Sloop Gallery

William Thompson's fight off Poole, Dorset, 30 May 1695

William Thompson's fight off Poole, Dorset, 30 May 1695. Thompson was a local fisherman whose fishing boat was fired on by a French privateer near the Isle of Purbeck. Although outnumbered 3 to 16, and with few weapons, he defended himself bravely for two hours, and wounded some of the French aggressors. The French ship finally got into difficulties and Thompson took control, sailed her into Poole and received a reward from the Lords of the Admiralty. Date: 1695

© Mary Evans Picture Library

The Yarmouth One Design Greywing, 1922. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes

The Yarmouth One Design Greywing, 1922. The Yarmouth One Design class was established at the Solent Yacht Club in 1910, on the instigation of Sir Arthur Cope, RA, the famous portrait painter of the Royal Family. The boats were designed by Henry Longmore who worked at J Samuel White's shipyard in Cowes. Greywing was lost during a race on 29th July 1946, it is said that the three navel officers on board considered themselves too senior to bail out the water

© Kirk & Sons of Cowes / Heritage-Images

Sea fight between the Alabama and the Kearsage

Slide showing a picture of two ships in battle. In the foreground is the CSS Alabama, a screw sloop-of-war built for the Confederate States Navy. The ship in the background is the USS Kearsage, a Mohican-class sloop-of-war for the United States Navy. The Alabama was sunk in battle by the Kearsage in 1864. Part of Box 366. Date: circa 1900

© The Boswell Collection, Bexley Heritage Trust / Mary Evans