The Admiralty decided to set aside five old laid up hulks in different ports around the country, and use them as bases at which volunteers aged between 15 and 17 could spend a year being educated for future service in the navy.

One of the hulks chosen to be converted into a school was the old 84-gun second-rate ship of the line HMS Ganges.

Having been refitted to provide accommodation for 500 boys, Ganges was towed to Mylor by the paddle tug Gladiator.

[2] During Ganges's time in Cornwall allegations of harsh and brutal treatment were reported to the Admiralty.

One wardroom steward shot himself over the matter, and the reports aroused indignation in the local community.

Captain Tremlett, the senior officer of training ships, was ordered to investigate the situation and reported that Commander Stevens "had given punishments which were not laid down in the Training Regulations and had also prevented his ship's company from taking due leave."

The establishment had become an important part of local life, as in 1870 a rumour began to circulate that Ganges would not return after one such refit.

[2] By 1899 the declining number of boys joining Ganges led the Admiralty to decide to move her to a more populated area.

HMS Caroline had arrived shortly before Ganges and served as a temporary hospital ship.

[3] Hospital facilities had been completed by 1902 and Caroline was refitted at Chatham to serve as an overflow training ship for Ganges, providing accommodation for another 60 boys.

She had been named HMS Boscawen in March 1904 whilst at Portland and now arrived to provide further facilities for Ganges.

[1] By 1912 Ganges II was being used as an overflow ship as the number of boys in the establishment increased, and she was duly moved closer inshore.

On 8 October 1913 HMS Ganges II became an independent command and was based at RNTE Shotley.

Other wartime activities included the establishment of a trawler base at Ganges II, and the completion of 600 miles (966 km) of anti-submarine nets by boys and staff.

[3] It was decided by 1927 that RNTE Shotley would be renamed after the original training ship and she was recommissioned as HMS Ganges that year.

[3] A number of administrative reforms were also carried out this year, including the establishment of eight internal divisions named after famous admirals.

[3] The outbreak of the Second World War led to the decision to close HMS Ganges as a boys' training centre.

A new overspill centre was commissioned at Highnam Court, near Gloucester on 28 April 1941, and it was defined as a tender to HMS Ganges.

In 1975 Ganges was opened to the public for the first time, with Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Mountbatten of Burma the guest of honour.

The white ensign was lowered for the last time on 28 October and the establishment's training duties were transferred to HMS Raleigh.