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Balthazar Adams
Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject: Table ware in Nelson's Navy |
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| I am attempting to find out the source of the theory that square, wooden plates and wooden bowls were used in the messes of the Navy of Nelson's time. I can find vague references but nothing which leads me to believe that it was normal practice aboard ships to serve food on wooden plates. Can anyone shed any light on this matter? |
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PMarione
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Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 883
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Here's what I found (from Julian Stockwin website):
| Quote: | | It was not until the mid nineteenth century that official supplies of crockery and tableware were made available for the wardroom, and another 40 years before a system for supplying these to seamen was instituted. In Nelson's day, both the sailors and the captain and officers had to find their own crockery and tableware. |
So I suppose that any type of tableware could be found from plain pottery to fine china including wooden or tin.
The same is to be said of clothing: so no uniform.
Here are some contemporary engravings:
I can't see any square plate and for me I think easier to turn a circular plate from a piece of wood on a lathe than carve it from a plank. But that's only speculation. Other listers may have better ideas.
Do you have any source for the story ?
@+P |
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Peter
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 105
Location: Gosport, Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:30 am Post subject: Wooden Plates |
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I have been following a thread partly on this subject on a wood turning site.
http://www.awgb.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=635.
The only reference that I have ever come across was for square plates recovered from the wreck of HMS Invincible (74 Guns), which sank in the Solent, UK in 1758.
http://www.chdt.org.uk/NetsiteCMS/pageid/737/CollectionsPhotoGallery.html
Square plates would have been a lot easier to manufacture than round plates which would have required a pole lathe to make them. Or simply carve them.
Because there are no records or pictures doesn't mean that they didn't exist.
I have never come across any records that lathes were carried, perhaps they were? |
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PMarione
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Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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I don't believe they had lathe on board.
They used what they found or had.
The crew was organized by mess and one can suppose that it was up to every mess. We know that they were very picky about their best dress sawing ribbons etc. Possibly they were proud of their tableware. They had so little personal belongings and were proud and worthy people.
Square plates were probably more easier to do on board.
I have never seen any reference to tableware in purser's slops; clothes, tobacco, sugar...
In short a very interesting and difficult question, thanks Balthazar. |
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Balthazar Adams
Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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All these replies are very interesting and I find the subject quite fascinating. The thread on the AWGB was started by me and has raised some interesting replies. I find it puzzling that so few plates have been found in wrecks yet a multitude of other artefacts. The one from the Chatham web site is obviously two pieces of wood leaving a crack when joined together, this, plus the beading around the edge would leave places into which food particles could find their way and rot with obvious results. I doubt that the cleanliness concious sailor would use an item like this on a regular basis.
Many thanks to all who have replied it has given many of us food for thought. |
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