Ship models
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More than 1000 ship models from the Museum's collection are available to view in Collections Online.
The National Maritime Museum has one of the finest ship model collections in the world comprising around 3200 objects.
The Museum collection contains all types of models from ethnographic, Navy Board and half-block models to builder's, design, waterline and full-hull models.
The models featured online include vessels such as schooners, steam yachts, paddle yachts, lifeboats, curraghs, cutters, fishing vessels, luggers, trawlers and other fishing vessels and topographical models (of dockyards and ports). These models represent vessels dating from the 16th century to the present day.
The collection’s origins date back to the beginning of the 19th century when Sir Robert Seppings, a naval architect, founded a national collection of ship models at Somerset House. These models were relocated to Kensington in the 1860s and then on to the Royal Naval College at Greenwich in the 1870s. When the National Maritime Museum was established by Act of Parliament in 1934, they were transferred to the Museum and were joined by models from the Greenwich Hospital Collection and the famous 'Mercury' Collection.
Since its foundation, the Museum has acquired models from many sources, most notably the R. C. Anderson Collection, the Royal Navy, the Royal United Services Institution and the Science Museum. It has also received many by gift, bequest and purchase.
Researchers are welcome to study objects from the collection. A dedicated Collections Research Area is now available at No.1 Smithery, Chatham for those interested in exploring the united ship-model collections of the National Maritime Museum and Imperial War Museum.
Useful pages
- For more ship models, see the Ship of War gallery
- If you are interested in building your own model, the Museum holds the largest single collection of ship plans
- Please help us care for our ship model collection.