History
Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley, known in the Royal Navy as HMS Ganges, was a naval training establishment at Shotley, near Ipswich in Suffolk. Starting in 1905, it trained boys for naval service until 1973 (The school-leaving age was raised to 16 so ended the recruitment of 15-year-old boy sailors).
143 feet to the top of the mast
In September 1973, HMS Ganges admitted adult entrants to the Royal Navy who only underwent 6 weeks training (6-week wonders) (the same as at HMS Raleigh near Plymouth)
It finally closed in 1976 and had a mixed reputation in the Royal Navy, both for its reputed harsh methods of training boys in order to turn out professionally able, self-reliant ratings and for the professionalism of its former trainees. It is particularly famous for its 143-foot (44 m)-high mast which all boys under training were required to ascend, at least to the half-moon and for the mast manning ceremonies held whenever a dignitary visited the establishment.
During the later 1980s and until 1999 RNTE Shotley was used as a residential centre for civilian police officers to complete their basic training. Forces which used this centre included Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley and South Wales. The Suffolk and Essex police forces used the site on an ad hoc basis in 2007
a postcard I found online from 1942
another photo of the swimming pool in use - date unknown
Explore
I first visited the site in October 2016 but wasn't very eventful as most buildings were not accessible at the time, how ever we did manage to get in to the upstairs of the canteen and I got a few externals. Roll on to June 2019 I met up early hours near by and once onsite we made our way straight to the swimming pool and then slowly worked our way around the site.
Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley, known in the Royal Navy as HMS Ganges, was a naval training establishment at Shotley, near Ipswich in Suffolk. Starting in 1905, it trained boys for naval service until 1973 (The school-leaving age was raised to 16 so ended the recruitment of 15-year-old boy sailors).
143 feet to the top of the mast
In September 1973, HMS Ganges admitted adult entrants to the Royal Navy who only underwent 6 weeks training (6-week wonders) (the same as at HMS Raleigh near Plymouth)
It finally closed in 1976 and had a mixed reputation in the Royal Navy, both for its reputed harsh methods of training boys in order to turn out professionally able, self-reliant ratings and for the professionalism of its former trainees. It is particularly famous for its 143-foot (44 m)-high mast which all boys under training were required to ascend, at least to the half-moon and for the mast manning ceremonies held whenever a dignitary visited the establishment.
During the later 1980s and until 1999 RNTE Shotley was used as a residential centre for civilian police officers to complete their basic training. Forces which used this centre included Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley and South Wales. The Suffolk and Essex police forces used the site on an ad hoc basis in 2007
a postcard I found online from 1942
another photo of the swimming pool in use - date unknown
Explore
I first visited the site in October 2016 but wasn't very eventful as most buildings were not accessible at the time, how ever we did manage to get in to the upstairs of the canteen and I got a few externals. Roll on to June 2019 I met up early hours near by and once onsite we made our way straight to the swimming pool and then slowly worked our way around the site.
The next area is the upstairs part of the canteen from 2016
below are a few externals from what I believe are the kitchens/canteen
below is the sports hall
looking through all my photos this seems to be the only photo I could find of the mast
Last edited:
The old photos are fab.
