History Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company

1 history

1.1 1837–46
1.2 1847–56
1.3 1857–1912

history
1837–46

the company originated in 1837 ditchburn , mare shipbuilding company, founded shipwright thomas j. ditchburn , engineer , naval architect charles mare. located @ deptford, after fire destroyed yard company moved orchard place in 1838, between east india dock basin , bow creek. there took on premises of defunct shipbuilders william , benjamin wallis.

the firm did , within few years occupied 3 sites covering area of on 14 acres (5.7 ha).

ditchburn , mare among first builders of iron ships in area; partnership commenced construction of small paddle steamers of between 50 , 100 tons, before progressing cross-channel vessels , 1840 building ships of more 300 tons. company s customers included iron steamboat company , blackwall railway company, several paddle steamers being constructed latter, including meteor , prince of wales, operated between gravesend , company s station on brunswick wharf.

in period company awarded several contracts admiralty, including hms recruit (a 12-gun brig) 1 of first iron warships built. constructed p & o company s steamers ariel , erin.

1847–56

thomas ditchburn retired in 1847 , business carried on charles mare, under name of c.j. mare , company. joined naval architect james ash, later began own shipyard @ cubitt town.

from 1847 company grew considerably , mare purchased land on canning town side of river lea, ferry service being established between 2 sites.

mare constructed yard furnaces , rolling mills construct vessels of 4,000 tons; because of narrowness of spit @ mouth of river lea, orchard place site limited construction of vessels of less 1,000 tons. in 1853 company launched ss himalaya peninsular , oriental steam navigation company, briefly world s largest passenger ship before becoming naval troopship.

in 1855, company had more 3000 employees, threatened closure following mare s bankruptcy. thought financial difficulties arose delays in payment completed work or, alternatively, company had miscalculated cost of building vessels royal navy. business did not lack orders, having in hand 6 contracts gunboats , contract westminster bridge (which built in 1862).

1857–1912

map circa 1872, showing victoria docks, royal victoria dock, bow creek , thames ironworks , shipbuilding company

the company s chief creditors moved keep company in operation, , 2 employees, joseph westwood , robert baillie appointed works managers. main figure in saving company peter rolt, mare s father-in-law , conservative mp greenwich. rolt timber merchant , descendant of pett shipbuilding family. supported in venture company director, lord alan spencer-churchill.

rolt took control of company s assets , in 1857 transferred them new limited company, named thames ironworks , shipbuilding , engineering company ltd.. had capital of £100,000 in 20 shares of £5000 each, 5 of held rolt main shareholder , chairman of board.

the new company largest shipbuilder on thames, premises described mechanics magazine in 1861 leviathan workshops . large scale ordnance survey maps of 1860s show yard occupying large triangular site in right-angled bend on east bank of bow creek railway thames wharf on third side, , smaller site on west bank. main yard had quay 1,050 feet (320m) long. south-east yard occupied north bank of thames east of bow creek, 2 slips giving direct access main river. today site crossed a1020 lower lea crossing , docklands light railway south of canning town station.

by 1863 company had capacity build 25,000 tons of warships , 10,000 tons of mail steamers simultaneously. 1 of first admiralty contracts hms warrior, launched in 1860, @ time world s largest warship , first iron-hulled armoured frigate. hms minotaur followed in 1863, 400 feet (120 m) long , 10,690 tons displacement.

work on vessels such minotaur performed on canning town side of lea, , thames ironworks expanded less 10 acres (4.0 ha) in 1856 30 acres (12 ha) 1891. while old site @ orchard place still company s official address until 1909, presence there minimal, late 1860s company having 5 acres (2.0 ha) site there.

general shipbuilding on thames came under great pressure due cost advantages of northern yards closer supplies of coal , iron, , many yards closed following 1866 financial crisis. of survivors, thames ironworks specialised in warships , liners.

stern view of hms sans pareil ready launching

following success of hms warrior , hms minotaur, orders placed navies on world, , vessels built denmark, greece, portugal, russia, spain , ottoman empire. yard built prussian navy s first iron-hulled warship, sms könig wilhelm in 1868 , cruiser afonso de albuquerque portugal in 1884.

in 1890s philanthropist arnold hills became managing director. had joined board of directors in 1880 @ age of 23. hills 1 of first business directors voluntarily introduce eight-hour day workers @ time when 10- , 12-hour shifts more common in industrial work.

in 1895 hills helped set football club works employees, thames ironworks f.c. , within first 2 years had entered fa cup , london league. result of committee s desire employ professional players, thames ironworks f.c. wound in june 1900 , west ham united f.c. formed month later.

merged engine builder john penn , sons in 1899 thames iron works, shipbuilding , engineering co.

during lifetime yard produced 144 warships , numerous other vessels. in 1911 hills petitioned winston churchill, first lord of admiralty, regarding lack of new orders. unsuccessful, , yard forced shut in 1912. within 2 years united kingdom @ war german empire, yard s last major ship taking part in battle of jutland.