HQS Wellington

Wellington moored on the Thames

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HQS Wellington is a ship now permanently moored by the Victoria Embankment, on the Middlesex shore of the River Thames and which serves as the livery hall for the Honourable Company of Master Mariners. The Company is one of the livery companies of the City of London, and the only one whose hall is not an actual building. Wellington, Glaziers' Hall and the Proof House of the Gunmakers' Company are the only livery halls of the City not within the bounds of the City of London itself.

The Master Mariners' Company was founded in 1926, with objectives "to encourage and maintain a high and honourable standard of ability and professional conduct in the officers of the British Merchant Navy"; "to promote and maintain in all respects efficient and friendly co-operation between the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy" and "to be available for advice and consultation on all questions concerning or affecting the Merchant Navy, or judicial, commercial, scientific, educational or technical matters".

In 1928 the King granted the Company the title "Honourable", which hitherto had been granted onto the Honourable East India Company and the Honourable Artillery Company. In 1932, the Corporation of London admitted the Company as a City livery company: the first in over 200 years. The Company became 78th in order of precedence and is noted as the first “modern” Company.

History

The Wellington was launched at Devonport in 1934 as HMS Wellington and served in the Royal Navy as a Grimsby-class sloop-of-war. During the Second World War, she served as a convoy escort ship in the North Atlantic.

When the Master Mariners' Company was founded in 1926, its founding members had an ambition to have a hall. Up to the outbreak of war in 1939, various proposals were examined, including the purchase of a sailing ship, the Archibald Russell. After the Second World War, it became apparent that the possibility of building a hall in the City of London had been rendered very remote. Then in 1947, the Wellington was made available by the Admiralty: the company decided to buy her with money subscribed by the members and convert her to a floating livery hall, an appropriate home for a company of seafarers. Her designation was changed from 'HMS' to 'HQS' ('Headquarters Ship').

Since 2014, Wellington has also served as the London postal address of the Flag Institute.

Service history

Wellington in April 1942

Built at Devonport in 1934, HMS Wellington served in the Pacific mainly on station in New Zealand and China before the Second World War. As built, Wellington mounted two 4.7-inch guns and one 3-inch gun. Additionally, anti-aircraft guns were fitted for self-defence. Depth charges for use against submarines were carried. Wellington served primarily in the North Atlantic on convoy escort duties. She shared in the destruction of one enemy U-boat and was involved in Operation Cycle, the evacuation of Allied troops from Le Havre. During 1943 she was briefly commanded by Captain John Treasure Jones, at that time a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy Reserve, who would later be the last captain of the RMS Queen Mary.

HQS Wellington on the Thames

After the Second World War, Wellington was converted at Chatham Dockyard to serve as the Master Mariners' Company's headquarters ship. The cost of this conversion was met by an appeal to which Lloyd's of London, shipping companies, livery companies and other benefactors contributed. It included the installation of a grand wooden staircase taken from the 1906 Isle of Man ferry SS Viper, which was being broken up at the same time. Wellington arrived at her new berth in December 1948. Since then, the ship has served as the floating livery hall of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.

In 1991, HQS Wellington was dry-docked at Sheerness for three months during which, apart from extensive steelwork repairs and complete external painting, she received a major refurbishment which included the refitting of all toilet facilities, offices and accommodation areas. Wellington was fitted with carpet, and displays were installed of the Company's marine paintings and artefacts, gold and silver plate, ship models and newly discovered very early 18th-century charts.

In 2005, ownership of the Wellington was transferred from the Honourable Company of Master Mariners to the Wellington Trust, but it continues to serve as the Company's livery hall.

Mooring

• Location map: 51°30’38"N, 0°6’45"W
• Streetmap: TQ30978081

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about HQS Wellington)

• History of HQS Wellington: The Wellington Trust
• The Honourable Company of Master Mariners
• The Wellington Trust

References

• Hague, Arnold (1993). Sloops: A History of the 71 Sloops Built in Britain and Australia for the British, Australian and Indian Navies 1926–1946. Kendal, England: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-67-3. 
• A. D. Munro (1 January 2006). HMS/HQS Wellington. Wellington Trust. ISBN 978-0-9553405-0-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=UNxjAAAACAAJ.