The developing worldwide reach of the Royal Navy in these crucial years can be seen in the stream of victories secured at sea by many of her greatest Admirals - men such as Anson, Boscawen, Keppel, Rodney and Hood - from the 2nd Battle of Finisterre (1747) through the capture of Quebec, the battle of Quiberon Bay (1759), Cape St Vincent (1780) to the American War of Independence and the Battle of the Saintes.
Chatham's contribution in these years was also outstanding, constructing 58 ships including two 1st Rates, ten 2nd Rates and fourteen 3rd Rates. Although HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar, is without doubt the most significant and well known ship built at the yard in the 18th Century, many more ships built at this time served with distinction. These included the 1st rate Royal George, 2nd rates such as Namur, and Formidable (Rodney's flagship at the Battle of the Saintes) and the third rates that included Valiant and Bellona.
A particularly notable Master Shipwright at Chatham during this time was Sir Thomas Slade, who was appointed in 1753. Later as the Surveyor of the Navy, (1755 - 1771) he was to design the Victory and most of the early, and most successful of the Royal Navy's 74 gun ships and frigates.
The Wooden Walls gallery tells the story of the building of HMS Valiant, a 74 gun ship-of-the-line, built at Chatham during 1758-1759. The photograph on the right above of the exhibition shows the Valiant being caulked, August 1759. The photograph to the left shows the embarking of one of her 24 powder guns, October 1759.
