Arundel Castle Life in Nelson's Navy

In 2005, Historical Promotions and Event Management were contracted by Arundel Castle on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk to organise a maritime event to co-inside with a government-designated Year of the Sea (‘SeaBritain 2005’). SeaBritian included marking the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson in 1805, with a diverse programme of events and festivals celebrating the bicentenary and the many ways in which the sea continues to be an integral part of our lives through leisure, tourism, trade and commercial pursuits.

Historical Promotions were instrumental in organising a series of maritime events across the county on behalf of local authorities, historic properties and museums as part of the bicentenary and New Trafalgar Dispatch, which travelled from Falmouth to London and recorded the news of the victory at Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson.

The two day event at Arundel Castle focused on ‘Life in Nelson’s Navy’, which was designed, planned and organised by Historical Promotions and comprised demonstrations of traditional maritime crafts showing ships’ tallow chandlers making candles; a port cloth dyer using plants and herbs to dye wool, musician’s singing popular songs of Nelson’s day, a ship’s surgeon performing his grisly trade and a whole lot more.

Period naval crews and marines provided a series of ‘character vignettes’ to create a ship’s company on leave and in port, cannon and guns punctuated the weekend and marines in red and white uniforms demonstrated musket and drill skills. Everyday life of the time was portrayed by groups of varying social classes, gossiping on street corners with cooking of naval fare and a market scene infiltrated by the infamous Press Gang. British soldiers of the period erected an encampment, demonstrating and informing visitors of military life and methods of punishment used at the time.

Clients Comment:

"On behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, we would like to thank you for a superb weekend and host of activities around the castle. The Duke enjoyed the event and we received so many comments from members of the public about the professional displays and encampment. Thank you for a wonderful Maritime Weekend."

- Arundel Castle Trustees Ltd.