Training ship Wellesley

The Tyne had two training ships, both called HMS WELLESLEY. They were former Royal Navy ships used to educate and train homeless and destitute boys. The first WELLESLEY was a 74-gun warship originally called the CORNWALL. She was launched at Deptford, London in 1812. In 1868 she was given to Tyneside local authorities for use as a training ship under the terms of the Reformatory and Industrial Schools Act of 1866. She arrived in the Tyne in June 1868, towed by the steam tug SCOTIA. She was moored opposite the New Quay at North Shields. Commander Pocock RN was the superintendent of the floating school. At first there were 25 boys, but the ship could accommodate 299. In 1873 the first WELLESLEY was returned to the Admiralty and scrapped. Her replacement was the BOSCAWEN, a 50 gun sailing ship, launched at Woolich Dockyard in 1844. In 1883 she was moved from a berth off Limekiln Shore near the Albert Edward Dock, North Shields to No. 3 Tier near the Royal Naval Reserve training ship CASTOR. On 11th March 1914 a fire broke out in the ship's drying room. The second WELLESLEY was gutted and sank in 30 feet of water. The crew was rescued by lifeboat and the tug VIGILANT. She was refloated and towed to Blyth for breaking up. £22,000 was raised to find a new boy's home. The Wellesley Nautical School was set up in a World War One submarine base at Blyth and is still there.

Where Built: Woolwich Dockyard
Commanding Officer: Captain Kitcat
Crew: 290 boys + officers
Passengers: at least 1 - Captain's baby