HMS Warrior

HMS Warrior figurehead


A replica figurehead made when the ship was restored during the 1985. The last of three replica figureheads commissioned for HMS Warrior is also at Portsmouth Historical Dockyard. The first was destroyed in a collision with HMS Royal Oak in August 1868. It was a representation of a Saracen with scimitar designed by Hellyer of Rotherhithe. A more traditional replacement was made by the same carvers and placed at the main gate of the naval torpedo school, between 1900-1963. However, due to its exterior location the figurehead soon deteriorated irreparably. After a final move to Home Fleet Headquarters in Middlesex the figurehead was destroyed due rot. During the ships reconstruction at Hartlepool, two carvers were enlisted, Jack Whitehead and Norman Gaches of Wootton, Isle of Wight. Between 1981-1985 they created the figurehead that exists today.