2 women onboard Victory Live looking at the conservation works
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HMS Victory: The Big Repair Information Hub

Join us as we voyage through this once-in-a-lifetime conservation project 

Want an in-depth look at the incredible conservation work happening right now on HMS Victory? Discover key conservation updates, see the repair milestones, and learn more about the science and stories that make up HMS Victory Live: The Big Repair.

Join us for a front-row look at conservation in action. We are allowing unprecedented access to the three storeys of scaffold surrounding HMS Victory, where experts are working on one of the largest conservation projects in the UK. 

What's more, not only can you see the work as it happens at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard but you can follow along at home as well! Our HMS Victory: The Big Repair Information Hub is home to everything you could want to know about the essential conservation of the Nation's flagship.    

As the project evolves, find out more about the latest analysis results and see our plans for the future. You can also get a sense of how far HMS Victory's conservation work has come from the past with our Conservation log - covering everything from when she was built to now. 

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Conservation Stories

Learn More With Our Video Series

Two pieces of timber from HMS Victory. The timber on the left is very old and the timber on the right is newer.

HMS Victory: The Big Repair Milestones

  • February 2026

    Redesigned scaffolding structure in progress, this will include two new viewing platforms at the back of the ship (Stern) which we hope to have available by the end of June 2026.

  • August 2025

    The 100th futtock was installed by Shipwrights on HMS Victory. Futtocks are the large, curved timbers that form the ‘ribs’ of the ship. This leaves us with 50 more futtocks left to be installed before the team move onto re-planking the hull of the ship.

  • March 2025

    The midships frame repair work is now 50% complete with work also having begun on the port side where overall condition has been better but localised repairs are still required. Enabling work for the mast and yard (rigging) conservation to get underway.

  • December 2024

    Structural repairs and conservation success:
    This year, the team completed extensive timber replacement on Victory’s hull, addressing significant rot discovered after opening the ship’s structure. Seeing fresh timber in place has been a heartening achievement for the team, showcasing both craftsmanship and conservation expertise.

    Innovative propping system:
    One of the year's biggest triumphs was constructing a unique internal propping system to support Victory while minimising pressure on the ship’s original structure. This complex engineering feat underscored the team’s collaborative spirit and commitment to heritage protection.

  • September 2024

    The Sanger Institute working alongside the National Museum of the Royal Navy conducted a study into The DNA sequence of a wood-munching marauder.

    Researchers are sequencing the Deathwatch Beetle's genome in order to better understand its behaviour and develop methods for eradicating it. They hope that by understanding the beetle's genes, they will be able to develop new pesticides or other control methods that are more effective than those currently available.

  • August 2024

    The first of the new futtocks (the sections of each frame) were fitted to the starboard side of HMS Victory. These futtocks were handmade in our historic ships workshop by our skilful team of shipwrights. 

  • November 2023

    With the frames now drying, the repairs have begun. Graving pieces, where small areas of damaged timber are cut out and replaced, are being inserted. For the futtocks that need replacing (each frame is made from at least three futtocks), new ones are being shaped in the workshops.

  • September 2022

    With the ship partially covered, and drying out, the first of the outer-layer of planks was removed from midships (note the hull is constructed from three layers).

  • August 2022

    The removal of all of the outer-layer of planking midships was completed, fully exposing the frames of the ship in this area.

    The platforms within the scaffold, running alongside the ship giving the shipwrights full access to the hull, were completed.

  • July 2022

    Cover Structure and Visitor Scaffold Completed

    The outer scaffold structure covering midships was completed, protecting midships from the elements, and the Victory Live area for the general public was completed.

    Victory Live, an area of the scaffold structure allowing visitors to the the exposed midships of Victory and to see the shipwrights at work, was opened.

    The removal of all of the outer-layer of planking midships was completed, fully exposing the frames of the ship in this area.

  • May 2022

    Conservation work began to the hull of HMS Victory. An enormous scaffolding structure has been erected over the central section of the ship. This structure fulfils three critical roles: it protects Victory from the British weather; it provides physical access to the hull for works, and it allows the public to view the works as they progress. 

    The protective roof over the ship has allowed Victory to start to dry out – and the ship is now drier than she has been at any other stage in her history

  • Early 2022

    The work to Victory will focus on replacement of the decayed planking of the hull and the damaged frames of the ship. Looking at HMS Victory in early 2022, you might think that she was in good condition. However, in reality a thin skin of paint and filler masked planking that was almost entirely rotten on the ship’s starboard side. 

    As soon as the outer, sound, layer was removed, the team of shipwrights were confronted with material that no longer resembled timber and was much closer to potting compost. Carefully removing that layer of decayed material revealed that rot had spread to the frames to a much greater extent than had been assumed, meaning more repair and replacement activity would be necessary.

Family sitting in front of HMS Victory's stern at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Keep Up To Date with HMS Victory: The Big Repair

Get a once-in-a-generation look at one of the biggest conservation projects the National Museum of the Royal Navy has ever undertaken.

See the challenges the conservation team will need to overcome and get a fascinating insight into the work of specialist shipwrights.

As the project evolves, we will update the experience and reflect the latest analysis and planning, making a truly unique visit worth coming back for time and time again.
 

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