Visits by Henry VIII

Henry VIII took a great interest in maritime matters and visited his two great dockyards, Portsmouth and Deptford, frequently to inspect progress with the ships he had commissioned. He delighted in wearing an ‘admiral’s uniform’ which included breeches made of cloth of gold, scarlet stockings and a tunic of gold brocade. He also ‘blew near as loud as a trumpet or clarinet’ on a gold bosun’s whistle encrusted with jewels which completed the ensemble when worn around his neck. He must have cut quite a dash in the small town of Portsmouth.