Footnotes

Designed by Sir Robert Seppings, the extraordinarily long-lived H.M.S. 'Nile' was one of the three ‘Rodney’ class Second Rates ordered in November 1826 in response to a perceived threat from some new American vessels of similar capabilities. Laid down at Devonport as a conventional sailing two-decker in October 1827, she was ready for launching in 1834 but, for reasons unknown, the event was cancelled and she remained on the stocks for a further five years before eventually being launched on 28th June 1839. Finally completed after fully twelve years in the making, 'Nile' then found herself surplus to requirements and was promptly laid up in reserve until November 1852 when the decision was taken to convert her to screw propulsion along with many of the fleet’s other ships-of-the-line.

This conversion took over a year and when 'Nile' emerged from her Devonport dry-dock on 30th January 1854, she had been fitted with a Seaward & Capel 928ihp. engine which achieved a speed of almost 7 knots when she ran her trials off Plymouth. Mounting 91 guns of varying calibre and with an increased displacement of 4,375 tons once her machinery had been installed, she was at last commissioned for sea in February 1854 and saw her first taste of action in the Baltic that same year against the Russians. Returning home to Plymouth after the Crimean War ended, she took part in the Grand Review of the Fleet, by Queen Victoria, before it was demobilised on 23rd April 1856, soon after which she was sent to North America. Other commissions followed until 1864 when she was paid off and laid up in reserve until 1875, when the Admiralty ordered the removal of her engines prior to loaning her as a training ship to the Mersey Mercantile Service Association at Liverpool.

Towed to Liverpool in June 1876 and renamed 'Conway', the old 'Nile' then fulfilled her new role as a much-loved sail training ship for almost seventy years, even surviving the Second World War in the shelter of the Menai Straits. In April 1953 it was decided to return her to the Mersey but, whilst under tow to Birkenhead for a refit, she ran aground and was declared a total loss. Three years later her wreck caught fire and was completely destroyed above the waterline by which time her ancient hull was fully one hundred and twenty years old.

Authenticated as Nibbs by E.H.H. Archibald from a photograph.
For comparison see :- 'The Dictionary of Sea Painters', E.H.H. Archibald, Antique Collectors' Club, Woodbridge, 2000, plate 551, page 453.