Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co

Shipbuilders

• Thames Ironworks was an established shipbuilder in the southeast of London.
• The company later expanded into road vehicles.

Thames Iron Works and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd was established in 1857 in Blackwall, London England. This site had been used for shipbuilding for many centuries.

Shipbuilding

• 1860s- Previously owned by C.J. Mare and Company, Thames Iron Works Shipbuilding Co. completed the design of the first pair of ironclad battleships. In addition three five-masted ironclads were then completed in 1868.
• 1880s - During the 1880s more battleships were made.
• 1900s - The company went on to build a number of coasters, tugs, riverboats and lighters and closed in 1912.

Sources of Information

British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss

Buses

• 1905 the first bus chassis was built.
• 1906 they launched the first PSV with a six-cylinder engine.
• 1913 a semi-forward-control double-decker was constructed, that resembled a stagecoach without the horse.
• One of these is exhibited in the National Motor Museum.

The Thames Iron Works, Shipbuilding and Engineering Co based at Greenwich

1906 produced a six-cylinder engine for buses. Also produced a four cylinder engine of 24/30 hp.

In 1910 they were concentrating on 40 hp coaches

Thames Bank Ironworks at Blackwall was established in 1835 by Joseph Ditchburn and Charles Mare for shipbuilding and civil engineering

• 1860 Built the first ironclad battleship Warrior

May have built a few railway locomotives

Sources of Information

• British Steam Locomotive Builders by James W. Lowe. Published in 1975. ISBN 0-905100-816
• Buses and Trolleybuses before 1919 by David Kaye. Published 1972
• Ian Allan - British Buses Since 1900 - Aldridge and Morris