, and named after Edward Pallew, Viscount Exmouth Admiral of the fleet 1737 to 1833. Her dimensions were 220ft X 59ft. She was flagship of the British Squadron In the Baltic In 1856. She came to Grays in the role of a training ship in 1876, fitted with the masts and yards of a Corvette (a much smaller ship) which save her a rather un-balanced look. She retained two of her original guns. She had the Brigantine 'Steadfast" , as a sail training ship which was previously attached to the Goliath.

In 1903 the Exmouth was found to be unfit for further service, and a new vessel was ordered to replace her, and she was broken up subsequently at Chatham in 1905.

The second Exmouth (see photo above) ,was launched at Barrow-in-Furness on
20th April 1905. by Mrs. Drage . Built by Vickers & Sons & Maxin Ltd., to the design of

Sir J.H .Biles. Her hull, in external appearance, was a replica of the three deckers of the old
"Exmouth" type; her dimensions were 30Oft x 53ft x 39ft. to the Upper deck. She was rigged as a three masted Barquontine and had accommodation for 750 boys and staff.

She took up the moorings of her predecessor off Grays. In 1939, like all the other Training ships on the River her personnel were evacuated on Government Instructions and were sent to Burnham- on-Crouch. The ship then became the Headquarters of the river fire-floats. She was purchased from the L.C.C. by the Ministry of War Transport who hired her to the Admiralty in 1942. She was converted In Tilbury Docks Into a Minesweeper Depot-Ship, and flew the White Ensign under her original name and was towed to Scapa-Flow.

In June 1945. she was towed back to the Thames and lent to the Incorprated Thames Nautical Training College as a floating School for potential Mercantile Marine Officers. She was fitted out for her new duties In the East India Dock Basin and renamed H.M.S Worcester, opening at Greenhithe on February 2nd 1946---

This second Exmouth had attached to her for sail training the three-masted topsail Schooner 'Exmouth II-of 350 tons. This fine vessel wan built at Wivenhoe in 1913 by Rennie, Forrest & Co. Her dimensions were 146.3ft x 27.1ft x 13.3ft. She had an aux. engine of 24 N.H.P made by A.G.Mumford & Co. of Colchester.

She was later sold as a yacht and sailed to Vancouver, where It in understood she In today. The Exmouth Infirmary and Playing field wore on the site of the present Regal Cinema In New Road and the Co-operative garage In Argent Street. The Swimming bath was built In 1988. When the Shaftsbury Training Ship left Grays In 1906, the Exmouth took over their establishment In West Street.

 

I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BERT POWELL 659 WHO WAS A BOY ON THE EXMOUTH TRAINING SHIP FROM 1925-1930 . HIS RELATIVES HAVE KINDLY MADE AN AUDIO TAPE OF HIS MEMORIES OF THE EXMOUTH AT THAT TIME

BERTS' MEMORIES WILL BE ON THE SITE SOON