An H.M.S. Foudroyant Plaque.
An ornate copper plaque, depicting the wrecked Foudroyant in central medallion, with Royal Coat of arms at top and fouled anchor at bottom, with banners and shields inscribed ‘Made from the Old Foudroyant. Launched Plymouth 1798. Wrecked Blackpool 1897’, mounted in a heavy carved wooden frame, the whole measuring 380mm x 295mm, good condition £100-£140

H.M.S. Foudroyant, an 80-gun third rate ship of the Royal Navy launched in 1798, served as Lord Nelson’s flagship from 6 June 1799 until the end of June 1800. After a long and successful career, latterly as a gunnery training vessel, she was towed to Blackpool where she could be visited for a small entrance fee. On 16 June 1897, during a violent storm, she parted cable and went ashore on Blackpool Sands. Despite attempts to refloat her she finally broke up in the December gales. Copper and oak salvaged from the wreck was used to manufacture medals and other decorative items which were sold to the public.