HMS Victory - Dry Dock No.2

Situated in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, HMS Victory currently has a dual role as the Flagship of the First Sea Lord and as a living museum to the Georgian Navy run by the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

Following a significant scheme to replace the support system of HMS Victory this project has seen the visitor route extended to include public access into the dry dock, giving them a unique experience and previously unseen exceptional views of the bow, hull, keel and rudder of HMS Victory. A new walkway has been introduced to the dry dock that leads from the current visitor exit along the curve of the broad altar to a landing area located below the bow of HMS Victory.

From the landing a new staircase takes visitors down to the dock bottom where the walkway continues alongside the keel, finally rising to a viewing platform where visitors can get spectacular views of the ship’s rudder. The new walkway is designed to sit sensitively within this significant context using a simple aesthetic appropriate to the industrial nature of the dockyard.

Careful consideration was given to the design which has seen all the interventions kept to the port side of the dock, leaving the starboard side untouched, for full appreciation of its appearance. The installation is also fully reversible allowing it to be removed in the future without having impacted on the significant fabric of the dock and ship.