AN 18-gun warship which sank in St Aubin’s Bay 205 years ago has been lovingly brought back to life.

A minutely detailed scale model of HMS Havick went on display at the Maritime Museum this week after a 1,000-hour project spanning the last 18 months.

It is the work of the Jersey Heritage Trust’s conservator, Neil Mahrer , who took on the challenge in his spare time.

‘I had no idea when I began the project that it would take so long, but it has been a fascinating process,’ he said.

‘I made plastic models a long time ago, but the satisfaction of building this ship, just like the original, plank by wooden plank, was amazing.

It was also great to know that the model is unique and that as a result of all the research done by myself and others, this is the first time that anyone has seen a model of such a vessel in 200 years.’ Mr Mahrer is now thinking about taking on the bigger challenge of creating a model of the mid-18th-century 60-gun HMS Jersey – although he said his wife might have other ideas.