The Anchor

An anchor is used to moor a ship in water deep enough to avoid damage to the hull when swinging with a change of wind or tide.

Early seafarers made anchors from stones, wood or lead components and later iron.

The diagram shows parts of the Admiralty-pattern anchor. The stock, at right angles to the arms, turns the anchor so that the flukes dig into the seabed. Holding power is increased by the length of cable exerting a near horizontal pull on the anchor.

The anchors here show developents from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

The silhouettes show the types of ship they served.

[diagram of an Admiralty-pattern anchor and marking of the parts of the anchor]
Ring
Stock
Shank
Fluke
Bill
Crown
Arm

Please do not climb on these anchors.

One of the row of anchors placed along Park Row and displayed by the Greenwich Maritime Museum Click for a larger image

The sign opens or closes the row of anchors.