About this site

This is now a static website made available by National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) for continued research and general interest after the conclusion, in December 2018, of WWI: Britain’s Surviving Historic Vessels – the project set up with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to commemorate the role played by historic vessels in the First World War.

NHS-UK is an independent organisation which gives objective advice to UK governments and local authorities, funding bodies, and the historic ships sector on all matters relating to historic vessels in the UK.  We maintain the National Register of Historic Vessels which features some 1,200 vessels over 50 years old that still survive today.  More than 70 of these participated in the First World War in some way and this website tells the stories of these maritime veterans.

WWI: Britain’s Surviving Historic Vessels ran from 2013 to 2016 as part of the UK’s First World War centenary programme and saw: research carried out into the histories of 72 craft; visits made to 40 vessels featured on this site; statements of significance written for 52 vessels; the design of a pop-up touring display which travelled to 8 different venues; and three events organised for vessel owners around the country. For more information on the project and its legacy, please read the downloadable Evaluation Report which is available via the NHS-UK website at: www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/projects or contact: info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk