Coal
Description
11 lumps of coal, various sizes. Dark grey in colour, some with yellow residue, some with black shiny residue. All lumps of coal shedding some residue.
Coal was used to fuel the stove on which all the ships meals were prepared. Since fire was a considerable hazard on any wooden ship, especially so on those with a cargo of gunpowder and spirituous liquor, open flames on a ship were strictly regulated. There were some occasions where it was impossible to light the stoves, i.e. in port when loading powder and during battle due to the considerable movement of gunpowder. At times of harsh weather, the stove had to be extinguished and cold food would have been served to the crew. There was no regular system of heating on a ship of the line since the danger of combustion prevented the lighting of fires about the decks. Officers sometimes had small stoves fitted in their cabins but common sailors had to rely on the effects of massed human bodies.
See full details
Object Detail
Width: 100mm