Nannie the Witch
Cutty Sark's Figurehead
National Maritime Museum (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 22. October 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
96 pages
978-1-917985-01-7 (ISBN)
Description
One of the most recognisable figureheads in the National
Maritime Museum's world-leading collection is Nannie the witch, who leans with
outstretched arm from the bow of Cutty Sark towards the River Thames.
Nannie, who has provided protection to the ship in at least three different
forms over the course of its history, is at the centre of this book.
Cutty Sark experts Louise Macfarlane and Claire
Denham explore the history of the figurehead, including its original design by
Hercules Linton and construction by carver Frederick Hellyer. Using drawings
and archival photographs, they show how the figure morphed into the version at
the ship's bow today.
With a contribution from master carver Andy Peters,
responsible for the Nannie that was installed in 2021, the book documents the
process of creating a figurehead and considers the art of figurehead carving as
an endangered skill.
Maritime Museum's world-leading collection is Nannie the witch, who leans with
outstretched arm from the bow of Cutty Sark towards the River Thames.
Nannie, who has provided protection to the ship in at least three different
forms over the course of its history, is at the centre of this book.
Cutty Sark experts Louise Macfarlane and Claire
Denham explore the history of the figurehead, including its original design by
Hercules Linton and construction by carver Frederick Hellyer. Using drawings
and archival photographs, they show how the figure morphed into the version at
the ship's bow today.
With a contribution from master carver Andy Peters,
responsible for the Nannie that was installed in 2021, the book documents the
process of creating a figurehead and considers the art of figurehead carving as
an endangered skill.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Illustrations
35
Dimensions
Height: 178 mm
Width: 150 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-917985-01-7 (9781917985017)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Louise Macfarlane is Senior Curator, Maritime Technologies.
She joined Royal Museums Greenwich as Curator of Cutty Sark in 2016 and
co-authored The Cutty Sark Pocket Manual (Osprey, 2018). Her remit now
includes the Museum's unique ship plans and historic photographs collections.
Claire Denham is Research Advisor, Cutty Sark. Having
overseen the documentation of the fabric of the ship during the Cutty Sark conservation
project (2006-12), she is responsible for ensuring historical accuracy in the
interpretation of Cutty Sark.
Andy Peters works through his company Maritima Woodcarving
as a figurehead carver. He carved Cutty Sark's current Nannie. Also an
expert in the history of maritime carving and decorative woodwork, he is the
author of Ships' Figureheads: Famous Carving Families (Whittles
Publishing, 2025).
She joined Royal Museums Greenwich as Curator of Cutty Sark in 2016 and
co-authored The Cutty Sark Pocket Manual (Osprey, 2018). Her remit now
includes the Museum's unique ship plans and historic photographs collections.
Claire Denham is Research Advisor, Cutty Sark. Having
overseen the documentation of the fabric of the ship during the Cutty Sark conservation
project (2006-12), she is responsible for ensuring historical accuracy in the
interpretation of Cutty Sark.
Andy Peters works through his company Maritima Woodcarving
as a figurehead carver. He carved Cutty Sark's current Nannie. Also an
expert in the history of maritime carving and decorative woodwork, he is the
author of Ships' Figureheads: Famous Carving Families (Whittles
Publishing, 2025).