Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Figurehead of the H.M.S. HAMADRYAD built between 1819 and 1823. Following her launch at Pembroke Dock in 1823 she was towed to Portsmouth for completion. It is believed that the figurehead was installed at Portsmouth because the Royal Navy had a figurehead carving workshop at Portsmouth. Prior to the ship leaving Cardiff in 1905, the London-based buyers presented the figurehead and bell to the newly built hospital where they were displayed until being presented to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales in 1974. Figurehead is on a black wooden octagonal base, with brass plaque between figure head and base.

H.M.S. HAMADRYAD was the third ship of that name. She was built at Pembroke Dock between 1819 and 1823 for £24 683 but never saw active service. Following her launch at Pembroke Dock in 1823 she was towed to Portsmouth for completion The ship never saw active service, being laid-up in reserve at Devonport until 1866 when she was declared surplus and destined to be broken-up. Instead she was loaned for conversion into a seamen’s hospital ship for the port of Cardiff. She arrived by July 1866 and was berthed in the Bute East Dock where, with masts removed and her upper deck roofed-over, she opened as “Hamadryad Hospital” on 1 November 1866. In summer 1867 she was moved and anchored on “The West Mud”, at a location that later became close to the junction of Ferry Road and Hunter Street. In 1905 a replacement hospital was built on shore, opening on 29 June 1905, and the ship was sold by the Admiralty to London-based buyers for breaking-up. She left Cardiff under tow on 5 September 1905 for Appledore where she was finally broken-up in 1921.