Albert Thomas Langabeer
1894 - 1963 (69 years)
Reformatory Ship, T.S. "Cornwall"
HMS Wellesley (second Training Ship 'Cornwall') was built by the East India Company at Bombay and launched on 24th February 1815 as a 3rd rate 72 gun ship. She was built of teak and cost £55,147. Her dimensions were 175.10 ft x 48.4 ft.
She saw active service in the Far East on several occasions and was for a time Flag Ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis-Maitland. When she returned from this service, some 27 cannon balls were found embedded in her sides.
She was loaned to the School Ship Society by the Admiralty in 1868, and fitted as a training ship, was re-named 'Cornwall' to be moored off Purfleet in April of that year. Owing to industrial development at Purfleet, she was moved to Denton, below Gravesend in 1928.
In 1940 she was severely damaged by enemy action and subsequently sank; she was raised in 1948, and beached at Tilbury-Ness, where she was broken up. Her timbers were found to be still in good condition and were used in the rebuilding of the Law Courts in London.
When the Cornwall was broken up, her figurehead was taken to Chatham Dockyard, where it still stands, just inside the Main Gate under her original name of Wellesley. Many souvenirs were made from her timber, such as ashtrays, candlesticks, serviette rings etc, each with a metal plate giving details of the ship. These can now be found in maritime antique shops and fairs.
| Owner/Source | Photo Courtesy of Thurrock Local History Society |
| Date | Added 02 Apr 2010 |
| Linked to | Albert Thomas Langabeer (Occupation) |