The Historical Maritime Society was formed in 1995 by a group of like-minded enthusiasts to research and recreate life in the Royal Navy around the time of Nelson, particularly in 1805. We are concerned that popular fiction and films have done the Senior Service no favours and we are keen to redress that imbalance.
The Royal Navy of 1805 was, by the standards of the time, efficient and powerful, with an enviable fighting record and where flogging and violent death were not the everyday occurrences that most people seem to think of.
We set out to give a flavour of that exciting time and occasionally we 'put to sea' at Portsmouth on the VICTORY or on the TRINCOMALEE at Hartlepool. We are also frequently asked to put on displays at many coastal and landlocked sites. All ranks and skills are portrayed from officers to landsmen as well as our 'sea-soldiers', the Royal Marines.
We are affiliated to the European Napoleonic Society (ENS), an umbrella organisation of military groups of this period and we frequently attend their events too.
Everything we do is firmly anchored in trying to be as authentic as possible. Members of HMS take great care in researching their uniforms, costume, equipment and their roles and activities.
This ensures that everything you see is correct for the period. An example of this is the Lieutenant's coat. This is made from cloth produced by the same mill that provided woollen cloth for the Admiralty in the early C19th.
Even the ship's biscuits are made from flour from a C19th variety of wheat, especially grown for the society by a flour enthusiast.
See the Contact Us section for details on how to book HMS for an event or how to become a member.
See the Films section for details of film work and how to book us.
Follow the link below to tour the rest of this section and find out more about how HMS portrays the Officers and Crew, Naval Gunnery, Marines, Everyday Life, see a list of Events where you can see HMS and some Pictures of HMS in action.
