Please note that a downloadable, printable PDF version of this index in A4 format is available for Members in the Members’ Area.
References to illustrations are in italics. Dates in brackets after ships’ names are launch dates.
A
Abbot, Charles 69
Abraham, Israel 104
Addington, Henry, Prime Minister
appoints Earl St Vincent First Lord of the Admiralty 59
resigns 60
Admiraal De Suffren (Dutch East India Company ship) 102, 103
Admiralty
Committee to advise on discoveries and inventions (1829) 18
Earl St Vincent, First Lord, see St Vincent, Admiral Sir John Jervis, Earl
relationship with Navy Board 9
Sir Charles Yorke, First Lord, see Yorke, Sir Charles
Admiralty Inspector General of Naval Works, see Inspector General of Naval Works
Admiralty Progress Books, hold near complete records of ships entering Portsmouth Dockyard 50
Albion Flour Mills, London 65
Allcott, John: Storekeeper at Portsmouth Dockyard 104
Allen, William, of the Royal Institution: and the presentation of Robert Seppings’ system (19 November 1811) 12
Amazon (38), HMS (1799): sheathed with recycled copper from the Metal Mills 74–75
anchors: mixed metal more economic than iron 25
Ansbach, Margravine of: visits Portsmouth Dockyard 93
Apollo (36), HMS (1799): sailors paid off cause problems in Portsmouth (April 1802) 99
Arethusa (38), HMS (1781): sailors paid off cause problems in Portsmouth (April 1802) 99
Arnaud, Elias 104
Arundel: Thomas Fitzherbert as MP (1780) 95
Avery, Philip: contractor for painter’s work, Portsmouth Dockyard 96
B
bake house, Victualling Board
built (1740) in King Street, Portsmouth 35
contains only six ovens 35
fire hazard 36
production of biscuit 43
Baker, William 104
Banks, Sir Joseph, President of the Royal Society
and Congo River exploration 17
death (1820) 12, 18
and George III 12
interests, achievements and involvement in naval enquiries 12
at presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 11
and Royal Society 15
Barfleur (90), HMS (1768): spends 323 days in dry dock (1792–1793) in Portsmouth 50
Barham, Charles Middleton, Lord, First Lord of the Admiralty
Commission for Revising and Digesting the Civil Affairs of His Majesty’s Navy (Commission of Revision) 59, 75
Commission of Naval Enquiry 75
replaced at Admiralty (1806) 74
Barlow, Admiral Robert
Commissioner of Chatham Dockyard 17
Naval Fellow of the Royal Society 17
Barrallier, Jean Louis, Second Assistant to the Surveyors: reports on Robert Seppings’ submission 11
Barrow, John, FRS
appointed to the Council of the Royal Society (1814) 15
involvement in Robert Seppings’ system 10, 12, 15–18
Second Secretary to the Admiralty (1804–1806 and 1807–1845) 10
Beach, Samuel, superintendent in the Block Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard
pay 71
progress on constructing two furnaces 68
Beaufort, Captain Francis: elected to the Royal Society (1814) 16
Bedford, John, quarterman 105
Belle (or Balle), Captain Andreas 101
Belvidere (East India Company ship): launched at Itchenor (April 1787) 93
Benamor, Lieutenant Fell: superintends hoys at Portsmouth (1808–1809) 40
Beneficial Society’s Hall, Portsmouth 104
Bentham, Jeremy, brother of Samuel, writer on jurisprudence 21
Bentham, Samuel: Admiralty Inspector General of Naval Works (1796–1807)
ascertaining the strength of different metals begun by (1798) 25
bars uneconomic customs used in private yards 24
block-manufacturing machines 62
Block Mills for Portsmouth Dockyard 63
circular fixed saw 86
colonel in the service of Catherine the Great of Russia (from 1780) 21
covered docks and slips
at Karlscrona, Sweden (1807) 26
Portsmouth Dockyard 26
demonstrates the use of steam engines at Westminster 23–24
deputy (Simon Goodrich, 1805–1807) 65
develops philosophical principles for the management of industrial organisations 22
directs actual works and production lines 22
fire-proof buildings in the dockyards 27
given the management of the Wood Mills, Metal Mills, and Millwrights at Portsmouth Dockyard by the Navy Board 24
inspects all dockyards (1795) 59
introduces cofferdams at Portsmouth Dockyard together with strengthening embankments and quays 27
machine tools at Portsmouth Dockyard 24
mill for making roman cement established at Sheerness Dockyard 28
moves to Navy Board (August 1808) 79
office at the Navy Board abolished (1812) 79
panopticon prison project (1794) 27
papers by him, see ‘statements of services’ papers
plans for Chatham’s number one slipway, see covered dock and slips
position equivalent to today’s Integrated Project Team Manager 51
proposes fitting and storing vessels within the dockyard 26
pumps in Portsmouth Dockyard use steam engine 23
and resistance to the introduction of new technology 22
Russian shipbuilding project (1805–1807) 79
sawmill at Portsmouth Dockyard 24
shipbuilding at Redbridge, Hampshire 23
steam-driven woodworking machinery 23–24, 45n
steam engine at Redbridge, Hampshire 23
submits plans to reorganize Portsmouth Dockyard (1795) 59
technologies pioneered by him in the dockyards impossible to implement due to lack of coherent development 37
title or rank of general 21
trains as shipwright 60
Victualling facilities at Portsmouth Dockyard
inadequacies of 35
new store for (1800–1801) 37
Wood Mill at Chatham Dockyard (1813) 25
Berri, Duke of: visits Portsmouth Dockyard 93
block contractors, Plymouth Dockyard
Dunsterville, Bartholomew 62
Dunsterville, William 60
Block Mills, Portsmouth: see Portsmouth Royal Dockyard: Block Mills
blockade of the French fleet at Brest, using Torbay as anchorage (from 1798) 41
blocks, wood
inserting metal bushes 61
lignum vitae for 61, 66, 90
machine tools, Brunel not responsible for introduction 85
manufacture of 55–58, 61, 85–92
mortising machine for the shell of pulley blocks, Brunel’s only fully automatic machine 87–89
new table of dimensions 61
supply of, to the Royal Navy 56, 60–61
Board of Commissioners for Revising the Civil Affairs of the Navy, see Commission of Revision
Board of Longitude 13–14
Bombay: East India Company’s yard builds HMS Malabar (74) 16
Bombay Castle (East India Company ship): lent to the Royal Navy as a transport (1780) 101
Boulton, Arthur, shipwright 105
Boulton, Matthew: works with James Watt and Josiah Wedgwood 65
Boulton and Watt steam engines
installed in HMS Congo 17
at Portsmouth Dockyard 80
used for the first generation of Royal Navy steamships 17
Bowes-Smith, Arthur 101
Boyle, Captain the Hon. Courtenay
elected to the Royal Society (1814) 16
Naval Fellow of the Royal Society 17
Bramah, Joseph 86
Breadhower, John: Portsmouth bookseller 103
Brest, blockade of the French fleet at, using Torbay as anchorage (from 1798) 41
Brilliant (East India Company ship): repaired at Portsmouth Dockyard (1782) 101
Brixham reservoir 67
Brunel, Marc Isambard
automatic mortising machine for the shell of pulley blocks 87–89
boring machine 86–87
Chief Engineer, New York 62
circular saw for cutting logs for shells and sheaves for pulley blocks 66, 86, 90
coaking machine 91–92
corner saw 89
helps to train the workmen at the Block Mills, Portsmouth Dockyard 22
introduces the principle of the crank to mortising machines 88
leading light for Maudslay, Bentham and Goodrich 85
machines produced by him are mainly semi-automatic 85
marries Sophia Kingdom, daughter of William Kingdom 62
milling machinery 22
offers his patented machine drawings to the Taylors and to Samuel Bentham 62
proposer for John Knowles’s election to the Royal Society (1822) 17
at the reading of Robert Seppings’ paper (10 March 1814) 15
rounding saw 91
bucket dredger driven by steam engine
completed in Portsmouth Dockyard (1802) 28
designed by Bentham, first of its kind 28
dredging depth reaches 26ft below low water (1812) 28
second dredger built to work in the Thames 28
Bucknell, Thomas: Builder Assistant at Portsmouth Dockyard 104
Budgen or Budger, John: scavelman and landlord 104
Bunce, Samuel
designs Block Mills in Portsmouth Dockyard with Edward Holl 64
works in the Inspector General’s department (1800) 21
Burnett, Sir William (FRS), Director of Medical Services 18
Burr, James
career 83n
works in the Inspector General’s department (1800) 21
Byam Martin, Admiral Sir Thomas: see Martin, Admiral Sir Thomas Byam
C
Calcutta (East India Company ship) 101
Camber: East India Company acquires storage and repair facilities (by 1760) 100
Carnatic (East India Company ship): lent to the Royal Navy as a transport (1780) 101
Catherine the Great: and Samuel Bentham 21
coaks, manufacture of 57, 78
Coats, Ann, ‘The Block Mills: new labour practices for new machines?’ 59–84
Chatham Royal Dockyard
Bentham’s plans for number one slipway (1811–1812) 26
Commissioners
Admiral Robert Barlow 17
fire-extinguishing works 25
Howe (120), HMS (1815), built using Robert Seppings’ diagonal system 14
Kent (74) HMS (1798), rebuilt to Robert Seppings’ principles 9
Master Shipwrights
Samuel Bentham, see Bentham, Samuel
William Gray 60
Robert Seppings, see Seppings, Robert
Peake, Sir Henry, first assistant master shipwright 60
Peake, John, trains there 63
ropery
lead yard 53
production 53
Wood Mill erected (1813) 25
chips (dockyard privilege) 59, 69, 81, 99
Christ Church, Oxford 97
Christian, Admiral Sir Hugh 40, 42
Civil Architect and Engineer of the Navy
new name for Inspector General of Naval Works (1807) 21
post abolished (1812) 21
Clerk, Sir George (FRS): Admiralty policy-maker 17
Cockburn, Admiral Sir George (FRS)
Admiralty policy-maker 17
praises the partial application of Robert Seppings’ system to HMS Northumberland (74) 16
coffer dam at Portsmouth Dockyard, introduced by Samuel Bentham 27
Coffin, Rear Admiral Sir Isaac
career 84
enquires about the cost of re-manufacturing copper 76
visits the Block Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard with Nelson 82
Colchester (50), HMS (1746): convoys Indiamen (1757) 100
Collins, Mr, of the Victualling Office, Portsmouth 93
Colossus (74), HMS (1803): sheathed with recycled copper from the Metal Mills 75
Colquhoun, Patrick, ‘Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis’ 69
Commission of Naval Enquiry 60, 74
Commission of Revision (Commission for Revising and Digesting the Civil Affairs of His Majesty’s Navy) 59, 65, 74, 75
Commission on Fees 43, 59
Committee on the Copper Trade 76
cone clutch 88
Congo (12), HMS (1816), paddle-wheeler
Boulton and Watt steam engine 17
designed by Robert Seppings, for exploration of the Congo River 17
Congo River, exploration of 17
Conqueror (74), HMS (1801)
fitting out, inventory of tasks completed in Plymouth by Joseph Tucker 33
present at Trafalgar 32
wages expended on repair (£303 3s 9d) 32
Controllers of the Navy: see Martin, Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Byam; Thompson, Captain Sir Thomas Boulden
Copley Gold Medal of the Royal Society: awarded to Robert Seppings (1818) 16
copper
Colossus (74), HMS (1803), sheathed with recycled copper from Portsmouth Dockyard’s Metal Mills 75
cost of re-manufacturing 76, 78
Hibernia (110), HMS (1804), sheathed with recycled copper from Portsmouth Dockyard’s Metal Mills 74
Metal Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard re-process 25, 51, 53
smelting furnaces at royal dockyards for re-processing 25
copper trade, control of supply and prices 76–77
Corbin, Ambrose, shipwright 104
Cort, Henry 72
covered docks and slips
Navy Board recommends covering docks and slipways extensively 26
Samuel Bentham views the covered docks in Karlscrona, Sweden (1807) 26
Samuel Bentham’s plans for Chatham Dockyard’s number one slipway (1811/1812) 26
Cox, William, shipwright 104
Croker, John Wilson, First Secretary of the Admiralty
agent for Robert Seppings’ knighthood (1819) 17
member of the Council of the Royal Society 15
proposes Robert Seppings to the Royal Society 16
Cruttenden (East India Company ship): repaired in Portsmouth Dockyard (April 1770) 100
Cuddemore, William, victualler and pub landlord 104
D
da Vinci, Leonardo 88, 90, 92
Damerum, Thomas, shipwright 104
Danish Asiatic Company, uses Portsmouth Dockyard for repairs
Johanna and Maria (May 1787) 101
Providentia (1785) 101
Darch, Thomas
career 84n
First Clerk at the Admiralty Naval Works Department 74
Davis, Joseph, Clerk of the Cheque at Portsmouth Dockyard 104
Davy, Humphrey
electricity based protection systems for copper sheathing a failure 18
President of the Royal Society 18
Denston, Stokeham 105
Diaper, John 104
Diddams, Nicholas, Master Shipwright at Portsmouth Dockyard: builds Block Mills in Portsmouth Dockyard with Sir Henry Peake 64
Deptford Royal Dockyard
ballast-heaving engine, Simon Goodrich’s plans for 67
steam driven circular saws for cutting staves for casks, proposed by Samuel Bentham (1807) 45n
Deptford Victualling Office
horse wheel pump for 67
single system with Portsmouth and Plymouth 37, 45n
Domett, Admiral Sir William, Lord of the Admiralty: supporter of Robert Seppings 14
Douty, Obedience, spinster 104
dredgers, steam bucket ladder, designed by Samuel Bentham 28, 52
Duke of Palma: visits Portsmouth Dockyard (1800) 93
Dummer, Edward 60
Duncan, Henry: Deputy Controller 64
Dundas, Henry: and Bentham’s steam-driven woodworking machinery 24
Dundas, Robert Saunders, see Melville, Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount
Dunsterville, Bartholemew, of Plymouth, block contractors 62
Dunsterville, Thomas: fellow shipwright apprentice at Chatham with Samuel Bentham 60
Dunsterville, William, of Plymouth, block contractors 60
Dutch East India Company
agent (from 1749) George Huish 102
Batavia-bound ships visiting Portsmouth (1759–1795) 102
deserters find refuge in Portsmouth 103
Voorland stays in dock in Portsmouth for repair for 65 days 102
E
Eagleton, Edward 103
East India Company
Belvidere launched at Itchenor (April 1787) 93
Cruttenden repaired in Portsmouth Dockyard (April 1770) 100
Cuvera, see Malabar
Hartwell launched at Itchenor (May 1787) 93
Malabar (56), HMS, built by, to Robert Seppings’ system (1798) 16
Portsmouth Dockyard handles the bulk of repair work 100
relationship with the Royal Navy 00
Speaker repaired in Portsmouth Dockyard (March 1772) 100
storage and repair facilities in the Camber (by 1760) 100–101
Edye, John (FRS): Chief Constructor 18
Elfi Bey, the ‘Mameluke Chief’: tours Portsmouth Dockyard (1803) 93
Elliot, William 60
career 85n
embezzlement from Portsmouth Dockyard (1774–1780) 98–99
F
fire insurance 104, 105
fitting and storing naval vessels within the boundary of a dockyard
deepening and enlarging the basin 26
halving the length of the existing double dock 26
using caissons or floating dams to serve as gates 26, 51
using pumps with moveable steam engines to control the water level in docks 26
Fisher, Henry Jr., baker 104
Fitzherbert, Thomas (1746–1822), merchant in Portsmouth
becomes Arundel’s MP with Lord Sandwich’s backing (1780) 95
leases Stubbington Manor on Portsea Island 95
supplies horses to Portsmouth Dockyard 95
fleet reviews in Portsmouth (1773 and 1778) 98
food, naval: sailors’ complaints in HMS Namur (90) (January 1758) 99
Frankland, Thomas, Admiralty policy-maker 17
French navy: blockaded at Brest, using Torbay as anchorage (from 1798) 41
Frett, Edward 104
G
Ganges (East India Company ship): lent to the Royal Navy as a transport (1780) 101
Garthshore, William 60
career 85
George III, King of Great Britain: intimate of Sir Joseph Banks 12
Gilbert, K. R.: definitive work on block-making machinery 85
Gooden, John, quarterman 105
Goodrich, Simon, mechanist, Admiralty and Navy Board employee
attends Arbitration Court (1810) 65
Bentham’s deputy (1805–1807) 65
Brunel is leading light for 85
in customized research teams with Watt, Wedgwood etc. 65
draughtsman to Samuel Reke then succeeds him (in 1799) 67
describes how politics are affecting the future of the Block Mills (1806) 75
early life and family history 64
engineer and mechanist to the Navy Board (1814) 79
makes plans, estimates and supervises great variety of projects outside the Block Mills 67
marries Susanna Lloyd 64
mechanist to the Navy Board (1799) 65
moves to Portsmouth (1814) 79
moves to Portugal (1834) 80
papers in the Science Museum Library 63
position at the Navy Board abolished (December 1812) 79
prime mover in the industrialization of the dockyards (1812–1831) 80
reports on the merits of Robert Seppings’ repair of the Justitia (1817) 16
runs the Block Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard 65
services listed by Samuel Reke (1806) 65
Society of Arts prizes 65
transferred to Navy Board (October 1807) 65
wide-ranging interests 65
works in the Inspector General’s department (1800) 21
Goodwin, Peter, ‘Preparing HMS Victory and the ships for Trafalgar’ 31–34
Gower, Captain Leveson 100
Graham, Sir James: First Lord of the Admiralty (1830) 80, 81
Grand Storehouse, Portsmouth: paid for by the Victualling Board 37
Gray, William, Master Shipwright at Chatham Dockyard: trains Samuel Bentham 60
Green Row Rooms, Portsmouth 104
Greenway, John 105
Grenville, Thomas: First Lord of the Admiralty (1806) 74
Grey, Charles: First Lord of the Admiralty (1806) 74
Grimshaw, John: Sunderland ropemaker 75, 78
Gun Wharf, Portsmouth 37
H
Hall, Basil: Admiralty policy-maker 17
Hall, Edward 96
Hamilton, Major-General 62
Hamond, Captain Sir Andrew Snape 68
Hansen, Paulus 102
Hants, Sussex, and Dorset Fire Insurance 93, 104
Harding, James 103
Hartwell (East India Company ship): launched at Itchenor (April 1787) 93
Haslar Hospital: Simon Goodrich suggests improvements 67
Hat in Hand pub, Portsmouth 104
Hawke (East India Company ship) 100
Hay, Robert, Private Secretary to Lord Melville, Admiralty policy-maker 17
Haydn, Franz Joseph: turned away from visiting Portsmouth Dockyard (1794) 93–94
Henslow, Sir John: Surveyor of the Navy (1784–1806) 63, 64
Hewitt, James 99
Hibernia (110), HMS (1804),recycled copper analysed (1806) 74
Hills, Thomas: Master Sailmaker 96
Holl, Edward, Architect and Engineer
delineates responsibilities with Samuel Goodrich 68
designs Block Mills in Portsmouth Dockyard with Samuel Bunce 64
Holmes, Thomas, coal merchant 104
Hood, Samuel, Commissioner of Portsmouth Dockyard 98
Horsborough, Captain James (EIC): hydrographer 17
horses
cement mill at Portsmouth Dockyard 28
Deptford Victualling Office 67
mortar mill at Woolwich Dockyard 67
raise water at the Portsmouth brewhouses 45n
supplied to Portsmouth Dockyard by Thomas Fitzherbert 95
Howe, Admiral Lord 93, 99
Howe (120), HMS (1815)
built at Chatham Dockyard using Robert Seppings’ diagonal system (1815) 14
comparison with HMS St Vincent and HMS Nelson 15, 16
Howick, Lord see Grey, Lord
Huddart, Joseph (EIC): and the presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 11
Hunt, Edward, Surveyor of the Navy 105
Hunt, Thomas 104
Huish, George
consul of the Dutch government 102
Dutch East India Company agent (from 1749) 102
Honourable East India Company agent 100
town clerk and coroner in Portsmouth 98, 102
I
Inion, William, scavelman and landlord 104, 105
Inspector General of Naval Works see Office of Naval Works
J
James, William, historian: uses John Knowles’ pamphlet to complete his discussion of Robert Seppings’ system 17
Jellico, Adam 72
Jervis, Admiral Sir John see St Vincent, Earl
Johanna and Maria (Danish Asiatic Company ship): repaired at Portsmouth Dockyard (May 1787) 101
Johnstone Hope, Sir William, First Sea Lord 17
Justitia, ex-Danish battleship: badly distorted and used for a demonstration by Robert Seppings (1817) 16
K
Karlscrona, Sweden: Bentham views the covered docks (1807) 26
Kent, Henry 101
Kent (74), HMS (1798)
deterioration of her hull in two years (1803–1805) 9
rebuilt in Chatham Dockyard to Robert Seppings’ principles, to remain in service for another eighty years 9
sent home by Nelson accompanied by a transport 9
Kerr, David Ramsay, surgeon at Portsmouth Dockyard 105
Khan, Mirza Abul Hassan: tours new Block Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard (1810) 93
Kingdom, John: chief clerk in the secretary’s office at the Navy Office 62
Kingdom, Sophia: marries Brunel 62
Kingdom, William: Plymouth Dockyard contractor 62
knees: iron substituted for wooden 9
Knowles, John, Chief Clerk of the Surveyors’ Office
elected Fellow of the Royal Society (1822) 17
pamphlet The Elements and Practice of Naval Architecture (1822) 17
Kraai (Dutch East India Company packetboat) 102
L
Lady Penrhyn 101
Lambert, Andrew, ‘Science and seapower: The Navy Board, the Royal Society and the structural reforms of Sir Robert Seppings’ 9–19
Lang, Oliver, pupil of Robert Seppings, shipbuilder: builds Royal Navy steamships at Woolwich 17
Legg’s Demi-Bastion, Portsmouth 37
Levant Company 97
Lindegren, Andrew 98, 104
Linzee, Edward, apothecary in Portsmouth
assembles substantial property portfolio 98
declines knighthood (1778) 98
eight times mayor 98
Lock, John, Master Shipwright at Portsmouth Dockyard 104
Lloyd, John, millwright 64, 71
Lloyd, Sarah: marries Simon Goodrich 64
Lloyd & Ostell 65
Luffman, Mr, shipwright 104
M
Malabar (74), HMS: first ship built to Robert Seppings’ system 16
Markham, Captain John 60
career 82n
Marsden, John 75
career 84n
Marsden, William
Admiralty policy-maker 17
career 83n
on the Commission of Naval Enquiry 76
enquires about the cost of re-manufacturing copper 76
and William Taylor’s blockmaking contract 62
Martell, Peter, shipwright 105
Martin, Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Byam
Controller of the Navy Board (1814) 15, 16, 18
recommends Robert Seppings for major financial reward 17
Maudslay, Henry
and Marc Isambard Brunel 62, 85
mechanist vs engineer 65, 79
Thames Tunnel 65
Melville, Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount
favours building a new dockyard at Northfleet 14
First Lord of the Admiralty 14
visits the Metal Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard (1807) 76–77
Meredith, John, Second Clerk of the Cheque at the Victualling Yard, Portsmouth: salary 39–40
Merritt, William, shipwright 104, 105
Metal Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard: see Portsmouth Royal Dockyard
Middleton, Charles, see Barham, Charles Middleton, Lord
military expeditions
Portsmouth as assembly point 40
West Indies (November 1795) with 18,740 troops in 200 transports 40
mill for making roman cement, established by Samuel Bentham at Sheerness Dockyard 28
Monaco, Prince of: tours Portsmouth Dockyard (1768) 93
Montagu, Admiral Sir George 42
Morriss, Roger, ‘The office of the Inspector General of Naval Works and technological innovation in the Royal Dockyards’ 21–29
mortising machine for the shell of pulley blocks, Brunel’s only fully automatic machine 87–89
Motley, J. C., insurance agent 104
Murdoch, William 88
mutiny, Portsmouth (1783) 99–100
Murray, James 99
N
Namur, HMS: sailors’ complaints of poor food (January 1758) 99
Naval Academy, Portsmouth
William Bayly, Headmaster 96
pupils get drunk in town 99
John Walton, Headmaster 98
Navy Board
abolished (1832) 18, 80
Lord Barham’s administrative reorganisation 59
Samuel Bentham moves to (August 1808) 79
Controller of 15
independence regarding technical policy 14
Inspector General of Naval Works transferred to (1807) 21
merchant yards not used for shipbuilding after 1815 17
opposes the use of steam engines for fear of deranging established practices 23
recommends covering docks and slipways extensively 26
relationship with Admiralty 9
resistance to change 11
see also Surveyors of the Navy
Navy Surveyor, see Surveyors of the Navy
Nelson (120), HMS: comparison with HMS Howe 15, 16
Nelson, Horatio
desires a station in the East India Company’s service 100
on Lisbon 105
sends HMS Kent home due to structural problems 9
visits Block Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard 82
Nepean, Evan, Secretary to the Admiralty: resigns because of St Vincent’s Commission for Naval Enquiry 60
New Fire Office Insurance 104
non-recoil gun carriages, Simon Goodrich’s contrivances for 67
Northfleet, site of proposed new dockyard 14
Lord Melville favours 14
Robert Seppings a candidate to build 14
Northumberland (74), HMS (1798), partial application of Robert Seppings’ system 16
O
Office of Naval Works
established at the Admiralty (1796) 21, 59
Inspector General: post held by Samuel Bentham (1796–1807) 21
renamed Civil Architect and Engineer of the Navy (1807) 21
James Sadler works in the department (1800) 21
transferred to the Navy Board (1807) 21
Ollis family, in the Metal Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard 72
Orange, Prince and Princess of: visit Portsmouth Dockyard (1800) 93
Ordnance Board
Grand Storehouse paid for by the Victualling Board 37
Legg’s Demi-Bastion at Portsmouth 37
New Gun Wharf at Portsmouth (from 1799) 37
transfers land at Weevil to Victualling Board (1828) 37
transfers land in Portsmouth for a new Victualling store (1800–1801) 37
P
Palma, Duke of: tours Portsmouth Dockyard (1768) 93
Parys Mine Company 76
paying off 99
Peace of Amiens (1802)
influence on operational availability of line-of-battle ships vs frigates and below 48
welcomed by Portsmouth Dockyard for consolidation 49
Peake, Sir Henry
builds Block Mills in Portsmouth Dockyard with Nicholas Diddams 64
first assistant master shipwright at Chatham 60
opposition to Robert Seppings’ principles 13, 17
Surveyor of the Navy (1806–1822) 13, 14, 60, 78
Peake, James: works in the Inspector General’s department (1800) 21
Peake, John, Navy Board Surveyor (1806–1822)
extra assistant Civil Engineer and Architect 60
fellow shipwright apprentice at Chatham with Bentham 60
suggests metal standing rigging 25
Pelican Life Company 104
Philosophical Transactions (1814) 15
Phoenix Insurance 104
Pickard, James 88
Pickle, HMS (1799), armed schooner
present at Trafalgar 32
repairs completed in Plymouth by Joseph Tucker before Trafalgar 34
wages expended on repair £139 5s 4d 32
Pitt, Thomas: Clerk of the Cheque at the Victualling Yard, Portsmouth
salary 39–40
Plymouth Royal Dockyard
Conqueror (74), HMS (1801), inventory of tasks completed on 34
fire-proof buildings to Bentham’s plans 27
Joiners’ and Carpenters’ Shop, Simon Goodrich’s plans for 67
Pickle, HMS (1799), inventory of tasks completed on 34
reservoir, Simon Goodrich’s plans for 67
rope production 53
Tucker, Joseph, master shipwright
brother of Benjamin 59
dockyard papers and work refitting ships present at Trafalgar 31–34
gives details of what work is done when ships go into Ordinary 32
Victualling Yard
officers petition for equal pay with Portsmouth (1803) 41
predictions of demand (1794–1815) 41
single system with Deptford and Portsmouth 37
Pococke, Dr Richard 94
Poole, Jeffrey, MP 60
Portsea Concert Room, St George’s Square 104
Portsea Island 95
Portsmouth
bake house (Victualling Board’s) in
built in 1740 35
contains only six ovens 35
fire hazard 35
bankruptcies in 96
bookshops
great variety of books available 103–104
senior dockyard workers good customers 103, 104
Camber 100–101
coroner 102
description (1748) 95
fire insurance agents (1783–1805) 104
fleet reviews (1773 and 1778) 98
medicine and drug warehouse 103
military control of, eighteenth century
curfew guns 98
military posts 98
opening and shutting town gates 98
Naval Academy: pupils get drunk in town 99
population (1725–1811) 94
Portsea: street names introduced 104
prisoners of war 95
sailors cause problems in
complaining about poor food on HMS Namur (January 1758 ) 99
demolishing a public house (March 1758 and February 1766) 99
paid off from HMS Apollo and HMS Arethusa (April 1802) 99
St George’s Church: built by dockyard workers (1753) 97
storehouses for dry provisions
large building added (1782) 36
originally one storehouse (1740) 36
street names introduced to Portsea 104
Suckling, Maurice (1726–1778), Naval Comptroller, returns as MP 97
town clerk 102
town life effectively controlled by
garrison governor 98
mayor 98
resident dockyard commissioner 98
Portsmouth Royal Dockyard
Admiralty Progress Books, hold near complete records of ships entering 50
Admiralty Visitation (1802) 62–63
Bentham’s plans to reorganise 26, 59
Block Mills
Samuel Beach, superintendent 68, 71
building designed by Samuel Bunce and Edward Holl 64
built by Portsmouth Dockyard’s craftsmen under Henry Peake and Nicholas Diddams 64
Commission of Naval Enquiry (1802) 59
conceived by Bentham 63
construction of (1802) 62
furnaces constructed 68
include Wood Mills, Metal Mills, and Millwrights’ shop 63
machines designed by Marc Isambard Brunel 60
Mirza Abul Hassan Khan, Persian Shah’s representative, tours (1810) 93
productivity of output 55, 78
run by Simon Goodrich 65
savings to the public 22, 78, 79
state at 3 October 1805 74
supply all the navy’s blocks by 1807 55, 78
swing arm circular saw 66
workforce
efficiency of 55, 58
pay and conditions for 69–74
recruited from outside the Dockyard 64
blocks, wood
automatic mortising machine for (Brunel’s) 87–89
circular saw for (Brunel’s) 86, 90
coaks for 78, 92
manufacture of 55–8
metal bushes 61
smaller vs larger 60
supply of, to the Royal Navy 56, 78
Boat Pond converted to a basin by Samuel Bentham 26
boiler house (1830) 80
bucket ladder dredger driven by steam engine, designed by Samuel Bentham (1802) 28
Camber Docks
capable of docking two large frigates or three sloops 26, 52
converted from North Camber or channel by Bentham 26, 52
divided by a caisson 26
steam engines for 26, 67
circular sawing machines, Samuel Goodrich’s drawings for 67
Clerks of the Cheque
Joseph Davis 104
Thomas Snell 105
coal yard, Simon Goodrich’s plans for 67
coffer dam, introduced by Bentham 27
contribution to the fleet’s success during the Napoleonic Wars 58
covered docks and slips introduced by Samuel Bentham 26
Cruttenden (East India Company ship): repaired (April 1770) 100
curfew gun 98
Danish Asiatic Company, uses Portsmouth Dockyard for repairs
Johanna and Maria (May 1787) 101
Providentia (1785) 101
docking days (1793–1815) 50, see also ton dock days
dry docks
Barfleur (90), HMS (1768), spends 323 days in 50
double dock replaced by docks numbers two and three 26, 51
enlargement of non-tidal basin 52
introduction of caissons 52
ships spent there used as a measure of dockyard output 50
steam engine for 67
Voorland (Dutch East India Company ship), stays in dock for repair for 65 days 102
Duke of Palma visits (1786) 93
Dutch East India Company
agent (from 1749) George Huish 102
deserters find refuge 103
outward-bound Indiamen call regularly 101
vessel size and types range from 1300 ton Admiral De Suffren to 136 ton packetboat Kraai 102
Voorland stays in dock for repair for 65 days 102
efficiency increase during the Napoleonic Wars 58
Elfi Bay, the Mameluke Chief, tours (1803) 93
embezzlement (1774–1780) 98–99
fire extinguishing system, introduced by Bentham 24
fire-proof buildings to Bentham’s plans 27
fires in
1767 101
1770 61, 101
Franz Joseph Haydn: turned away from visiting (1794) 93
horses
drive the cement mill 28
supplied by Thomas Fitzherbert 95
machine tools driven by steam 24, 63
Mast Pond: Samuel Bentham’s plans for improvement 63
Master Boat Builders
Edward Hunt 105
Master House Carpenters
Nicholas Vass 97
Master Millwrights
Mr Linacre 72
Master Sailmakers
Thomas Hills 96
Master Shipwrights (aka Builders)
Nicholas Diddams 64, 78
John Lock 104
Sir Henry Peake 60, 64
Mr Waugh 106
Metal Mills, introduced by Bentham (1803)
copper melter, pay of 71–72
furnacemen 72, 74
improve quality of metal and remove reliance on copper merchants 25, 68
iron knees replace wooden knees 53
major supplier of copper for the Royal Navy 25, 53, 58
make metal parts for blocks 63
manufacture cast iron, mixed metals and copper sheathing 25
plans of 52
re-process copper 25, 60, 68
run by John Lloyd 64
savings to the public 25, 78, 79
smelt, cast and roll metal 25
use commercially established and proven developments 51
use spare steam capacity from pumping docks 60
workforce pay and conditions 70–72, 74
mill for making cement
built by Simon Goodrich 65
horse-powered 28
introduced by Samuel Bentham 28
Millwrights’ department
help to fit and improve articles used on board ships 24
introduced by Samuel Bentham 24, 53
make machine tools for other dockyards 24
maintain the whole water system including the fire extinguishing systems. 24
mud barges, to accompany the steam dredgers 28
North Basin
capable of docking seven or eight frigates 26, 52
converted from North Boat Pond and channel 26, 52
most cost-effective improvement in the Royal Dockyards 52
steam engines for 26
Peace of Amiens welcomed for consolidation 49
performance increase during Napoleonic Wars 51
Prince and Princess of Wales visit (1803 and 1805) 93
Pump House
12HP steam engine erected by Simon Goodrich 65
reciprocating saw mill, Simon Goodrich’s drawings for 67
reservoir, improved by Samuel Bentham 27, 60
Ropery and Sail Cloth Manufactory (1804) 25, 53
Master Ropemaker sidelined 53
steam power a fire risk 53
sailings from, by ship type 49
sawmill
introduced by Samuel Bentham 24
pumping and sawing apparatus 73
seasoning timber
Samuel Bentham’s experiments 26–27
sheds established by Lord Sandwich 26
workshop built over the reservoir 27
Sheffield, W. E.: Master of the Mills 25
smiths 53, 67
steam dredger, designed by Samuel Bentham 28, 52
steam engines at
12HP machine 67
30HP machine 67
50HP machine 67
ballast-heaving engine 67
to drive pumps and machinery 23, 67
to pump fresh or sea water in case of fire 27
Storekeepers
John Allcott 104
John Greenway 105
Surgeons
David Ramsay Kerr 105
survey, 1774 93
ton dock days per year: increase of 107% (1793–1815) 50, 58
Victualling Office see Victualling Office
water, fresh
distributed by cast-iron piping in two adjacent courses 27, 45n, 67
raised to an elevated reservoir by steam engine 27, 67
shipped from Southampton Water (until 1797) 27
Watering Island, plans for (1801) 37
well sunk by Bentham 27, 37
wharf crane, Simon Goodrich’s plans for 67
Wood Mills, introduced by Samuel Bentham
able to supply from October 1807 all of the Navy’s need of blocks 78
built over the reservoir 27
cost recovered in three years from production savings 58
engine keepers of 57
foreman of 57
leading edge technology 51
lit by lamps not candles 27, 81
machinery repairers 57
Master of 57
model for mills elsewhere 25
steam powered 25, 60, 67
supply the fleet with a ‘lean manned’ and very efficient mill 58
workers in
apprentices biggest proportional increase during Napoleonic Wars 54
change in the distribution of various groups during Napoleonic Wars 54
discharged for refusing to go Woolwich 96
effect of war on labour opportunities 95, 96
largest elements are skilled workers during Napoleonic Wars 54
numbers of 80, 94, 96
recruitment of 54
senior dockyard workers good bookshop customers 103, 104
strikes (1775 and 1805) 96, 99
suspicious of proposed changes (1783) 99
tables of
by skill levels 54
by work areas 54
travelling expenses 96
wood millers 25
work Christmas Day 1792 95
Prince Gustavus Swedish Indiaman 101
Princess Augusta Swedish Indiaman 101
prisoners of war, held in the Portsmouth area 95
prize money 99
Progress Books, Admiralty: hold near complete records of ships entering Portsmouth Dockyard 50
Providentia (Danish Asiatic Company ship): repaired at Portsmouth Dockyard (1785) 101
pulley blocks
circular saw for 86, 90
machine tools, Brunel not responsible for introduction 85
mortising machine for shells, Brunel’s 87–89
Q
Quarterly Review 15
Queen (90), HMS: spends 1,151 days (1789–1792) in dry dock in Portsmouth Dockyard 50
R
Redbridge, Hampshire: Bentham’s steam engine at 23
Reke, Samuel
first Mechanist in the Office of Naval Works 65
Simon Goodrich acts as draughtsman to then succeeds him (in 1799) 67
lists works carried out under Simon Goodrich 65
Rennie, John, engineer
inspects Portsmouth Dockyard 79
installation of Boulton and Watt steam engine in HMS Congo 17
and the presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 12
proposes Robert Seppings to the Royal Society 16
Riley, Ray, ‘Marc Brunel’s pulley block-making machinery: operation and assessment’ 85–92
Rogers, Heigham 75, 84n
roman cement, mill at Sheerness established by Samuel Bentham 28
Rood, Mr 104
Ropery and Sail Cloth Manufactory, established by Samuel Bentham (1804) 25
ropes produced by Portsmouth Royal Dockyard: did not develop during the wars (1793–1815) 53
Royal African Company 97
Royal Clarence Yard, new victualling facilities at the Weevil site (1828) 37
Royal Exchange fire insurance company 104
Royal George (100), HMS (1788) 80
monument in Kingston churchyard 105
Royal Navy
borrows the Ganges (East India Company ship) as a transport (1780) 101
composition of (1793–1815) 48–49
Humphrey Davy’s connection with 18
losses from all causes (1793–1815) 47
steamships built at Woolwich by Oliver Lang 17
Royal Society 12–18
awards Copley Gold Medal to Robert Seppings (1818) 16
in Somerset House 12
Rule, Sir William, Navy Board Surveyor (1793–1813) 63, 64
S
Sadler, James, works in the Inspector General’s department (1800) 21
St Ann’s Church, Portsmouth 97
St George’s Church, Portsmouth: built by dockyard workers (1753) 97
St Thomas’s Church, Portsmouth 97
St Vincent, Admiral Sir John Jervis, Earl
appointed First Lord of the Admiralty (1801) 59
appoints Robert Seppings as Master Shipwright at Chatham (1804) 10
and the civil branch of the Navy 59–60, 61
close blockade of Brest (1799) 9
and Commission of Naval Enquiry 74
leaves Admiralty (15 May 1803) 60
San Ildefonso, Spanish two-decker captured at Trafalgar: used as depot for stores at Spithead 36
Sandwich, Lord
backs Thomas Fitzherbert as Arundel’s MP (1780) 95
visits Portsmouth Dockyard (1775) 99
Saxton, Charles 68, 70
Schäffhausen Bridge, inspiration to Robert Seppings 16
scavelmen
Portsmouth landlords 104
proposed as second engine keepers at the Wood Mills in Portsmouth Dockyard 70
Scheldt, blockade of (1803–1805) 9
Schonderloo (Dutch East India Company ship) 102, 102–103
Scorpion sloop 100
Segeswick, Thomas 104
Seppings, Sir Robert
appointed Master Shipwright at Chatham (1804) 10
appointed Third Surveyor of the Navy (14 June 1813) 14
awarded Copley Gold Medal of the Royal Society (1818) 16
candidate for the proposed dockyard at Northfleet 14
critical reference to the Navy Board 14
criticism of merchant shipbuilding practice 17
designs first generation of Royal Navy steam vessels 17
designs HMS Congo for exploration of the river 17
dismissal (1832) 18
Sir William Domett a supporter 14
elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society (11 November 1814) 16
explanation of his system 10
Simon Goodrich reports on his system 16
knighthood 17
Sir Henry Peake opposes his system 13, 1.17
produces developments in naval architecture (1800–1820) 10
recommended for major financial reward 17
Royal Society papers
‘On a new principle of constructing His Majesty’s ships of war’ (10 March 1814) 15
‘On a New Principle of Constructing Ships in the Mercantile Navy’ (2 and 9 March1820) 17
‘On the great strength given to Ships of War by the application of Diagonal braces’ (27 November 1817) 16
system of diagonal riders 10, 16: see also Howe, HMS; Justitia; Malabar, HMS; Northumberland, HMS
use of model and drawings to illustrate principles to Admiralty 12–13
Sir Charles Yorke’s involvement 10, 16, 17
Sharpe, Thomas 93
sheaves for pulley blocks, manufacture 90–91
Sheerness Royal Dockyard
coffer dam and ‘foundation masses’, introduced by Samuel Bentham 27–28
fire-proof buildings to Samuel Bentham’s plans 27
mill for making roman cement, established by Samuel Bentham 28
Storekeepers
Thomas Snell 105
well sunk by Samuel Bentham 27
sheathing, copper: Humphrey Davy’s electricity based protection systems a failure 18
Sheffield, W. E.: Master of the Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard 25
Sheldon, Matthew, ‘A tale of two cities: the facilities, work and impact of the Victualling Office in Portsmouth, 1793–1815’ 35–45
shells for pulley blocks, manufacture of 85–90
ship losses, during the Napoleonic Wars 47
shipwrights
Samuel Bentham 60
Nicholas Diddams 64, 78
William Gray 60
John Lock 104
Sir Henry Peake 60, 64
Sir Robert Seppings, see Seppings, Sir Robert
William Stride 105
Joseph Tucker, see Tucker, Joseph
Mr Waugh 106
Simmonds, Mr: quartermaster at Portsmouth Dockyard 105
Skottowe, Richard 99
Smart, Mr, and the presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 12
Smeaton, John 89
Smith, George: Navy Board secretary 80, 81
Snell, Thomas 105
Snodgrass, Gabriel: his system of internal bracing for older, smaller vessels 9
Somerset House: home of the Royal Society in early nineteenth century 12
Society of Arts: prizes awarded to Simon Goodrich 65
Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge: links with Portsmouth 97
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel: missionaries use Portsmouth as departure point 97
Southwell, Daniel 105
Speaker (East India Company ship): repaired in Portsmouth Dockyard (March 1772) 100
Spencer, George John, 2nd Earl
Admiralty policy-maker 17
First Lord of the Admiralty 62
Spithead
fleet winters there throughout the 1790s 40
San Ildefonso, Spanish two-decker captured at Trafalgar, used as a depot for stores 36
Square Tower, Portsmouth
slaughterhouse on adjoining land 36
store 36
Stanley, Hans, MP: Admiralty Commissioner 60
‘Statements of Services’ papers by Samuel Bentham (1812–1813)
annotated with marginal references to the dates of official letters 21
‘Statement of Services relative to the Improvement and Formation of Naval Arsenals’ 21
‘Statement of Services relative to the Improvement of Manufactures requisite in Naval Arsenals’ 21
summarizes what the author claimed to have contributed to dockyard operations 21
steam
Boulton and Watt engine, installed in HMS Congo 17
demonstrated at Westminster by Samuel Bentham 23–24
Dockyards (1812–1831) 80
Navy Board opposes 23
Metal Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard 60
pumps at Portsmouth Dockyard 23, 26
Sadler steam engine 64, 77
steam bucket ladder dredgers
in the Thames 28
machinery supplied by John Lloyd 64
at Portsmouth (1802), increases the depth of water at the tidal entrance 28, 52
Wood Mills at Portsmouth Dockyard 60
steamships: Oliver Lang builds at Woolwich Dockyard 17
Stephens, Sir Philip 60, 74
career 82n
Stoete, Hendrik 102
storing and fitting naval vessels within the boundary of a dockyard
deepening and enlarging the basin 26
halving the length of the existing double dock 26
using caissons or floating dams to serve as gates 26, 51
using pumps with moveable steam engines to control water level in docks 26
Stormont (East India Company ship) 101
strength of metals
ascertaining the strength of different metals begun by Bentham (1798) 25
Samuel Bentham provides specification of mixed metals to private manufacturers by 1813 25
improvements made in the quality of mixed metals 25
Stride, William, shipwright 105
Stubbington Manor, leased by Thomas Fitzherbert 95
Suckling, Maurice (1726–1778), Naval Comptroller
appealed to by Nelson 100
returns as MP for Portsmouth 97
Sun Fire Insurance 104
Surveyors of the Navy: see Henslow, John; Hunt, Edward; Peake, Sir Henry; Peake, John; Rule, Sir William; Seppings, Sir Robert; Symonds, Captain Sir William
Sutton, Samuel: new commander of HMS Victory at re-commissioning (9 April 1803) 31
Symonds, Captain Sir William: Surveyor of the Navy (1832) 18
T
task work 81
Taylor, Dr, Secretary to the Society of Arts, and the presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 12
Taylors of Southampton, block contractors 60
blockmakers borne on Portsmouth Dockyard’s books 61
dispute over continuation of contract and pricing 61–62
machinery used by 60–61, 85, 86, 88
supply blocks to the Royal Navy 60, 61, 78
supply blocks to the East India Company 78
Temple Mills copper works 84
Thames, River
cast-iron tunnel 65
steam bucket ladder dredger 28
Thomas, James H., ‘Portsmouth yard and town in the age of Nelson (1758–1805) – a relationship examined’ 93–107
Thompson, Captain Sir Thomas Boulden, Controller of the Navy 10, 79
tidal mill, Portsmouth 36
ton dock days per year at Portsmouth Dockyard: increase of 107% during the Napoleonic Wars 50
Torbay: anchorage for the blockade of Brest (from 1798) 41
trade routes: protection of leads to expansion of naval forces 47
Trafalgar, Battle of (1805)
HMS Conqueror (74) present at 32
HMS Pickle present at 32
treenails: Samuel Bentham’s improved method of driving 63
Tremendous (74), HMS
recaulked at Sheerness (1811) 11
Robert Seppings’ repairs at Chatham (1810) and captain’s report (1811) 10–11, 14
Sir Charles Yorke and Sir Joseph Yorke visit (1810) 11
Trevithick, Thomas: cast-iron Thames Tunnel 65
troops, supply of in Spain and Portugal after Trafalgar 47
Troubridge, Sir Thomas 60
career 85n
Tucker, Benjamin, Clerk of the Cheque at Portsmouth Dockyard
ally of St Vincent 59
brother of Joseph 59
Tucker, Joseph, master shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard
ally of St Vincent 59, 78
brother of Benjamin 59
Conqueror, HMS (74), inventory of tasks completed in Plymouth on 34
dockyard papers for ships present at Trafalgar 32
fitting out ships, work done 32
opposes Robert Seppings’ system of diagonal riders 17
Ordinary, work done to prepare ships 32
Pickle, HMS, inventory of tasks completed in Plymouth on 34
V
Varlo, Philip and Mary, supply blocks to the Royal Navy in the 1770s 60
Vass, Nicholas 97
Vernon, John, Master of the Metal Mills in Portsmouth Dockyard (1807) 72, 78
Victory (100), HMS (1765)
repair in Chatham Dockyard (1802–1803)
bulwarks raised and built up 31
cost of (£70,933) 31
figurehead replaced with simpler design 31
gun ports added (two) 31
magazine rebuilt to new regulations 31
re-commissioned (9 April 1803) 31
second survey reveals more work needed than originally planned 31
stern davits removed 31
upper- and quarterdeck levels rebuilt with closed stern 31
spends 658 days (1814–1816) in dry dock in Portsmouth Dockyard 50
Samuel Sutton, new commander at re-commissioning (9 April 1803) 31
Victualling Agent, Portsmouth
office in St Mary’s Street 35
residence in St Thomas Street 35
salary increases (1796 and 1800) 40, 45n
supplies stores to Nelson’s fleet off Cadiz (1805) 41
supplies stores to Torbay and Plymouth (1799) 41
Victualling Board
bake house (1740) in King Street 35, 43
biscuit, contracts for 43
brewhouses (1758 and 1782)
at Weevil 36
horses for raising water 45n
production figures 43–44
pumphouse and reservoir at Weevil 36
facilities in Portsmouth and Gosport 35
offered space by the Ordnance Board at Gun Wharf in exchange for building a new store 37
land at Weevil transferred from Ordnance Board (1828) 37
Victualling Office in Portsmouth and Gosport
Samuel Bentham’s technological developments not possible 37
Clerk of the Cheque
office in St Mary’s Street 35
salary increase (1800) 45
cooperage, Weevil (1766) 36
Grand Storehouse bought from Ordnance Board 37
local impact 1793–1815 35, 42, 43
Master Brewer
residence at Weevil 36
responsible for horses for the brewhouse 45n
Master Cooper
disputes with Lieutenant Benamor 40
residence at Weevil 36
New Gun Wharf at Portsmouth (from 1811) 37
numbers employed 35, 40, 42–43
predictions of demand at Portsmouth and Plymouth 40, 41
pumphouse and reservoir for brewhouses at Weevil 36
Royal Clarence Yard 37
San Ildefonso used as a storeship at Spithead 36
seasonal demand for victualling 40
single system with Deptford and Plymouth 37, 43
Square Tower 36
storehouses (1740 and 1782) 36
Storekeeper
office in St Mary’s Street 35
salary increase (1800) 45n
supplies military transports 40
theft and pilfering from 37, 39
tidal mill (1746) 36, 43
Victualling Wharf 36, 37
Weevil site 35, 36, 37
Vivian, John 84
Voorland (Dutch East India Company ship): stays in dock in Portsmouth for repair for 65 days 102
W
Wales, Prince of: visits Portsmouth Dockyard (1803) 93
Wales, Princess of: visits Portsmouth Dockyard (1805) 93
Walker, W.: surgeon at Portsmouth Dockyard 104
Walpole, Horace 101
Walton, John: headmaster of the Naval Academy 98
Ware, Martin 98
Watt, James
and mechanisation 81
proposes Robert Seppings to the Royal Society 16
works with Matthew Boulton and Josiah Wedgwood 65
Wedgwood, Josiah
and mechanisation 81
works with Matthew Boulton and James Watt 65
Weevil
brewhouses at (1758 and 1762) 36
Cooperage (1766) 36
Master Brewer’s residence 36
Master Cooper’s residence 36
Ordnance Board land transferred to the Victualling Board (1828) 37
pumphouse and reservoir at 36
Royal Clarence Yard, new victualling facilities (1828) 37
Wells, John, FRS: at presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 11
Wellstead, John, foreman of sailmakers 105
West Indies: military expedition to (November 1795) with 18,740 troops in 200 transports 40
Whidbey (or Whidby), Joseph
Master Attendant of Woolwich Dockyard 79
Plymouth breakwater constructor, Admiralty policy-maker 17
Whitmore, William, engineer 76
career 84n
Wilkin, F. S., ‘The contribution of Portsmouth Royal Dockyard to the success of the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic War 1793–1815’ 47–58
Wilkins, Robert 95
Wilkinson, Tate 98
Williams, Thomas, MP 76, 78
career 84
Winchester College 97
Windsor, Dean and Chapter of 97
Wolfe, James 94
Wollaston, William, Principal Secretary of the Royal Society
letter in favour of Robert Seppings’ principles (27 December 1811) 13
at presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 11
Wood Mill erected in Chatham Dockyard (1813) 25
Wood Mills in Portsmouth Dockyard, see Portsmouth Royal Dockyard
Woolwich Royal Dockyard
horse mortar mills 67
Master Attendants
Joseph Whidby (or Whidbey) 79
Master Boat Builders
Edward Hunt 105
Master Shipwrights
Martin Ware 98
ropery, Samuel Bentham proposes fire-proof construction for 27
steamships, Oliver Lang builds at for the Royal Navy 17
workforce in Portsmouth Dockyard: see Portsmouth Royal Dockyard
Y
Yorke, Sir Charles, First Lord of the Admiralty (1810–1812)
at the reading of Robert Seppings’ paper on 10 March 1814 15
involvement in Robert Seppings’ system 10, 16, 17
visits HMS Tremendous (74) at Chatham (1810) 11
Yorke, Admiral Sir Joseph
at the reading of Robert Seppings’ paper on 10 March 1814 15
visits HMS Tremendous (74) at Chatham (1810) 11
Young, Dr Thomas, Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society
analysis of Robert Seppings’ principles, pure science vs practical experience 13
appointed to the Board of Longitude (1818) 13–14
at presentation of Robert Seppings’ paper (19 November 1811) 11
proposes Robert Seppings to the Royal Society 16
Young, Admiral William 76
Naval Dockyards Society 