Guiding the Fleet: Compasses of the British Royal Navy

This collection explores the essential role of navigational compasses in the British Royal Navy from the Age of Sail to the modern era. Through a curated selection of instruments, documents, and personal accounts, Guiding the Fleet reveals how these vital tools shaped maritime strategy, ensured safe passage, and supported Britain's dominance at sea. From early magnetic compasses to sophisticated gyrocompasses, each piece tells a story of innovation, precision, and naval heritage. This exhibit honors the unseen tools that steered countless voyages and safeguarded generations of sailors navigating the world’s oceans.