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. 6: “Woolwich dockyard extends nearly a mile along the banks of the Thames, varying in breadth from one to two furlongs, having an outer basin comprising an area of 120,000 square feet, and an inner basin with an area of 160,000 feet. A dry dock at the east end of the yard, is the finest and most commodious that has ever been built. A ship of war, 1000 tons burthen, was built here in the reign of Henry VII, which that king named “Henry Grace de Dieu” but no regular establishment for ship-building was formed here until Henry VIII. commenced a Royal Dockyard, which was enlarged by Queen Elizabeth, and has continued to advance in importance. “The Sovereign of the Seas,” 1637 tons, carrying 176 guns, was launched from this yard, in the reign of Charles I. This is the grand depot of artillery for the Army and Navy, with barracks, foundries, factories, &c, for the manufacture of various warlike stores. The Smithery, a spacious building, with its simple and beautiful machinery for mitigating the laborious exertions of the smiths employed in anchor-making and other heavy work, was the execution of that eminent engineer, Mr. Rennie. A steam engine of 20-horse power works two lift-hammers weighing four tons each; knees, keelsons, breast-pieces, and all other iron-work connected with ship building are manufactured here, and anchors of the largest size. There are two dry docks, one of which is double, for the repairing of vessels, and slips in which ships of war of the largest dimensions are built under sheds lighted
p. 7: from the roof. At the Engineering Foundry, steam-engine boilers, and the requisite machinery for the steam vessels, often of very heavy tonnage, are built. A basin, 400 feet long, and 290 feet broad, is capable of receiving ships of the largest size, and there are a mast-pond, mast-houses, boat-houses, ranges of timber-sheds, store-houses upon the most extensive scale, and every arrangement requisite for the usual or accidental demands of the Naval Service. The Royal Arsenal is under the control of the Board of Ordnance. It includes within its walls an area of 100 acres, with a range of official houses for the officers attached to this department of the public service. The Royal Military Academy was instituted in 1719, and the establishment, which is under the direction of the Master General of the Ordnance, contains 170 pupils. The number of workmen authorised as the Establishment in this dockyard (exclusive of 612 in the steam factories,) is 998. The last vote by Parliament, for salaries, wages, and other annual expenses, amounted to £ 118,095. The inhabitants of the town are not engaged in any particular branch of manufacture, nor is there any trade of importance, the larger part of them being supported by the Army and Naval establishments.”
Source
Dockyard Politics and Patronage: a collection of memoranda to assist future enquiries. London, 1854.
P. 6: “Woolwich dockyard extends nearly a mile along the banks of the Thames, varying in breadth from one to two furlongs, having an outer basin comprising an area of 120,000 square feet, and an inner basin with an area of 160,000 feet. A dry dock at the east end of the yard, is the finest and most commodious that has ever been built. A ship of war, 1000 tons burthen, was built here in the reign of Henry VII, which that king named “Henry Grace de Dieu” but no regular establishment for ship-building was formed here until Henry VIII. commenced a Royal Dockyard, which was enlarged by Queen Elizabeth, and has continued to advance in importance. “The Sovereign of the Seas,” 1637 tons, carrying 176 guns, was launched from this yard, in the reign of Charles I. This is the grand depot of artillery for the Army and Navy, with barracks, foundries, factories, &c, for the manufacture of various warlike stores. The Smithery, a spacious building, with its simple and beautiful machinery for mitigating the laborious exertions of the smiths employed in anchor-making and other heavy work, was the execution of that eminent engineer, Mr. Rennie. A steam engine of 20-horse power works two lift-hammers weighing four tons each; knees, keelsons, breast-pieces, and all other iron-work connected with ship building are manufactured here, and anchors of the largest size. There are two dry docks, one of which is double, for the repairing of vessels, and slips in which ships of war of the largest dimensions are built under sheds lighted
p. 7: from the roof. At the Engineering Foundry, steam-engine boilers, and the requisite machinery for the steam vessels, often of very heavy tonnage, are built. A basin, 400 feet long, and 290 feet broad, is capable of receiving ships of the largest size, and there are a mast-pond, mast-houses, boat-houses, ranges of timber-sheds, store-houses upon the most extensive scale, and every arrangement requisite for the usual or accidental demands of the Naval Service. The Royal Arsenal is under the control of the Board of Ordnance. It includes within its walls an area of 100 acres, with a range of official houses for the officers attached to this department of the public service. The Royal Military Academy was instituted in 1719, and the establishment, which is under the direction of the Master General of the Ordnance, contains 170 pupils. The number of workmen authorised as the Establishment in this dockyard (exclusive of 612 in the steam factories,) is 998. The last vote by Parliament, for salaries, wages, and other annual expenses, amounted to £ 118,095. The inhabitants of the town are not engaged in any particular branch of manufacture, nor is there any trade of importance, the larger part of them being supported by the Army and Naval establishments.”
Source
Dockyard Politics and Patronage: a collection of memoranda to assist future enquiries. London, 1854.
