Scale: 1:48. A contemporary full hull model of the ‘Scaleby Castle' (1798), an East Indiaman cargo vessel, built in 'bread and butter' fashion, which has been gauged out internally, producing a wooden shell of about ½ inch in thickness. Model is decked and partially equipped and includes the wheel, hatch gratings and three stump masts as would have been used when launched from the builders yard. The stern is inscribed ‘Scaleby Castle of London’ and at the bow is a carved wooden figurehead finished in the traditional colour of white. The plain appearance and lack of detail suggests that the model was made to illustrate the shape of the hull, which is almost square in the midship section.

The ‘Scaleby Castle’ was built in Bombay and launched in 1798. Measuring 157 feet along the upper deck by 42 feet in the beam and a tonnage of 1237 burden, it was armed with twenty-six 18-pounder canons, which was the average for these large East Indiamen. The full-built forebody, with the clean run aft, illustrates the hull was designed to carry a large cargo whilst still being able to maintaining a reasonable speed under sail. Built of teak, it had a career spanning 43 years, trading regularly between London, Bombay and China from 1810-32. The East India Company’s monopoly ended in 1833 and the ‘Scaleby Castle’ was sold to a Mr Wilkinshaw, who continued to trade it until 1841.