Experts at the University of York will carry out urgently-needed repairs on the parish register recording the marriage of Admiral Lord Nelson, which has arrived in the UK for the first time in over 130 years from Nevis, its home in the Caribbean.
The register arrived at the University on 18 October – a few days before Trafalgar Day, which commemorates Nelson’s heroic death as he led the British to victory over the French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October, 1805.
It is believed the 190-page parish register has not been in the UK since May 1886 when it appeared in an exhibition in South Kensington.
The register made the journey from the church of St John Figtree on the Caribbean island of Nevis – the parish where Nelson married Fanny Nisbet on 11 March 1787.
The couple met while Nelson was commanding the British warship, HMS Boreas in the North East Caribbean. The widow of a Nevis physician, Fanny’s parents had also died, leaving her and her three-year-old son under the protection of her uncle – the President of the Island of Nevis.
Nelson and Fanny crossed paths at a party and a relationship between them blossomed. They were married at Fanny’s uncle’s Montpelier house – the place of their first meeting- and the marriage was recorded in the parish register.
After years of exposure to the humidity and high temperatures of the Caribbean, the register has deteriorated badly and is in urgent need of conservation.
With the permission of the Diocese of the North East Caribbean and Aruba and the parish of St George, Figtree, and by arrangement of the 1805 Club – a UK-based charity, which conserves and maintains Royal Navy artefacts from the Georgian era – the register made the journey to the world-renowned Borthwick Institute at the University of York.
The Borthwick was chosen to restore the register because of its wealth of experience in conserving church documents, including registers up to 800 years old.
Chris Webb, Keeper of Archives at the Borthwick Institute, said: “We are honoured to have the opportunity to preserve this historic document which marks an important moment in Lord Nelson’s life.
“We will use our expertise to conserve the register for future generations and it will also be digitally imaged before it’s returned to its home in the Caribbean.”
Bill White, Vice-Chairman of the 1805 Club, said: “We are very grateful to the Bishop of the North East Caribbean and Aruba for giving us permission for this vital work to be carried out. The marriage record is very much part of the history of the Royal Navy and gives a unique insight into the social history of one of its most illustrious figures.”
The project has been made possible through a grant awarded to the 1805 Club by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2017, which used proceeds from LIBOR fines. The fund was set up by the Chancellor to support Armed Forces charities, alongside other related causes.
Trending
- PRESS RELEASE – COVID 19 : Return of “compelling reasons” for travel to and from French West Indies
- Job Vacancy At Meridian Trust Company Limited- SENIOR FIDUCIARY & LEGAL OFFICER
- NRP calls on Federal Government to aid Nationals in devastated neighboring Islands.
- TDC Shipping Department – Change in Schedule Notice
- C43 – Miss Culture Swimwear
- Human Resource: CAREER OPPORTUNITY.
- Ministry of Social Development: Press Release.
- Sherry’s “RISE” an Afrocentric Fashion Production.
- Libra’s All White Full Moon Birthday Bashment 2016.
- I.R.D: Wheel Tax Notice.
- TRUST & FIDUCIARY SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR: Job Vacancy.
- I.R.D : Registration Renewal…
- T.D.C: Child Month
- The St.Kitts Music Festival Line Up….
- I.R.D: Property Tax..
- Development Bank marks 35th anniversary with renewed commitment
- Sherry’s Beauty World: Special…
- Brown Hill Communications…..Job Vacancy
- Sherry’s Beauty World: Special Runs for the month of April ( MASSAGES ).
- Digicel Play…D.B.H
- THE UWI OPEN CAMPUS, ST.KITTS & NEVIS.
- I.R.D: Consumer Information Notice.
- The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society: Job Vacancy.
- Morning Star Holdings Limited: Job Vacancy.
- Inter Primary Champions Honoured
- Newtown Resident Charged for Attempting To Convey Contraband
- Inon Nias Charged with Intent To Supply Cannabis
- Attorney General Identifies Key Focus Areas for Growth and Resilience in Keynote Address at ECCU Meeting
- Prime Minister Drew Addresses Urgency of Tackling Firearm Violence as a Public Health Crisis at 68th Annual Health Research Conference in St. Lucia
- OECS Commission Marks Sustainability Milestone with Loader Handover to the SLSWMA
- Ariel Henry Resigns as Prime Minister Of Haiti
- St Kitts & Nevis Weather for Friday 26th April 2024
- Guyana Seeking To Develop New Cricket Product For Region
- NBA: Herro Scores 24 And the Heat Beat Boston to Even Series 1-1