Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are
able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the
public for several reasons. That's quite a pity while these books contains
useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor
accessible.
P. 9: “Devonport, formerly called Plymouth Dock, is situate on the side of a magnificent basin formed by the river Tamar, called the Bay of Hamoaze, 4 miles long and nearly 2 broad. Its importance, as a site for Naval purposes, was not fully
p. 10: estimated until the reign of George II. The Dockyard extends 3500 feet along the shore, and its width in the middle is 1600 feet, including an area of 96 acres. There is sufficient depth of water along the wharfs to allow the largest war ships to range along the jetties, and receive their Ordnance Stores immediately from the yard. There are two dry docks for ships of the first rate, and a double and single dock for ships of the line. A canal, 70 feet wide, called the Camber, communicating with the boat-pond, runs nearly through the yard, to which stores are thus conveyed. On the northern side are three slips for the building of vessels of the largest size, and two for those of a smaller class. Adjoining these is a building in which planks of wood are steamed and curved. Here also are the outer mast-pond and mast-houses, timber berths, saw-pits, and an extensive smithery containing 48 forges, in a building 210 feet square. Higher up, are mast-ponds, hemp magazines, and a very fine ropery, consisting of two ranges of buildings, one the laying house, the other the spinning house, each 1200 feet long, and three stories high. The rope-house is constructed almost entirely of iron. Cables are made here, 25 inches in circumference and, 100 fathoms long, weighing nearly six tons. On the northern side, in addition to the sheds and workshops of the different artificers, is a quadrangular range of handsome stone buildings, including an area of 450 feet by 300, within which space are two ranges of buildings constructed of iron, which contain magazines for different sorts of stores, rigging-houses, and sail-lofts. The immense arched roofs over the docks are spans without a buttress, and are extraordinary specimens of architectural skill. A steam-engine of 18-horse power is used for pumping the docks; and there is another of 20-horse power employed in working turning-lathes, saw-mills, &c. The number of persons of every class employed in this Dockyard, is about 3000, all under the control of the Superintendent. Of these the workmen authorised as the regular establishment are
p. 11: 2158, for whose wages the Parliamentary vote in 1853 was £ 114,258. The other annual expenses of the yard were estimated at £ 30,000, and a sum of £ 15,000 was also given for repairs and improvements.”
Source
Dockyard Politics and Patronage: a collection of memoranda to assist future enquiries. London, 1854.
P. 9: “Devonport, formerly called Plymouth Dock, is situate on the side of a magnificent basin formed by the river Tamar, called the Bay of Hamoaze, 4 miles long and nearly 2 broad. Its importance, as a site for Naval purposes, was not fully
p. 10: estimated until the reign of George II. The Dockyard extends 3500 feet along the shore, and its width in the middle is 1600 feet, including an area of 96 acres. There is sufficient depth of water along the wharfs to allow the largest war ships to range along the jetties, and receive their Ordnance Stores immediately from the yard. There are two dry docks for ships of the first rate, and a double and single dock for ships of the line. A canal, 70 feet wide, called the Camber, communicating with the boat-pond, runs nearly through the yard, to which stores are thus conveyed. On the northern side are three slips for the building of vessels of the largest size, and two for those of a smaller class. Adjoining these is a building in which planks of wood are steamed and curved. Here also are the outer mast-pond and mast-houses, timber berths, saw-pits, and an extensive smithery containing 48 forges, in a building 210 feet square. Higher up, are mast-ponds, hemp magazines, and a very fine ropery, consisting of two ranges of buildings, one the laying house, the other the spinning house, each 1200 feet long, and three stories high. The rope-house is constructed almost entirely of iron. Cables are made here, 25 inches in circumference and, 100 fathoms long, weighing nearly six tons. On the northern side, in addition to the sheds and workshops of the different artificers, is a quadrangular range of handsome stone buildings, including an area of 450 feet by 300, within which space are two ranges of buildings constructed of iron, which contain magazines for different sorts of stores, rigging-houses, and sail-lofts. The immense arched roofs over the docks are spans without a buttress, and are extraordinary specimens of architectural skill. A steam-engine of 18-horse power is used for pumping the docks; and there is another of 20-horse power employed in working turning-lathes, saw-mills, &c. The number of persons of every class employed in this Dockyard, is about 3000, all under the control of the Superintendent. Of these the workmen authorised as the regular establishment are
p. 11: 2158, for whose wages the Parliamentary vote in 1853 was £ 114,258. The other annual expenses of the yard were estimated at £ 30,000, and a sum of £ 15,000 was also given for repairs and improvements.”
Source
Dockyard Politics and Patronage: a collection of memoranda to assist future enquiries. London, 1854.
