Ramage and Ferguson

of Leith

1877 The company was established in May 1877 as one of the Victoria yards based near the West pier on the Leith. Richard Ramage had previously worked for the William Denny and Brothers yard at Dumbarton on the Clyde and decided to launch his own business. They went into production almost immediately with the first ship being launched in February 1878.

1870s The new company began by launching iron ships and auxiliary sailing ships.

1880s From the 1880s onwards, steel construction replaced iron, and the yard was able to start making larger ships.

1887 Description of triple-expansion engines for the steam yacht Gladiator, constructed for Richard Martin, of London. Fitted with a Bevis patent feathering propeller.

1892 Ramage and Ferguson was incorporated in 1892, with capital of £60,000 in 500 shares of £120 each and began building deep sea vessels, coasters, steam yachts along with repair and salvage work.

1900s During the 1900s a number of vessels were built for local companies and overseas companies. Prior to World War I the yard was making a large tramp steamer for a Dutch company, along with a couple of East India ships too.

WWI During the War, the yard made two Admiralty hospital ships as well as coastal steamers.

1920s Although the yard was now capable of building larger ships (having extended the yard in 1917, the post-war slump meant that very few ships of this size were built. The yard continued making coastal steamers

1933 The last ship to be made by the yard was an auxiliary barquentine; Mercator which was delivered to the Belgian Government.

1934 The yard went out of business due to the Depression. It was then bought up by Henry Robb

See Also

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Sources of Information

• National Records of Scotland BT2/2287
• L. A. Ritchie, The Shipbuilding Industry: A Guide to Historical Records (1992)
• British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss