The introduction of iron into shipbuilding, 1777-1833

© Richard Barker

THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED PAPER, PRESENTED AT THE ANGLO-FRENCH MARITIME HISTORY CONFERENCE, GREENWICH, APRIL 2001.

Abstract

Iron shipbuilding is not a phenomenon of established shipwrights in coastal arsenals, but rather the product of riparian and canal-side entrepreneurs of the black trades. It was perhaps more an offshoot of the established steam pumping industry, and more especially of the associated boilermaking: there was considerable early synergee, especially in the Black Country. The use of steam for propulsion in wooden hulls is slightly earlier, depending on criteria for the notion, or practical success. However it was not widespread any earlier than iron canal boats.

In its early phases the construction of iron hulls was far from a sophisticated industry, neither producing precision products, nor following the mathematical developments of naval architecture. Not only were many (though not all) of the critical individuals far removed from scientific circles, and building flat-bottomed river and canal craft, but the methods of manufacture were rough and ready. Iron in the form required was intractable; battered into shape with hammers, not honed with machine tools. Some very revealing later texts for the realities of heavy iron-working will be introduced. Some common misconceptions about the earliest iron barges will be addressed, in the light of recent findings.

This paper does not - cannot in the space allotted - offer a vast synthesis in support of the observations to be made. It is an almost anecdotal collection of evidence, English and French; which for the period of the conference theme reflects the character of the extant evidence. Iron used in isolation in bolts and reinforcements in wooden hulls is not considered. Neither will the use of copper and iron in small hulls such as Fulton's submersible of 1801 be considered here.

[Provides additional information to that available in earlier papers on iron boat-building, given in full on the web-site, and in particular to cover French evidence that extends our knowledge of English activities in the field, roughly for the period 1810-1830.]