THE GOLD STANDARD

Simon Stabler climbs on board the Golden Hinde, a much-travelled replica of Sir Francis Drake’s galleon

- Simon Stabler

The area around London Bridge station has changed dramatically over the past decade or so with the arrival of skyscrapers such as The Shard, and the More London retail and restaurant complex. Even the station has undergone a radical transformation, although that has made getting around a lot easier.

There are still plenty of historic buildings around though, such as Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market and Pickfords Wharf – the Victorian warehouse complex which was rebuilt to accommodate apartments, coffee shops and a pub. Adjacent to Pickfords Wharf is St Mary Overie Dock, which since 1996 has been home to the Golden Hinde, a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s galleon the Golden Hind.

Built to mark the 400th anniversary of Drake’s circumnavigation, construction on the Golden Hinde began in September 1971, at J Hinks & Son shipyard in Appledore, Devon. Constructed using traditional methods and materials, the Golden Hinde was launched on 5 April 1973 and, after fitting out and sea-trials, set off on her maiden voyage from Plymouth to San Francisco Bay on 29 September 1974.

Skippered by Captain Adrian Small, who had been a second mate on the Mayflower II which had sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1957 (see Voyage of the Pilgrims, March 2020 issue), the crew of around 20 included Christopher Daniel, an expert on Tudor navigation instruments, on sabbatical from the National Maritime Museum.