HMS Conway (school ship)

HMS Conway was a naval training school or "school ship", founded in 1859 and housed for most of its life aboard a 19th-century wooden battleship. The ship was originally stationed on the Mersey near Liverpool, then moved to the Menai Strait during World War II. While being towed back to Birkenhead for a refit in 1953, she ran aground and was wrecked, and later burned down. The school moved to purpose-built premises on Anglesey where it continued for another twenty years.

Fire

The ship lay forlornly on the banks of the Strait for many few years but was a hazard to shipping. The Caernarvon Harbour Board eventually decided they would have to assume repsonsibility for her removal. A team was sent in to dismantle the ship. During this process, on 30 October 1956, she somehow caught fire and burned to the waterline. The last vestiges of Conway are still visible at low tide.

Related Topics:
Caernarvon - 30 October - 1956

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