Hosted on board
The WELLINGTON
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Built at Devonport in 1934, HMS WELLINGTON is a Grimsby-class sloop, and the last survivor in class. She initially served in the South Pacific and is named after her original homeport, Auckland , New Zealand. Between 1935 and 1939, she steamed over eight million square miles, patrolled the 534 islands that made up the British Protectorate and visited the Solomon and Fiji islands among many others. This is the reason she is painted white In 1939, with war clouds gathering, she was diverted back to Europe to serve as a Convoy Escort Ship. WELLINGTON sailed from Auckland, ordered to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to become one of the first Atlantic Convoy Close Escorts, a role that she was to play almost uninterruptedly for the rest of the war. For her wartime role, HMS WELLINGTON was fitted with two 4.7 inch guns and one three-inch gun. Additionally, anti-aircraft guns were fitted for self-defence. Depth charges for use against submarines were also carried. HMS WELLINGTON shared in the destruction of one enemy U-boat and was involved in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk. A fuller account of WELLINGTON’s war service has been written by Captain A.D. Munro in his book HMS/HQS Wellington. This is available for purchase onboard.
After the war, in 1947, HMS WELLINGTON was made available by the Admiralty for purchase. The Honourable Company of Master Mariners (HCMM) purchased the decommissioned HMS WELLINGTON for conversion into a floating Livery Hall – an appropriate home for a Company of seafarers.
In 1948 she was renamed Headquarters Ship (HQS) WELLINGTON and arrived at her Victoria Embankment berth at Temple Stairs. In 1991 HQS Wellington was dry-docked at Sheerness for three months during which an extensive refurbishment programme was undertaken.
Ownership of the WELLINGTON was transferred from the HCMM to The Wellington Trust. The WELLINGTON is also listed on the National Historic Ships Register – number 502. The Trust's two main responsibilities undertaken for WELLINGTON are: “conservation and preservation as part of the nation's maritime heritage, the education of the public in the history of the British and Commonwealth Merchant Services and, the importance of seaborne trade to our island nation.” The WELLINGTON to this day upholds her grand hospitality and educational stature. She offers all visitors a stunning, unique, private and secure place to meet, host an event - and learn a little of her history. Those choosing the WELLINGTON as a venue will be supporting the Wellington Trust’s efforts to maintain and preserve this wonderful historic ship.
