~ Section 1 ~ Associated ships & the surrounding area ~
~ H.M.S. Ganges I ~
H.M. Royal Navy Training Establishment, Shotley, Suffolk (renamed "H.M.S. Ganges" in 1927).
Between 1810 - 1812 and 1850 - 1851, the land was developed into a Napoleonic-era Fort, complete with the Martello Towers (built in 1810), used to protect the estuary against French invasion.
Between 1905 and 1976, the site was used as a Naval training base, HMS Ganges, which trained over 160,000 school leavers to become Naval trainees.
Accessed through ornate entrance gates, facilities at the base included a central parade ground with a 142 ft. high ceremonial mast (the foremast of HMS Cordelia), which trainees manned for training and ceremony purposes.
The parade ground was bordered by Edwardian brick buildings, including the Nelson’s Hall (built in 1937), Gymnasium, Classrooms and Officers Mess/Quarters.
HMS Ganges had many Royal visitors over the decades including Edward, Prince of Wales (visited in 1930), HM The Queen (visited in 1961), HRH Prince Philip (1956, 1973 & 1976), Lord Mountbatten (1975), HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1941), and HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1943), with the VIP guests watching Naval drills in front of the ceremonial mast and touring the Naval facilities and the historic Fort and Towers.
When the naval base closed in 1976, HRH Prince Philip took the final salute, marking the departure of the Navy.
Between 1979 and 1999, the base continued to be used by the military and other services, with the Officers Quarters providing accommodation for the RAF, and between 1986 and 1999, the facility was used as a Police Training Centre for forces from the East Anglia Region.
The nearby adjacent Shotley Marina and Boatyard, which opened in 1986, was originally a seaplane torpedo testing and manufacturing centre founded in 1919, which was linked to the Royal Naval base.
Between 1810 - 1812 and 1850 - 1851, the land was developed into a Napoleonic-era Fort, complete with the Martello Towers (built in 1810), used to protect the estuary against French invasion.
Between 1905 and 1976, the site was used as a Naval training base, HMS Ganges, which trained over 160,000 school leavers to become Naval trainees.
Accessed through ornate entrance gates, facilities at the base included a central parade ground with a 142 ft. high ceremonial mast (the foremast of HMS Cordelia), which trainees manned for training and ceremony purposes.
The parade ground was bordered by Edwardian brick buildings, including the Nelson’s Hall (built in 1937), Gymnasium, Classrooms and Officers Mess/Quarters.
HMS Ganges had many Royal visitors over the decades including Edward, Prince of Wales (visited in 1930), HM The Queen (visited in 1961), HRH Prince Philip (1956, 1973 & 1976), Lord Mountbatten (1975), HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1941), and HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1943), with the VIP guests watching Naval drills in front of the ceremonial mast and touring the Naval facilities and the historic Fort and Towers.
When the naval base closed in 1976, HRH Prince Philip took the final salute, marking the departure of the Navy.
Between 1979 and 1999, the base continued to be used by the military and other services, with the Officers Quarters providing accommodation for the RAF, and between 1986 and 1999, the facility was used as a Police Training Centre for forces from the East Anglia Region.
The nearby adjacent Shotley Marina and Boatyard, which opened in 1986, was originally a seaplane torpedo testing and manufacturing centre founded in 1919, which was linked to the Royal Naval base.