HISTORY

When the SOVEREIGN was launched in 1637, she was well able to satisfy the passion for ostentation of Charles I, who had ordered her construction.

With a keel length of 39.40 m, a mid-ship section of 14.80 m, a mean draught of 7.10 m, a length of 71.45 m from head to stern railing and a height of 23.40 m from keel to the tip of the cresset (stern lantern) she was far and away the LARGEST SHIP IN THE WORLD.

10 men could stand upright in the cresset. The SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS was popularly known by the name "Golden Devil". In her first naval engagement in 1652 the SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS sank a Dutch warship with a single broadside.

In 1695 the SOVEREIGN was almost 60 years old and the admiralty considered having her scrapped.

However, the ship which had once been the pride of the nation refused to die - or at least in such a way. During the night of January 27th of 1696 when the SOVEREIGN was anchored in the port of Chatham, the cook forgot to blow out the candle burning in his quarters. The candle fell over and a short time later the SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS was engulfed in flames from stern to stern. They were not extinguished until the hull had burnt down to the water line and what was left sank down to the harbour floor.

Note: Our craftsmen are always choose the color of wood to be consistence. However, the natural color of the wood use sometimes is not 100% exactly the same with the pictures.