Orion
Wood Location
Alton, HAMPSHIRE
Ship Information
Ship Commander - Capt Edward Codrington
Guns - 74
Constructed at - Deptford
Crew - 550
Killed in the battle - 1
Injured in the battle - 23
Wood Information
Size - 12 acres
Owner - Woodland Trust
To be planted - March 2006
Orion Wood will be an extension to a Woodland Trust property called Home Farm in Hampshire, which is made up of existing ancient semi-natural woodland. Home Farm is situated in rural north-east Hampshire and covers approximately 137ha, split into two by a minor road running north to south from Burkham to Bentworth. The soils are clay over chalk with the depth of clay varying significantly around the site. Bentworth is the nearest village, approx 1km to the south.
Home Farm is a mixture of maturing woodland (10.6ha) most of which is secondary with the exception of Wigdell Copse, which is ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW). There is also 67ha of woodland creation (planted between 1991 and 1993) and 59ha of grassland seeded between September 1994 and April 1995. It remains one of the largest native woodland creation sites in southern England.
Events in Orion Wood
A week long schools planting programme will take place in Spring 2006 for local schools to take part in.
More information
Edward Codrington
Was the third son of Edward Codrington, of Dodington Park, Gloucestershire, and grandson of Sir William Codrington, 1st Bart of Dodington, and was born in 1770. Educated at Harrow, he entered the service in 1783 as Midshipman.
Promoted to Lieutenant 1793. Captain of the Orion (74g) in 1805-6, including the blockade of Cadiz under Lord Collingwood, and the battle of Trafalgar, 21st October, 1805 – received the gold medal, the thanks of Parliament, and a sword of honour from the Patriotic Fund. MP for Davenport 1832-40. Died Eaton Square, London 1851 and buried at St. Peter's.
HMS Orion
HMS Orion was built at Adams and Barnard’s yard at Deptford on the Thames and launched in 1787. She had a distinguished record before Trafalgar and took part in the battles of the Glorious First of June, 1794; Isle Groix 1795; St Vincent 1797; and the Nile 1798.
She was commissioned by Captain Codrington in May 1805, who sailed leaving behind a young bride of two years and two young sons, one only recently born. A humane man he felt bitterly homesick, writing home regularly and relating his feelings in his letters, ‘...on the quarter-deck I am the Captain, in my cabin I am the husband, the father. Nonetheless he prepared his ship carefully for the battle that all expected, and reflected the feelings of the whole fleet on the 28th September when Victory joined, told Nelson has arrived. A sort of general joy has been the consequence.’
Orion was eighth in the line led by Admiral Nelson, and Codrington had time to view the unparalleled sight as the two fleets converged, each with their attendant frigates. He made sure that all his lieutenants also had the chance to see the assembled 27 British ships and 33 of the French and Spanish fleets, calling them on deck to see a sight that would never be repeated. The crew of Orion were given their dinner, and Orion held its fire as she approached the battle already in progress until it could be released with maximum effect. The already damaged French Swiftsure was the first target losing a mast as Orion moved on, and Codrington next engaged the French Intrepide which had been alongside the Africa and Leviathon. He took Orion around the Intrepide’s stern, along her port side and then lay off her port quarter, shooting away her rudder, bringing down a mast and severely damaging her hull. The Intrepide’s Captain Tnfernet, who had his 10 year old son on board, was forced to surrender, and both were taken across to the Orion.
After running repairs on the next morning the Orion took the Spanish Bahamas in tow, but the next day was forced to abandon her because of the gale and heavy seas. The Bahamas was eventually towed into Gibraltar by HMS Donegal. Orion was broken up at Plymouth in 1814.
Many thanks to Alan Aberg at the Society for Nautical Research for providing us with information on the ships and their commanders.
