By the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the seven home dockyards of the British Royal Navy employed a workforce of nearly 16,000 men and some women. On account of their size, dockyards add much to our understanding of developing social processes as they pioneered systems of recruitment, training and supervision of large-scale workforces. From 1815-1865 the make-up of those workforces changed with metal working skills replacing wood working skills as dockyards fully harnessed the use of steam and made the conversion from constructing ships of timber to those of iron. The impact on industrial relations and on the environment of the yards was enormous.
Concentrating on the yard at Chatham, the book examines how the day-to-day running of a major centre of industrial production changed during this period of transition. The Admiralty decision to build at Chatham the Achilles, the first iron ship to be constructed in a royal dockyard, placed that yard at the forefront of technological change. Had Chatham failed to complete the task satisfactorily, the future of the royal dockyards might have been very different.
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Index capstan makers, 216 capstans, 26 carvers, 2 caulkers, 2, 8–9, 33, 216, 236, 255, 334 use of spike iron, 2 caulking, 2, 6, 15 chain cable, 133–4 chapel choir, 213, 226 Chatham, 88, 94, 111, 131 jetty, 88 Melville Naval Hospital, 111, 131 Chatham dockyard anchor wharf, 93 apprentice school, 213 basin, 55–6, 91, 107–8, 109–10 bell, 209, 218, 231–2, 241 blockmaking machine, 116 cement mills, 149 chapel, 213, 236 closure, threat of, xvii coal store, 98 coal wharf, 94 docks, 1, 53–4, 14, 53–5, 58, 60, 62–3, 67–9, 81–7, 98–9, 105, 109, 330–31 draining of, xv No. 1 Dock, 54, 55, 58, 87, 98, 99, 105 No. 2 Dock, 14, 55, 58, 63, 81–4, 86, 98, 99, 100 No. 3 Dock, 54, 63–6, 70–75, 76–7, 87, 330–31 gates, model of, 331 No. 4 Dock (old No. 3 Dock), 58, 63, 87 No. 5 Dock (old No. 4 Dock), 58, 63 roofing of, 6, 54, 62, 67–8, 69, 86 shallowness of, 53, 58, 60 economies imposed on, xvi extension, 55–6, 77–80, 89–96, 99–112 plans for, 55–6, 77–80, 89–96, 99–100 progress of, 100–112 Note: This index should be used in conjunction with the appendices. For the period 1815–65, these provide a list of ships and other vessels built at Chatham and a list of relevant postholders. Indexed names are those appearing in the text of cited correspondence or within the introductory notes. accounting procedures, 166–7 Admiralty, Board of, 53, 105–6, 108, 154, 247–8, 264–5, 274–80, 310–12, 319–324, 325, 342–64 duties of naval lords, 344–6 increase of business, 354–5, 357–8 principal civil officers, 322–4, 344–7, 353–4 Accountant General, 264, 323, 353 Comptroller General, 363 Surveyor General, 323, 324, 353 reformed system of managing dockyards, analysis of, 358–64 relations with Navy Board, 321, 330, 342–3 responsibilities of, 325 apprentices, 150, 212–13, 216, 239, 250–53 artisans, see individual trades Auckland, George 2nd Lord, 263 Balfour’s ropemaking machine, 129 Banniwell, Richard, 29 Barlow, Capt. Sir Robert, 57, 66, 68, 69–70, 118, 145, 321 Barrow, John, 171, 323 Blackwood, Vice Admiral Sir Henry, 22 blockmakers, 235 boatbuilders, 216 boilers, 38, 134, 146 Boulton & Watt, 4, 32 Bowling Green Iron Co., 115 boys, employment of, 149, 150, 216, 217, 255–6 braziers, 150, 237, 255 bricklayers, 216, 217, 237 brickmaking, 109 Briggs, John Henry, 323 Bromley, J.S., 264–5, 306–8, 323–4 Brunel, Marc, xv, 113, 116–21 398 CHATHAM DOCKYARD, 1815–1865 factory building, 93 limitations of, 53, 57–61 mast houses, 90, 168 mast ponds, 92 metal mill, 115, 145, 148 metal working machinery, 103–4, 146 millwrights’ shop, 41, 127, 146, 148 paint and lead mill, 114, 124–6, 146, 114, 165, 331 painters’ shop, 123 railway system, 94, 119 rigging house, 165 river wall, 53, 62–3, 88, 95, 109 roads, 94 Rolling Mill, 142, 144 ropery, 114, 123, 140–41, 144, 148, 152 engine house, 139–40 governance of, 267, 144, 175, 261 hemp store, 331 introduction of steam into, 114 saw mills, xv, 113–14, 116–21, 122, 123, 130–33, 138–40, 146–8, 331 seasoning sheds, 154 security arrangements, 170–98 slips, 1, 92 covering of, 6, 54, 62, 67–9 No. 3 Slip, 63 No. 4 Slip, 63 No. 5 Slip, 63 No. 7 Slip, 45, 46, 55, 105 Smithery, 98, 101–2, 114–15, 141, 142–4, 146 specialisms, 21 steam machinery, xv, 146 storehouses, 92, 153–70 present use, 154, 159, 163–4, 285–6 tram roads, 94 treenail mooting machine, 125 Chatham Marine Barracks, 94, 111, 131, 170 Cheney & Co., 49 Cherbourg, French naval dockyard ropery at, 137–8 chip money, 217, 228 civil boards, consolidation of, 342–55 Clarence, William Henry, 1st Duke of, 321, 347–8 Clark, Andrew, Director of Engineering and Architectural Works, 56 classification, 211–12, 234–9, 242–6 Clerk, Sir George, 347n. clerks, 285–6 Cockburn, Sir George, 349 Cockell, Isaac, 42 convict hulks, 4, 14, 23–4 convicts, employment of, 72, 95–8, 109–10, 210, 227, 228–9 coopers, 149, 236 coppering, 3, 17, 18–19 cordage, storage of, 157 Crimean War, 265 Croker, John, 322–3, 348, 350 Cunningham, Capt. Charles, 262 Davey, Sir Humphrey, 18 decay, 6 Deptford dockyard, 21, 28, 36, 57, 94, 327–8 deputations, 247–9 devil’s bolt, 2, 27 Devonport dockyard, 94, 211 ropery, 140–41, 144 smithery, 141 Dickens, Charles, xvi, 258 dismantling of ships, 3 dismissals, 210, 214–17, 222–4, 229–30 docking of ships, 3 dockyard officers inferior officers, 268–9, 270, 277, 283, 289, 306–17 Assistant Master Attendant, 260 Assistant Master Shipwright, 262 cabin keepers, 279 Clerk of the Ropeyard, 175, 261, 262, 269, 271, 279 abolition of, 290 foremen, 154, 261, 262–3, 268, 277–8, 282–3, 287, 305 inspectors, 305–6, 314 leading men, 262–3, 283–4, 288, 290, 314 Master Measurer, 264–5, 273–4, 277–8 disciplinary actions, 273–4 Master of the Mill, 331 measurers, 308–9, 315–16 quartermen, 262–3, 268, 277–9, 287, 289, 290–91, 296 reducers, 316 Timber Master, 270 Timber Receiver, 294–6 superior officers, 264, 266–8, 274–9, 286, 303–8 Chaplain, 304 Clerk of the Check, 261, 263, 267–8, 270, 275, 279, 284, 295 abolition of, 290 Master Attendant, 144, 261, 262, 266, 267, 270, 282, 292–3, 304, 306 Master Shipwright, 1, 10, 261–3, 264, 266–70, 282–3, 298–300, 304, 332 duties of, 1 Chatham dockyard (contd.) Index 399 Resident Commissioner, 120, 261–3, 278, 281–2, 291–2 Storekeeper, 266–7, 270, 275, 279, 284, 286, 297–300, 313 accounts of, 279, 304 clerks, 285 Store Receiver, 299, 304 Surgeon of Yard, 272, 304 trade masters (inferior), 262–3, 270 Master Mastmaker, 268, 277, 283 Master Rigger, 282, 289 Master Ropemaker, 144, 175, 261, 271, 282, 284, 298 Master Sailmaker, 270, 282, 283 Master Smith, 289, 298 Dockyard Police Force, 171, 176–8, 182–97 day arrangements, 186–8 demise of, 197 duties of, 189–96 efficiency of, 196 establishment of, 182–3 night arrangements, 185–6 dockyards, government expenditure on, xvi specialisation of, 21 double bottom, 47–8, 50 Dover, 94 dry rot, 4 Duncan, Charles, 292 Dundas, Robert, 2nd Viscount Melville, 321 economies, 209–11, 215–16, 264, 341 Ellicombe, Superintedent of Works, 118–19 embezzlement, 2, 26–7, 172–5, 176, 179–81, 304 Fees, Commission of Inquiry into, 288, 319, 325 Fenwick, William, 129, 132 Finsborough Marshes, 54, 61–2, 66–7, 75–6, 77–8, 84, 85 fitting out of ships, 1 floating outs, 3, 29, 48–9 Foords & Sons of Rochester, 55, 104–5 founders, 149 Frindsbury, 59, 77 Marshes, 78–9 Gillingham, 59, 79, 109 glaziers, 237 Gordon, Captain Superintendent Sir James A., 28, 29, 31, 32, 170–71, 182–9, 240 Graham, Sir James, 322–3, 347, 350 Grain, Isle of, 57 Great Exhibition, 257 Grey, Charles Grey 2nd Earl, 300–301, 322 grinders, 237 Grissels, dockyard contractor, 55 Guard ships, 15 hammermen, 149 hemp, 156–7 Chilean, 204 dressers, 217 spinners, 255 storage of, 160–63, 199 hired workers, 212, 255–6, 258, 259 Hobbes, R.G., 115 holidays, 209, 225, 239, 257 hospital ships, 2, 27 hours of employment, 209, 218, 231–2, 241–2, 330 house carpenters, 334 houseboys, 216, 217, 258 Hume, John, 323 inspection of buildings, 170, 175–6 iron, 43 iron shipbuilding, xv, 43–51 iron smiths, xvi, 256–7 job rate, payment by, 31, 254 joiners, 2, 33, 146, 217, 236, 244, 255, 334 King’s mark, 179 labourers, 149, 155, 217, 237, 255, 334 reduction of, 155, 216, 217 launchings, 3, 34 linseed oil, 165–6 Liverpool, Lord Robert 2nd Earl of, 321 Lloyd, Thomas, 130 locksmiths, 237 Lord High Admiral, 321 magistrates, 179–81 management of dockyards (see also dockyards officers), 217, 261–4, 274–5 Mare & Co., 115 Martin, Sir Thomas Byam, 170, 210, 261–2, 320–22, 348 masons, 217, 237 mast makers, 216 masts, 9, 13, 198, 205 construction of, 9 preservation of, 205 removal for docking, 13 storage of, 198 400 CHATHAM DOCKYARD, 1815–1865 Maudslay, Henry, 115, 130 measurers, 264–5 Medway Hospital Ship, 4 Medway, River, 1, 3, 34–5, 42, 55 Bridge Reach, 58, 77, 80 Chatham Reach, 53 Cockham Reach, 58 dredging of, 53, 55, 65, 85, 89–90, 95, 107–8, 110 icing of, 3 Gillingham Reach, 58, 60, 77, 78–80, 107–8 Limehouse Reach, 53 Long Reach, 58 navigation of, 53, 58, 68–70 shoaling of, 53 messengers, 238 Metropolitan Police (Dockyard Division), 197–8 military guard, 170, 172, 179 millwrights, 41, 127, 146, 148, 237, 255 Minto, Gilbert 2nd Earl of, 323, 357 mooring blocks, 331 moorings, 17, 42 Moser & Co., 46, 115 Mould, Capt. Thomas R., 54 mud barges, 85 muster books, 261 mustering of workforce, 172–3 Naval Civil Department Act, 322–3, 348–51 Naval Enquiry, Commission of, 288 naval estimates, 341, 356, 348–9, 356–7 Naval Revision, Commission of, 266–9, 274, 288 Navy Board, 153–4, 210, 261–3, 279, 319–22, 325–51 abolition of, 322, 342–51 Accountant General, 339 commissioners of, 319 committee system, 319–20, 325, 332–3, 339 ending of, 321 Comptroller, 320, 327, 333, 338–9 duties of, 340 Deputy Surveyor, 325, 333, 338–9 duties of, 340 duties of, 326 principal officers of, 319–21 relations with Board of Admiralty, see Admiralty Storekeeper General, proposed, 338 Navy, Commission for Revising and Digesting Civil Affairs of, 320 Navy, Minister of, proposed, 324, 362 Northfleet dockyard, proposal, 57 oakum, 200–201 boys, 217, 237, 256 preparation of, 200 preservation of, 200–201 oar makers, 216, 235 ordinary, 1, 10, 28, 29 Captain of, 10 Ordnance, Board of, 59, 347 overtime, 209, 214, 242 paddle boxes, 38 painters, 237, 255 Parkgate Iron Works, 46 Parkin, George, 3, 57 Pasley, Col. Sir Charles, 117 pattern makers, 148 paviours, 237 pay books, 261, 308 pay of workmen, 210, 216–17, 240, 249–50, 253, 273, 334–5 procedures, 255 Payne, William, 306 Peake, James, 24–5 Pembroke Dockyard, 21, 248 Penn & Son, 4, 39, 41 petitions, 211–13, 214, 218–19, 220–22, 226–7, 243–4, 245–7 caulkers, 211 house carpenters, 214 riggers, 224 sawyers, 130 scavelmen, 219 shipwrights, 211 piece rates, 265, 278, 313; see also job and task rates, payment by planking, 6 plating, 44–5 plumbers, 150, 225 Plymouth dockyard, see Devonport dockyard Portsmouth dockyard, 36, 94, 110, 116, 211, 275, 280, 309 Master Shipwright, 309 Naval College, 289 Ropery, 127–8, 132, 134, 144 Smithery, 141 Post Office packets, 2 pump makers, 216 Rawley, Rear Admiral Sir Charles, 7 Reed, Edward, 46 Rennie, John, xvii, 57–61, 62–5, 70–71, 81–2, 330–31 revenue vessels, 15 Index 401 Rigby & Beardmore, 115 rigging, 154, 237 Rochefort dockyard, 121–2 Rochester, 79, 80 bridge, 59, 70, 71 cause of Medway shoaling, 53 magistrates, 179–81 Marshes, 59, 60, 80 roofing of slips, 4, 6 rope, manufacture of, 121–2, 123, 140–41 machinery and methods, 114, 121–2 preservation of, 156 ropemakers, 216, 238 Ropery, see Chatham dockyard rounders, 182 Royal dockyards, xv specialisms, 1, 21 storehouses, 159–60 Royal Marines, 170 Rule, Sir William, 328 Russian War (1854–56), 323–4 sailmakers, 215, 238 sails, 154, 158 St Clement, 213 St Mary’s Creek, 89, 90, 99, 107 St Mary’s Island, 89, 90, 94, 99, 106, 115 St Mary’s Marshes, see Finsborough Marshes saw pits, 2 Scamp, William, xvii, 55, 114 scavelmen, xv, 216 schemes of prices, 314 screw cutters, 216 Seppings, Sir Robert, 4, 7, 68 sheer drawings, 43 sheer hulks, 13 Sheerness dockyard, 7, 21, 23, 57, 94, 126, 127, 293 Smithery, 141 ships, breaking up of, 39 construction of, 1–56 designs of, 7 dockings of, 12, 16, 19, 28 fitting out of, 20 launchings of, 13, 16–17, 24–5, 34 models of, 4, 29, 43 quarter galleries of, 20–21 roofing of, 19, 29, 62, 69–70 surveys of, 7, 11 trials of, 39 ships and vessels Achilles (74), 11, 12 Achilles (iron frigate), xv–xvii, 5, 43–4, 46–7, 48–51, 55, 104, 105, 115, 151, 256–8 Active (36), 33, 37 Adder (paddle steamer), 49 Africaine (46), 12 Alfred (74), 12, 15 Algerine (iron screw ship), 44 Argonaut (hospital ship), 4, 7, 225 Basilisk (6) Belle Isle (74), 28 Bellerophon (iron battleship), 5, 47–8, 49–50, 106 Bellona (74), 28 Black Prince (armoured frigate), 151 Blanche (46), 8 Blazer (paddle steamer), 32, 38 Brazen (26), 18–19 Brisk (10), 8 Buffalo, 36 Bulldog (paddle steamer), 38 Bustard (10), 8 Camperdown (106), 19 Canada (convict ship), 23 Castor (36), 37 Conqueror (74), 292 Cumberland (70), 24, 33, 37 Dee (paddle vessel), 31 Defence (74), 28, 50 Delight (packet), 25 Diana (46), 12 Dolphin (convict ship), 23 Eurotas (46), 37 Euryalus (51), 14, 42, 43 Formidable (84), 12, 13 Glory (90), 13 Gloucester (74), 12, 16 Goliath (80), 33, 37 Great Eastern, 47 Growler (paddle steamer), 38 Gulnare (steam packet), 32 Hastings (32), 3, 33, 37 Hector (18), 44, 50 Hercules (74), 37 Hogue (74), 225 Hood (91), 43 Horatio (38), 39–41 Howe (120), 29 Iphegnia (36), 87 Locust (paddle vessel), 49 London (92), 37 Lord Warden (20), 46, 106 Majestic (74), 272 Menalaus (36), 17 Mercury (46), 12 Mermaid (46), 12, 14 402 CHATHAM DOCKYARD, 1815–1865 Minotaur (74), 12, 28, 44 Monarch (84), 20, 37 Montagu (80), 84, 173–5 Namur (90), 28 Nankin (50), 43 Northumberand (74), 44 Orion (91), 43 Owen Glendower (42), 12 Penelope (46), 20 Phoenix (paddle sloop), 38 Poictier (74), 293 Powerful (84), 12, 15, 17 Prevoyante (storeship), 293 Prince Regent (120), 11, 16, 17, 331 Princess Royal (91), 292 Rainbow (35), 37 Redoubtable (74), 39 Regent (120), 12 Revenge (78), 12 Royal George (120), 2, 12, 19, 20 Royal Oak (50), 5, 44, 55, 104, 105 Scout (32), 37 Serapis (storeship), 293 Sheerness (tug), 49 Sirius (38), 28 Southampton (60), 35 Sovereign of the Seas (100), 4, 29 Spartiate (74), 3, 15 Sulphur (12), 14 Terpsichore (32), 28, 173–5 Thalia (46), 20, 24, 36 Thames (45), 12 Tiger (16), 43 Trafalgar (106), 11, 19, 331 Undaunted (38), 18 Unicorn (46), 12 Valiant (iron armoured ship), 44 Virago (paddle steamer), 38 Wanderer (16), 38 Warrior (74), 87 Warrior (iron frigate), 47 Waterloo (120), 2, 31, 34–5, 37 William (storeship), 293 shipwrights, xvi, 2, 4, 146, 216, 235, 248–9, 334–5 Smith, George, 320, 321, 332–3, 336–7 smiths, 33, 147, 149, 230, 255 Somerset House, 289, 343, 352, 358 model room, 29 spike iron, 35 spinners, 216, 217 steam vessels, use in towing, 87 sterns, circular, 4, 7, 12 Stockholm tar, 30 stokers, 150 store cabins, 285 storemen, 169–70 stores, 285–6 issuing and accounting, 154, 166–7, 279 use of, 201–4 Stratfield Saye Estate, 332 strikes, 256–7 Strover family, 61 superannuation, 212, 220–21, 250, 260, 270 tallow, 30 tarring machine, 134 task rates, payment by, 31, 39, 232–3, 254 teams, 227 Thames Iron Shipbuilding Co., 115 theft from dockyards, see embezzlement timber, alternative supplies of, 206–8 fir, 91 larch, 206 oak, 91 preservation of, 153–4, 155, 199 relative strengths of, 205–6 saturation of, 167 storage of, 167–8, 198–9 treenail mooters, 216, 235 turners, 149, 236 Upnor Castle, 59, 77, 79 Usborne Benson & Co., 66, 71–5, 83–4 Victualling Board, 342–7, 351–2 visitations, 71–2, 154n., 157, 158, 330–32 warders, 170, 171–3 watchmen, 170, 171, 181 Watts, Isaac, 45 wheel boys, 217 wheelwrights, 217, 236 Whigs, xvi, 211–13 White, Dr., 272 women, employment of, 209, 214 wood turners, 151 Woolwich, 28 Woolwich dockyard, 21, 22, 31, 55, 94, 126, 211, 293, 327 Ropery, 126, 128 Smithery, 141 Workmanship, 36–7 yarn, overheating of, 158
Philip MacDougall, a former lecturer in economic history at the University of Kent, is a founder member of the Navy Dockyards Society, editor of the Society’s Transactions, and the author or editor of a number of books on maritime history. He specialises in the history of north Kent and the Chichester area, as well as in the history of both British and foreign dockyards.
Publications include:
• The Chatham Dockyard Story (1981)
• Royal Dockyards (1982)
• Chatham Dockyard in Old Photographs (1994)
• Chatham Dockyard, 1815-1865 (Navy Records Society, 2009)
• The Naval Mutinies of 1797 (with A V Coats, 2011)
• Chatham Dockyard: The Rise and Fall of a Military Industrial Complex (2012)
• London and the Georgian Navy (2013)
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