Thames Iron Works, Shipbuilding and Engineering Co
of Victoria Dock Road, Canning Town, London
See also -
1899 The company was registered on 15 July, to take over the business of the Thames Iron Works and Ship Building Co, with which was amalgamated the undertaking of John Penn and Sons. [1]
Thames Ironworks became increasingly diversified, with 6 distinct departments:
- Shipbuilding
- Boatbuilding (produced 206 lifeboats for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
- Civil engineering (projects included the Barry Dock's gates, Hammersmith Bridge, and the roof of Alexandra Palace)
- Cranes - see Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co: Cranes
- Switches, drills, and marine engines.
- Motor vehicles, to make up for the decline in demand for engines - see Thames Engineering Works
By 1900 the Electrical Engineering Department had a diverse range of contracts for its work.
1898-1901: 4 first-class battleships were being built at the same time - the HMS Albion, HMS Cornwallis, and HMS Duncan for the Royal Navy and the Japanese battleship Shikishima were launched between 1898 and 1901. But the yard was increasingly uncompetitive with competitors in the North East and Scotland, and the cramped nature of the location presented problems for launching and fitting-out.
1900s The company went on to build a number of coasters, tugs, riverboats and lighters as well as naval vessels.
After 1901 the yard only received 3 Admiralty contracts
1903 "Completed a twin-screw tug for the Portuguese Government of 39 tons, fitted with engines of 150 indicated horse-power; and have in hand a single· screw steamer for the War-office of 170 tons, and about fifteen lifeboats for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution."[2]
1904 The cruiser HMS Black Prince was launched.
1905 Thames Engineering Works, of Greenwich, makers of steam wagons, were the motor department of the company.
1906 Introduced a six-cylinder petrol engine in a car chassis.[3]
1907 On the death of George Mackrow, his son Clement became the manager of the shipbuilding department and naval architect to the company[4]
1909 The yard's failure to win orders for large vessels for the Royal Navy was the subject of comment in the press; it was the last major shipbuilding yard left on the Thames[5]
1910 Built an engine for use in aeroplanes (see photo)
1910 Exhibited at the 1910 Japan-British exhibition; products included warships, engines, bridges and structural iron work, Thames motor vehicles, Normandy distilling apparatus, electrical installations, Hone's grabs and excavators[6]
1910 Advert for motorcars: full details of all models available from Thames Engineering Works Motor Dept, Greenwich. Made under the trade name Thames at the Blackheath engine works. See Thames Car.
1911 New works at Dagenham opened[7]
1911 Launched the Dreadnought battleship HMS Thunderer, the last and largest ship constructed by the firm. The ship was produced efficiently and on time but a special wharf had to be hired at Dagenham to fit her out as there was no room in the shipyard.
No further orders were forthcoming for the yard,
1911 The motor department established Motor Coaches Ltd at the Piccadilly Hotel in London. The department had a year's work in hand and was waiting finance to expand. The civil engineering department was fairly busy. The marine engineering department was very busy with machinery for the Thunderer and HMS Chatham as well as the motor work[8]
By the end of the year, receivers had been appointed to the company.[9]
1912 the shipyard closed. The Silvertown site was maintained by the London and North Eastern Railway until 1927 when it was leased to S. Instone and Co., Ltd., shipowners and colliery proprietors[10]
1913 The property was auctioned[11]
See also -
- Thames Iron Works, Shipbuilding and Engineering Co: Buses
- Thames Iron Works, Shipbuilding and Engineering Co: Cars
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908
- ↑ The Engineer 1903/01/16 p 78
- ↑ The Engineer 1906/11/30
- ↑ Obituary of Clement Mackrow
- ↑ The Times, Oct 13, 1909
- ↑ The Times, Aug 03, 1910
- ↑ The Times, Mar 22, 1911
- ↑ The Times, Jun 17, 1911
- ↑ The Times, Jan 02, 1912
- ↑ The Engineer 1927/06/24
- ↑ The Times, May 07, 1913
- Biography of Arnold Frank Hills, ODNB