The Greenbank Hotel’s links with HMS Warspite, dubbed “one of the greatest warships ever built,” were celebrated at a special lunch on Friday.

HMS Warspite, which was commissioned 100-years-ago, became the most battle-honoured warship in British Naval history over a 30 year career. After being decommissioned in 1947, she ran aground in a storm off Prussia Cove while on her way to the scrapyard at Faslane in Scotland.

Parts of the ship’s original decking were rescued from the wreck and used for a dance floor in the Greenbank Hotel’s bar in 1948. However, the historic timber had remained hidden for decades until a refurbishment which was only completed on Good Friday.

General manager, Ben Young, said: “I never knew we had it here. It was half covered in old carpet and the 50 per cent you could see had plant pots all over it. It was just neglected, but as soon as we noticed it, we agreed we should make more of a point of having it.”

The lunch on Friday was attended by Commodore Jamie Miller, Naval Regional Commander (Wales and Western England); David Boden, of the Devonport Naval Base Heritage Centre; Bob Bulgin, chairman of Port Isaac RNLI, and Falmouth’s mayor, John Body, and his wife, Linda.

Ahead of the meal, Commodore Miller presented the hotel with an original bronze crest from one of Warspite’s guns, and Mr Boden handed over two ceremonial plaques. The two men also presented Mr Young with a special edition print of a painting, HMS Warspite in Action at Narvikfiord by Les Henson.

All the artefacts will take pride of place in, or near, a cabinet in the bar which has been dedicated to the memory of HMS Warspite.