In January 1510, Henry authorised £700 to be spent on making two ships, one of 400 and the other of 300 tons.

We think that these were the Mary Rose and a slightly smaller ship called the Peter Pomegranate.

Other historical documents tell us that money was spent building the Mary Rose in Portsmouth.

In 1511 she sailed to London to be finished and have her guns put in.

A lot of money was spent decorating her with flags and banners. She was going to be the King's flagship, and had to look the part.