H.M.S. GANGES PAINTING, NORTH AMBULATORY

The 'Ganges' painting has now been restored and reframed. It remains in the north ambulatory  but has been moved a few feet to an opposite pillar nearer to the altar.

Guildford Cathedral, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey
(near the A3 Guildford by-pass)

 

HMS GANGES

2nd Rate of 84 guns
Built at Bombay 1819/21
Commissioned at Portsmouth 1823
Flagship Pacific Station 1857/61

Last Sail Flagship 1886
Converted to Sailing ship
for boys in Falmouth 1886/99
Broken up in 1929

HMS GANGES

In 1933 the wooden cross at the east end of the Cathedral
marked the site on Stag Hill of the new Cathedral.
It is made of timbers taken from HMS GANGES (1821-1929).
This watercolour was painted in about 1879 and depicts HMS GANGES
as a flagship wearing the Admiral's flag at the foremast.

CONVERTED TO HMS GANGES, HARWICH TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT FOR BOYS, SHOTLEY GATE, 1905-76

 

 

The picture of the famous line of battleship “Ganges” was presented by the Rev. Arthur Cardale who had a relative who served as an officer in this ship. It is associated with the wooden cross outside the east end of the Cathedral, which was made from the timber of HMS Ganges.

The painter of this picture, W.F. Mitchell, lived at Portsmouth between 1860 & 1907. Despite being deaf & mute and devoid of any formal art training, he created in effect a pictorial chronicle of ships of the Royal Navy. His keen powers of observation, his artistic draughtsmanship evoked continual demand from naval officers for portraits of their ships. This picture, dated 1879, bears his serial number 1017. His output was so great that pictures have been recorded bearing a serial number as high as 3500.