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The mast at HMS Ganges shore base Shotley Suffolk. For more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ganges_%28shore_establishment%29

The name HMS Ganges came into service in 1779 when 3 vessels were presented to the navy by the Honourable East India company. One of them was the Bengal built on the Thames at Blackwall which was re-named HMS Ganges. She was broken up in 1816. Her successor built in Bombay was launched on 10th November 1821, subsequently arriving at Portsmouth in October 1822. After various commissions HMS Ganges was commissioned as the flag-ship of Rear Admiral R L Bayes on the Pacific Station and left for the Pacific in September 1857. On return to England in 1861 HMS Ganges entered the history book as being the last sailing ship to be a sea going flag-ship In 1866 HMS Ganges became the boys' training ship anchored in Falmouth harbour where she remained until August 1899. In November 1899 HMS Ganges was transferred to Harwich harbour. HMS Ganges remained in Harwich harbour as a boys' training ship and in 1905 the boys moved ashore for their training, which continued at Shotley until 1976. After visiting Sugar Factory in Ipswich we had HMS Ganges on the list. First come across this place when my dad popped in coming back from my nan's. He trained here in the navy. The buildings are pretty basic inside apart from the swimming pool which is the nuts. Access is fun when you're with two people who can’t climb. Here is the picture hope you enjoy it

The entrance to the former land-based HMS Ganges naval cadets' training centre. Originally ships were used and in 1899 HMS Ganges was transferred (or physically moved) to Harwich harbour from Falmouth harbour where she remained until August 1899. HMS Ganges remained in Harwich harbour as a boys' training ship until 1905 when this training facility was moved here. When the boys first moved ashore their number approached 500 but as the establishment developed so the number of boys increased until by the end of the 1940s there were 2000 young men in training with approximately 200 lads joining every five weeks. The establishment was closed in 1976 and the site is still awaiting redevelopment. This is the view from Caledonia Road, off Bristol Hill (the B1456) in the village of Shotley Gate.

Side gates, adjacent to the main gates, into the former land-based HMS Ganges naval cadets' training centre. Originally ships were used for this purpose and in 1899 HMS Ganges was transferred (or was physically moved) to Harwich harbour from Falmouth harbour where she remained until August 1899. HMS Ganges remained in Harwich harbour as a boys' training ship until 1905 when this training facility moved here. When the boys first moved ashore their number approached 500 but as the establishment developed so the number of boys increased until by the end of the 1940s there were 2000 young men in training, with approximately 200 lads joining every five weeks. The establishment was closed in 1976 and the site is still awaiting redevelopment. This is the view from School Road.

H.M.S. Ganges was a training establishment for the Royal Navy. My dad was here as a 15-year old cadet in 1947, and he told me that on fine Sunday afternoons (their only free time) he and his friends would sit on the lowest yardarm on the mast to soak up the sun. Every cadet had to climb to the semi-circular platform just below the highest yardarm at least once during their training; the bravest (not my dad!) climbed to the very top of the mast and stood on the 12-inch diameter cap.