HMS Formidable was an 84-gun second rate of the Royal Navy, launched on 19 May 1825 at Chatham Dockyard. With a crew of 700 she was one of the Navy's largest ships at that time.

The Training Ship Formidable came in to being in 1869 after several Bristol businessmen petitioned the Admiralty to lease them an ex Naval Vessel for the training of young boys as Seamen. For decades, the ship took in troublesome boys from all walkd of life and gave them an education and a career, steering them from a probably life of crime. Listen to the amazing tale of the Industrial School Ship Formidable.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England.

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SOURCES

Forces At War Records

Portishead Nautical Trust

Western Daily Press - Tuesday 12 October 1869

West Somerset Free Press - Saturday 29 October 1870 Boy's rescue

Bristol Mercury - Saturday 04 February 1871

1881 Census

Freepages

Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk

© THE BACKTRACKER HISTORY SHOW 2021