Polyphemus
Wood Location
Darwen, LANCASHIRE
Ship Information
Ship Commander - Capt Robert Redmill
Guns - 64
Constructed at - Sheerness
Killed in the battle - 2
Injured in the battle - 4
Wood Information
Size - 37 acres
Owner - Woodland Trust
Grid ref - SD695236
To be planted - November 2005
A substantial number of the crew at Trafalgar came from Lancashire.
Polyphemus Wood will be planted on a site that was gifted to the Woodland Trust by the late Mr Tom Bailey.
The site is very roughly rectangular in shape, on the edge of the hill between Eccleshill and Darwen. It is made up of grassland and rough sedgey grassland with a dip slope towards its northern aspect. Access to the land is via Knowle Lane (no car parking available) or from one of the footpaths which lead into the land from east and west. Views out from the site include Darwen to the north, the motorway (M65) and surrounding open countryside and the nearest school to the south of the site. In the distance, it is possible to see The Tower. The Tower was opened in 1897 as a memorial to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and was paid for by public subscription.
Polyphemus Wood will be planted with a mixture of native broadleaved species over the next three years with the help of the local community and schools. The planting design will incorporate a network of permissive paths (linking the existing rights of way), open ground and a pond (in the small disused quarry). The local community were invited to a consultation evening in May 2005, to discuss the design of the wood, and any particular views/features that they would like to maintain.
Events in Polyphemus Wood A week long schools planting programme took place in November 2005 culminating in a community planting day at the weekend. Another week of schools planting is planned for November 2006.
The next community planting day will take place on 25th November 2006.
More information
Robert Redmill
Entered the service at an early age and promoted to Lieutenant in 1783. Captain of the Polyphemus, in 1805-6, including the battle of Trafalgar 1805 – gold medal, thanks of Parliament, and a sword of honour from the Patriotic Fund. Relieved on account of ill-health in 1806. Created CB 1815 and died in March 1819.
Lt Mowbray
Lieutenant Mowbray was promoted commander on the 24th December 1805 when Captain Redmill was forced to hand over command. Lt Mowbray remained Captain of the Polyphemus before being moved to other posts. He later took command of HMS Victory for two years when she moored in Portsmouth harbour, and was made Captain of Greenwich Hospital 1846.
HMS Polyphemus
Polyphemus was built at Sheerness and launched in 1782, being smaller and more lightly armed than the majority of British ships present at Trafalgar on the 21st October. She had a distinguished record before that battle having fought in several actions, including that at Copenhagen in 1801 when she sustained 31 casualties.
At Trafalgar Polyphemus was in the line led by Admiral Collingwood and was stationed at the rear between HMS Achilles and HMS Revenge. Her efforts to join the battle were twice impeded when she had to give way to larger British ships also charging down on the combined French and Spanish fleets, but at 3.15 she came to the relief of the beleaguered Belleisle and moved between her and the French Neptune (84 guns). She next engaged the French Achille (74 guns) until an officer was seen waving a Union Jack from the bow to signify surrender. In the battle Polyphemus only suffered light casualties, 6 killed and wounded, and helped to tow HMS Victory to Gibraltar. When she rejoined the fleet after the battle she served in South America, the West Indies and on blockade until she was paid off in 1812. She was used as a powder magazine at Chatham and was broken up 1827.
