Richards (Shipbuilders): Difference between revisions
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New page: Richards Shipbuilders Ltd. has a convoluted history. The precursor to the yard was started by Samuel Richards in 1876. The company was based in a boatyard on the South side of the inner ha... |
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*1930s - th eyard was bought up by W. F. Cockerell of the East Anglian Ice and Cold Storage Col Ltd and he renamed the business as Richards Ironworks Ltd. The yard restarted shipbuilding again in 1935, making motor trawlers and then barges and a lightship. the yard also conitnued shiprepairing. | *1930s - th eyard was bought up by W. F. Cockerell of the East Anglian Ice and Cold Storage Col Ltd and he renamed the business as Richards Ironworks Ltd. The yard restarted shipbuilding again in 1935, making motor trawlers and then barges and a lightship. the yard also conitnued shiprepairing. | ||
*World War II - The yard escaped any serious bombing and managed to to complete 85 small ships and repaired hundreds of other craft. In addition, the yard made motor minesweepers and 24 motor fishing vessels and a torpedo recovery ship for the Admiralty. There were also a further wight standard coasters and six "VIC" type Clyde puffers made for the Admiralty during this time. | *World War II - The yard escaped any serious bombing and managed to to complete 85 small ships and repaired hundreds of other craft. In addition, the yard made motor minesweepers and 24 motor fishing vessels and a torpedo recovery ship for the Admiralty. There were also a further wight standard coasters and six "VIC" type Clyde puffers made for the Admiralty during this time. | ||
*1950s - | *1950s - The yard expanded in 1954 by taking over an adjoining shipyard. it was also bought up by United Molasses Ltd who spent some time and £250,000 moderninsing the facilities there. It was at this opint that the Lowestoft yard was renamed Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd. | ||
*1960s - The yard predominantly ficussed on building cosatal molasses tankers. Then, in the 60s it also returned to its mainstay of motor trawlers and drifters along with ten wooden "Ton" class minesweepers and seaward defence boats. In 1969 United Molasses Ltd purchased another yard: the Fellows yard at Great Yarmouth which began a new period of expansion for the company in the 70s. | |||
*1970s - Both yards were now able to accomodate longer ships and coastal tankers and oil rig supply ships along with tugs and trawlers were manufactured at the two yards throughout the 70s. | |||
*1980s - Having escaped nationalisation in 1977, the yard was able to contribute a number of innovative shipbuilding designs to the industry. Throughout the 80s theyard made fishery patrol ships, pollution safety control ships, passenger/cargo, oil rig supply, landing craft, minesweepers and tugs. | |||
*1990s - The Yarmouth yard had closed in the late 80s following a drop in demand and the Lowestoft yard followed in 1994. The reason for closure was lack of orders. | |||
==Sources of Information== | |||
British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss | |||
Revision as of 13:52, 4 June 2007
Richards Shipbuilders Ltd. has a convoluted history. The precursor to the yard was started by Samuel Richards in 1876. The company was based in a boatyard on the South side of the inner harbour at Lowestoft and it began its career by building wooden drifters. Richards died in 1919 and by this time over two hundred wooden drifters had been built.
Richards sons took over the running of the yard and the company conitnued making drifters and deep sea trawlers along with paddle steamers.
Shipbuilding
- 1920s - After making a series of motor trawlers and their first motor drifter, the yard closed for four years from 1926-30.
- 1930s - th eyard was bought up by W. F. Cockerell of the East Anglian Ice and Cold Storage Col Ltd and he renamed the business as Richards Ironworks Ltd. The yard restarted shipbuilding again in 1935, making motor trawlers and then barges and a lightship. the yard also conitnued shiprepairing.
- World War II - The yard escaped any serious bombing and managed to to complete 85 small ships and repaired hundreds of other craft. In addition, the yard made motor minesweepers and 24 motor fishing vessels and a torpedo recovery ship for the Admiralty. There were also a further wight standard coasters and six "VIC" type Clyde puffers made for the Admiralty during this time.
- 1950s - The yard expanded in 1954 by taking over an adjoining shipyard. it was also bought up by United Molasses Ltd who spent some time and £250,000 moderninsing the facilities there. It was at this opint that the Lowestoft yard was renamed Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd.
- 1960s - The yard predominantly ficussed on building cosatal molasses tankers. Then, in the 60s it also returned to its mainstay of motor trawlers and drifters along with ten wooden "Ton" class minesweepers and seaward defence boats. In 1969 United Molasses Ltd purchased another yard: the Fellows yard at Great Yarmouth which began a new period of expansion for the company in the 70s.
- 1970s - Both yards were now able to accomodate longer ships and coastal tankers and oil rig supply ships along with tugs and trawlers were manufactured at the two yards throughout the 70s.
- 1980s - Having escaped nationalisation in 1977, the yard was able to contribute a number of innovative shipbuilding designs to the industry. Throughout the 80s theyard made fishery patrol ships, pollution safety control ships, passenger/cargo, oil rig supply, landing craft, minesweepers and tugs.
- 1990s - The Yarmouth yard had closed in the late 80s following a drop in demand and the Lowestoft yard followed in 1994. The reason for closure was lack of orders.
Sources of Information
British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss