Woolwich Steam Engine Factory: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:48, 20 July 2018

The Royal Navy's Steam Engine Factory

1831 The first government steam engine factory was established at a time when the Navy had 55 steam-powered vessels^[1]

c.1843 Subsequently another steam engine factory was set up at Portsmouth Dockyard

1853 Another steam factory was opened in the new Keyham Dockyard at Devonport.

c.1854 Sheerness Dockyard was the site of another new Steam Factory, built 'in haste' at the start of the Crimea War.

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 The first government steam engine factory was established at a time when the Navy had 55 steam-powered vessels<ref>Hansard's Parliamentary Debates 1843</ref>
-c.1843 Subsequently another steam engine factory was set up at [[Portsmouth Dockyard]] and another at Devonport.
+c.1843 Subsequently another steam engine factory was set up at [[Portsmouth Dockyard]]
+Another steam factory was opened in the new [[Keyham Dockyard]] at Devonport.
+c.1854 [[Sheerness Dockyard]] was the site of another new Steam Factory, built 'in haste' at the start of the Crimea War.
-Sheerness Dockyard was rebuilt primarily for the repair and maintenance of sailing ships but had to adapt to demands of steam technology. Because Chatham Dockyard was not expanded and adapted for steam until the 1860s, Sheerness had to provide interim facilities for repair and maintenance of steam-powered ships based in the Nore, especially after the outbreak of the Crimean War. In 1854, a new Steam Factory was built 'in haste' at Sheerness by Godfrey Greene, with the second mast house being converted into an engineering foundry and fitting shop. The No.1 and No.3 Docks were both lengthened to accommodate the larger ships now coming in for repair.
-By 1868 just under 500 men and boys were employed in the factory; sited in the south part of the Dockyard, it was served by its own entrance (later called the South Gate) in the perimeter wall.