Managing interpretation on HMS Victory
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2019-06-25

There are factors that help us decide how to present Victory, to meet a variety of audiences and in terms of authenticity and for conservation requirements. Sometimes these factors can conflict with each other. We as archaeologists, work with curators regarding selection of artefacts to be shown on board, we work with conservators for the ongoing care of the ship and artefacts, riggers and shipwrights to repair elements of the ship and to replace unsympathetic earlier repairs. We also strive to get the documentary archive in order, to inform these works and to provide a resource for researchers. Victory means different things to different people and we try to maintain the vessel and archive to enable the various audiences to continue to enjoy her.

Rosemary Thornber (HMS Victory)