Pre Dreadnought battleships of the Lord Clyde Class. History of HMS Lord Clyde and HMS Lord Warden. 

HMS Lord Clyde was built at Pembroke Dockyard and laid down on the 29th September 1863m being launched 13th October 1864, completed on the 2nd July 1866..(Total purchase price £285,750 )  Lord Clyde and Lord Warden were the last Broadside ships to be built for the Royal Navy. commissioned at Plymouth in June 1866, and served for 2 years with the channel Fleet. She was sent to the Mediterranean and was stationed at Malta she had problems with the her engines which  had worn badly, she was sent back to the UK for new engines.. In 1869 she was sent into reserve at Devonport. In 1871 she was again sent to Malta where she served for 6n months.  got stuck ashore at Pantellaria,m but was able to be pulled free by her sister ship HMS Lord warden.  she had structural damage and had to be towed back to Malta.  temporarily repaired at Malta she was again sent back to the UK escorted by HMS Defence.  it was planned to give her a major complete overhaul at Plymouth but her hull was found to be baldy rotten (her timbers had timber fungus.) The tried to save the ship over a period of 3 years but at the end she had to be sold for scrap before her decay made her to bad condition for purchase for scrap.

HMS Lord Warden was built at Chatham Dockyard. and laid down on the 24th December 1863, launched on the 27th march 1865 and completed on the 30th august 1867. Lord Clyde and Lord Warden were the last Broadside ships to be built for the Royal Navy. Commission at Chatham in July 1866 she joined the Channel fleet in 1867, but after only a few months she was transferred to the \Mediterranean Squadron based at Malta.  relieving HMS Caledonia as Flagship.  Took part in the demonstration of strength against the Spanish Communists at Cartagena who were using Naval ships for their Pirate purposes.  In 1875 went into reserve for three years until the Russian situation  saw HMS Lord warden become part of the Particular Service squadron.  In 1884 she was fitted with Torpedoes and Net Defence equipment. But finally paid off in 1885. due to her bad condition due to Rot.  Her crew were all transferred to HMS Devastation.  She was finally sold four years later in 1889.

NOTES: These Wooden Broadside ironclads were considered to be the worst capital ships in the Royal Navy for rolling at Sea. 

HMS Lord Clyde, Plymouth, 1866.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP46

HMS Lord Warden.

HMS Lord Warden, 1867.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP47

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FREDRICK LAKEMAN.. We have found a grave of Lakeman, Fredrick - HMS Lord Warden crew member.  He died in 1868 in a naval accident, at the age of 23.  The grave is located at the old military graveyard in Dubrovnik, Croatia (The city is also known as Ragusa).  We are looking for more information on the ship, crew members and history.  Contact Here 

SIR JOHN DENNIS MACDONALD..  My great grandfather was Sir John Dennis MacDonald who I believed was Inspector General and served aboard the Lord Warden in 1870.  I am trying to find out more information about him and was wondering if you could point me in the right direction.    Contact Here