Ramage and Ferguson

Ramage and Ferguson 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 Denny 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.

Shipbuilding

• 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.
• 1890s - Ramage and Ferguson was incorporated in 1892 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.
• World War I - 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 conitnued making coastal steamers.
• 1930s - The last ship to be made by the yard was an auxiliary barquentine; Mercator which was delivered in 1933 to the Belgian Government. The yard went out of business due to the Depression. It was then bought up by Henry Robb in 1934.

Sources of Information

British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss