Scale 1:144. A waterline model of the ‘Prince’ (1670) a three-decker ship of the line. The model is decked and fully rigged with sails set, and is mounted in a plaster waterline sea enclosed by its original glass case. There is a brass plaque screwed to the lower base, which is inscribed ‘64 feet to the foot scale model. HMS Prince (1670) made by Charles Hampshire, M.I.Mar.E 1932.’ The longboat is being towed astern, a common practice during the 17th century as it was too large and heavy to manhandle aboard the ship.

The ‘Prince’ was built at Chatham under the direction of Sir Phineas Pett and was the third 100-gun first rate to arrive in 1670. Commissioned in 1672 on the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, it was used as a flagship for a number of high-ranking officers. At the Battle of the Texel in 1673, the ‘Prince’ suffered a very prolonged attack by the enemy almost to the point of destruction but was saved by the fleet rallying round to her defence. In 1691–92 it was given a major repair that resulted in the increase in beam to 45 feet 10 inches, with the aim of improving the stability under sail. It was renamed `Royal William' and went to fight at the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 and was eventually re-built in 1719 as a completely new ship.