Art Fund Museum of the Year

Figureheads

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See 14 impressive ship's figureheads in a unique suspended display

Winner of the Museums + Heritage ‘Restoration / Conservation Project of the Year 2020’ Award.

You can’t miss these giant sculptures, on loan from the National Museums of the Royal Navy, when you arrive at The Box. You’re greeted by Royal William (affectionately known as ‘King Billy’), a figurehead carved in Plymouth in 1832 for HMS Royal William. When the ship was cut down and converted in 1858, the figurehead was removed and placed at the southern tip of Plymouth’s dockyard – watching the fleet depart and welcoming it home for over 100 years!

Weighing about two tons and measuring over four metres tall with his crown, it’s just one of 14 Victorian figureheads that were ambitiously conserved and restored to create this unique suspended display that sails across our main entrance.

You can also experience the impressive scale and detail of these historic wooden carvings from the Active Archives gallery on the first floor, where you’ll find more information about their stories, makers and journeys.

Watch the figureheads being revealed on our YouTube channel.

Visit our free Bloomberg Connects digital guide before, during or after a visit to The Box to listen to a series of audio clips that explore the figureheads in more detail.

Permanent galleries