Inside a Ship of the Line

All 10 places, explained

1. 1. Masts and sails

   Go outside to see the parts of the ship: the masts, the sails, the anchor, the figurehead and more.

   Fun fact A big ship of the line could carry more than 30 sails at once.

2. 2. Quarterdeck

   The quarterdeck is the raised deck at the back. The captain and officers commanded the ship from here.

   Fun fact The ship's wheel was on the quarterdeck, so the captain could watch the helmsman steer.

3. 3. Captain's cabin

   The captain's cabin is at the very back of the ship, with a row of big windows looking out to sea.

   Fun fact The captain was the only person on board with a large room of his own.

4. 4. Daily life

   Meet the crew: see how sailors worked, ate, slept, washed their clothes and spent their free time.

   Fun fact A big ship of the line had a crew of hundreds of men and boys, like a small floating town.

5. 5. Hammock deck

   Sailors slept in hammocks hung side by side from the beams, close to the cannons on the gun decks.

   Fun fact Hammocks were rolled up every morning and stored along the sides of the upper deck.

6. 6. Galley

   The galley is the ship's kitchen. The cook made meals for the whole crew on a big iron stove.

   Fun fact The galley stove was the only place on the ship where a fire was allowed to burn every day.

7. 7. Gun decks

   A ship of the line has three decks lined with cannons, one above the other, called the gun decks.

   Fun fact The biggest cannons sat on the lowest gun deck, because their weight helped keep the ship steady.

8. 8. All the decks

   See the ship cut across the middle, from the top deck down to the keel, with every deck stacked in between.

   Fun fact Below the waterline, the decks were dark, because no windows could be cut there.

9. 9. Hold

   The hold is the big storeroom at the bottom of the ship, full of barrels, sacks and heavy ballast stones.

   Fun fact A ship of the line carried enough food and water for months at sea.

10. 10. Powder magazine

    The powder magazine is a locked room deep inside the ship, built to keep gunpowder safe and dry.

    Fun fact It was below the waterline, where it was safest from fire.