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Boys Swimming, Training Ship Mercury, River Hamble, Hants
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Boys Swimming, Training Ship Mercury, River Hamble, Hants
Boys from the Training Ship Mercury swimming nude in the River Hamble. The Mercury, established in 1885 by the London philanthropist Charles Hoare, was originally based at Binstead on the Isle of Wight, but moved in 1892 to the River Hamble, near Southampton, where shore-based premises were also provided. Boys aged 12-15 were trained in seamanship, with many going on to join the naval services
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Media ID 4446309
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10418998
1885 1892 Hamble Hoare Isle Mercury Naked Nude Philanthropist Poverty Seamanship Services Skills Southampton Swim Swimming Wight Workhouse Workhouses Binstead
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EDITORS COMMENTS
"This evocative photograph captures a moment of respite and camaraderie among the boys of the Training Ship Mercury as they swim naked in the cool waters of the River Hamble in Hampshire, England, around 1910. The Training Ship Mercury, established in 1885 by the philanthropist Charles Hoare, was a vital institution for boys aged 12-15 who found themselves in poverty and often living in workhouses. Hoare believed that providing these boys with the skills of seamanship would not only give them a valuable trade but also instill discipline and self-confidence. Originally based on the Isle of Wight, the Mercury moved to the River Hamble near Southampton in 1892, where it also had access to shore-based premises. The boys were taught various water and transport-related skills, with many going on to join the naval services. The image of the boys swimming in the river is a poignant reminder of their daily life on the ship. Swimming was an essential part of their training, and the natural setting of the river provided a refreshing contrast to the regimented life on board. The photograph transports us back to the 1890s, a time when the country was transitioning from the Victorian to the Edwardian era. The boys, stripped of their clothes and immersed in the water, represent the raw, unadulterated joy of childhood, a stark contrast to the harsh realities of their lives before they joined the Mercury." This photograph is a historical record of an important institution that provided opportunities for boys in need, fostering skills and discipline that would serve them well in life, including in the naval services. The image of the boys swimming in the river is a poignant reminder of their daily life on the ship and the joy and camaraderie that came with it.
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