1. The where part first. If you entered Portsmouth harbour and continued on a steady course of 348˚ you would bump into the old Roman Castle at Porchester. However, if your navigating officer was 'on the ball', before hitting the Castle, when abreast of Whale Island, you could turn to port to a course of 310˚ to arrive in Fareham Creek (roughly where our old warships are currently waiting for disposal) or, come to starboard to 025˚ to arrive in PORCHESTER CREEK, heading up to modern day Port Solent on Horsea Island. That is where HMS Vernon was berthed, mid-stream, using buoys and anchors. | |
2. And what was it ? By 1895 HMS Vernon had long been established as a Torpedo School and Authority at Portsmouth. It started this role in 1876 and it, the Vernon, with other old hulks as joiners and leavers (Ariadne, Acteon, Donegal) plus an old lighter the Florence Nightingale formed the school - accommodation, workshops, classrooms, exercise yard, parade ground etc etc. |