This five ton anchor from HMS
Conway stands proudly overlooking the Menai Straits from the
new waterfront promenade at Slate Quay in Caernarfon, North
Wales. Recovered and restored in 1987 it originally stood just
a few dozen meters away at Victoria Dock outside the then
Seiont II Maritime Museum.
The
Museum's long term viability came into doubt due to increased
running costs and low revenue and finally closed in 2012. In
2014 the plans for the new promenade were accepted, with the
relocation of the anchor and the old museum being turned into
toilet and shower facilities for boat owners using Victoria
Dock.
HMS Conway
itself was established as a Royal Navy training ship in 185,
with 3 separate ships in total bearing the name, however it
was the ship originally launched as HMS Nile in 1839 which was
the longest serving. For the last 4 years of it's service the
ship was sited at Plas Newydd, just along the road at
Anglesey.
In 1953
she was due to be towed to Birkenhead for a refit, but ran
into trouble with strong currents, and making little progress
the rear tug was moved to the front to provide more power.
This left the rear of HMS Conway uncontrolled and she
subsequently ran aground near the suspension bridge and her
back finally broke as the tide went out.
Photographed in April 2014 just
before sunset provided a lovely mix of colours, from the deep
blues in the sky to the orange clouds coloured by the setting
sun. This did however leave the anchor almost black, so to
revive the detail, the image was ran through Photomatix and
given a very slight HDR treatment revealing the grain of the
wood. |
