Having been around the Victory and such places as Southsea Castle, my height of 5ft 4.5inches would seem to be the maximum height for clearing the beams/stone arches of such places - the guides get very anxious as I walk through without ducking, but having been there several times I always wear absolutely flat shoes and an innocent expression. As that was when I lived there - over 25 years ago now I supose I will have even more clearance now - I could feel my hair brushing the wood/stone in those days.

The Orlop deck is lower headroom than the decks above and I do have to watch my head on the beams, but the spaces between the beams allow me to stand fairly upright.

Nelson was shot through the left shoulder AFAIR - by a sniper in the mizzen top of 'The Trinedada' at quite close range, so the trajectory would have been through at least one lung - might even have damaged the spine. It was reported that Nelson anounced himself 'finished' and declined the attentions of a surgeon. I think the sniper was spotted and knocked of his perch by someone on Victory - but he'd been sucessful in hitting several officers before that.

I certainly found my bottle of 'Wood's 100 finest old Demarara' rum and drank to his memory - Hero of the Nile. Victor of Trafalgar. Our Nel.

Anne

Anne