Welcome to the Heritage Collection
Welcome to the Heritage Collection
ProMare is excited to have partnered with the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre (DNHC) to revolutionise access to maritime artefacts. This project will use 3D scanning to document and archive objects from the DNHC’s extensive collection online. This initiative will make the DNHC’s treasures accessible to a global audience, offering an immersive experience of maritime history.
Click below for 3D scans and more information.
ADMIRALTY DOLPHIN Ornamentation on ships peaked around the 1700s, the Admiralty imposed restrictions on decorative features. This Royal Naval Admiralty pattern dolphin is…
NAVAL CROWN This naval crown finial, cast from a metal alloy and measuring approximately 6 inches in diameter, once adorned the jackstaff of a Royal Navy warship. The jackstaff is…
CROWN JACKSTAFF FINIAL This This cast crown is a jackstaff finial from a Royal Navy warship, dating to the 20th century. It would have been mounted at the head of the jackstaff — the short flagpole on the bow of a ship — to mark the position from which the Union Jack was flown while the vessel was at anchor or in harbour…
CAT HEAD This object is a ‘Cat Head’, a large decorative piece featuring a feline face, it originally adorned the bow of a sailing ship. Naval ships between the 17th and 19th centuries commonly featured carved wooden ornamentation…
PLYMOUTH PLAQUE Plaques like this were often made to commemorate the city’s maritime heritage, its fortifications, and its naval institutions. The naval crown at the top signifies Plymouth’s long association with the Royal Navy…
CARVED FLORAL ORNAMENT Between the 17th and 19th centuries, carved wooden ornamentation was a common feature on naval ships. This painted floral decoration likely adorned the ‘tailboard’, which consists of a pair of boards positioned at the bow (front) of a ship…
SOUNDING WEIGHT This sounding weight is a vital navigational tool historically used aboard ships to measure water depth. Typically made of metal and shaped like a cone or cylinder…
HALF CROWN One particularly unique example of the decorative tradition of wooden ornamentation on naval ships is this carving of half of a St Edward’s Crown…
VICTORY COPPER ASHTRAY This Victory copper ashtray is made from metal salvaged from HMS Victory, Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805…
RUM RATIONING BARREL The daily rum ration was introduced in 1655 following the conquest of Jamaica. In 1740, Admiral Vernon ordered that the rum be diluted with water to prevent drunkenness, creating a mixture known as ‘grog’…
DEVONPORT PLAQUE Objects like this were crafted to celebrate and commemorate naval institutions, and painted plaques such as this one helped make the symbolism accessible and visually striking…
TROPHY GUN During the Opium Wars of the mid-19th century, trophy guns became significant symbols of triumph. They were displayed in museums, military academies, and private collections. They provided the British public with a direct, albeit controversial, connection to the distant and exotic theatres of conflict…
TROPHY GUN Trophy guns were often presented to Britain as symbols of victory and reminders of naval and military campaigns. Many were displayed prominently at dockyards, academies, or civic spaces, where they served both as memorials and as objects of curiosity for the public…
DIVING HELMET This helmet is part of a ‘standard diving dress,’ an early type of underwater exploration gear. The suit is made from heavy canvas or rubberised material…