Historical information

This is a ship model of the Golden Hind.

About the “Golden Hind”
The English galleon “Golden Hind”, a mid-16th century Elizabethan warship, was launched in 1577. It was formerly known as the “Pelican”. The Golden Hind was the flagship of Captain Sir Frances Drake, in which he became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world 1577-1580.

Tonnage 100-150 tons
Displacement 300 tons [fully loaded]
Speed 8-15 knots
Armament 22 guns
Crew 80 sailors, 10 officers
Built Aldeburgh, Suffolk, then moved to Plymouth, Devon in 1576
Type of ship Galleon; multi-decked ship (5 decks), square rigged, 3 masted sailing ship
Estimated size Length - 70 feet (21.3m); Breadth – 19 feet (5.8m); Depth – 9 feet (2.7m)

The Pelican set sail in 1577 on an expedition sponsored partly by Queen Elizabeth and Sir Christopher Hatten (whose family crest was a golden hind). His companion ships were the Swan, Marigold, Benedict and the Elizabeth. During this voyage, in 1578, Drake renamed the Pelican as the Golden Hind in honour of is patron.

Sir Francis Drake [1544 – 1596] brought the Golden Hind home from his circumnavigation of the globe with looted gold, percelain, jewels and cash worth 35,000,000 million pounds in today’s money. It was the largest treasure every captured at that date. Only two ships returned – the “Golden Hind” and the “Elizabeth”.

Significance

This Ship model of the galleon Golden Hind, the flagship of Captain Sir Frances Drake, represents the first circumnavigation of the globe by an Englishman.

Physical description

Ship model, the galleon Golden Hind on timber stand. Square rigged with 2 masts each with a flag and crow's nest. 22 guns on decks. Brown hull with green stripes and decorative coloured trimmings. Nameplate "Sir Francis Drake - his ship / The Golden Hind - 1577-1580". Emblem with animal golden hind, Tudor Rose and lamp above.

Inscriptions & markings

Nameplate "Sir Francis Drake - his ship / The Golden Hind - 1577 - 1580"