The founding BNRA special project involved promotion and research to save a mill in Hampshire built out of the timbers of the USS Chesapeake. The USS Chesapeake was captured after action with HM Ship Shannon on July 1st 1813 and eventually returned to England where her lines were drawn. After service in the British Navy her timbers were sold. Chesapeake was designed and built by an Englishman, Josiah Fox who trained at Plymouth. After traveling to the New World to further his knowledge of ship's timber usage he remained there to build American warships. The BNRA has worked with the previous mill owner, the late Bruce Tappenden; Wickham Mill Preservation Trust; Dr Alan Flanders of the US Navy Department, Dr Robert Prestcott (leader of the official bid to save the mill) and BNRA colleagues at the Canadian embassy to raise public awareness and support for preservation of the naval history of the site.