Gates, Gatepiers, Railings And Lamp Standards, The 'Main Gate', At Hms Ganges

The 'Main Gate' at HMS Ganges consists of gates, gatepiers, railings, and lamp standards, built in 1905. The structure features red brick piers topped with painted stone caps, along with wrought-iron carriage and pedestrian gates, railings, and lamp standards. The main carriage gates are adorned with scrolls at the top and additional cresting decoration. The flanking piers also have caps and ornamental lamp standards. On either side, the pedestrian gates display similar scrolls and cresting, along with the monogram of Edward VII. Massive piers with caps extend curving walls with railings, including an additional pier and gate on the left.

Historically, this was the 'Main Gate' for HMS Ganges, a Royal Naval Training Establishment that operated from 1905 to 1976. The training of boys for the Navy began in the mid-Victorian period on HMS Ganges, the last wooden-walled sea-going flagship, initially moored at Mylor, near Falmouth, before moving to Shotley. The shore training establishment built in 1905 continued to train 15 and 16-year-old boys, with around 2,000 boys at a time, until the school leaving age was raised in the 1970s. HMS Ganges closed in 1976 after approximately 150,000 boys had passed through these gates, with 'leaving by the Main Gate' symbolizing an honorable departure. The gates are also significant due to their connection with the nearby Ceremonial Mast and the unique monogram of Edward VII, which is notable given his brief reign.