This sideboard was made in 1849, partly from the wood of the 'San Josef', one of Nelson’s prizes from the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797. It has a brass plaque with the following inscription: 'The back of this sideboard and the whole of the carving is made form a portion of the original timber of the San Josef, Given to Lady Berry widow of Rear Admiral Sir Edward Berry, Bart & KCB by order of the Board of Admiralty on the breaking up of that ship in 1849. The carving represents the boarding and capture of the Spanish ships San Nicolas of 80 and San Josef of 112 guns by The Captain of 74 guns bearing the pennant of Commodore Horatio Nelson on the 14th of February 1797 in the Battle off Cape St. Vincent. Captain Edward Berry then acting as First Lieutenant of HMS Captain bore a distinguished part in the action and was the first man who boarded the San Nicolas. For his conduct on that occasion he was raised to the rank of Post Captain. Designed and manufactured by Frederick Morris, 22 Mitson St. Bath.'

The base is of mahogany with particularly fine, flame-grained mahogany veneers on the doors. The 120-gun 'San Josef', as she was known by the British, was one of the largest ships in the world and, like many fine 18th-century Spanish vessels, was built of mahogany in Havana, Cuba.