This bed was acquired by the National Maritime Museum as part of the Trafalgar House Collection. Trafalgar House was owned by Nelson’s older brother and heir, William, to whom it was presented as a gift from the Nation. In 1835 a portion of the contents of the house was sold, including, according to the sale catalogue, a set of chintz hangings lined with glazed cotton and edged with silk-ball fringe that belonged to the Nelson Bed.

According to family history, the bed was made for Horatio Nelson when he stayed with William Beckford at his country estate at Fonthill in December 1800. The bed has a specific naval theme as it features six large gilt anchors and the cornice has a blue japanned ground decorated with gold penwork laurel wreaths and oak leaves.

The Beckford party was described in the 'Gentleman’s Magazine'. At that time Beckford’s famous gothic folly, Fonthill Abbey, was only partially constructed. The party stayed at Fonthill Splendens, Beckford’s Georgian House and made a special trip to the Abbey for evening entertainments, including a medieval supper and theatrical performances by Emma Hamilton.

In August 1801, Beckford sold most of the contents of Fonthill Splendens to finance his work on Fonthill Abbey. In the sale catalogue the beds from the six principal bedrooms were sold, including one of mahogany with a japanned cornice and gilt decorations and a set of bed hangings that matches those found in the 1835 sale catalogue of Trafalgar House.

The party at Fonthill Splendens was arranged by Beckford as a hero’s welcome for Nelson. Certainly if the bed were part of that, it shows the celebration of Nelson within his own lifetime.

In 1823 Beckford sold Fonthill Abbey and most of its contents and moved to Lansdown Tower, outside of Bath.