Shipbuilding in Frindsbury

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Frindsbury TQ744697 51°23′58″N0°30′29″E / 51.399423°N 0.508127°E / 51.399423; 0.508127 is a parish on the River Medway, on the opposite bank to Chatham Dockyard in Kent, England. It was a centre of ship building before 1820, building at least six 74 gun third rate ships of the line and many smaller vessels. From 1820, until recent times, the ship yards built over 100 Thames sailing barges. Shipbuilding has stopped but in 2006, one yard was still active in ship repair.

Contents

Ships

Quarry House Yard

Edward Greaves and Nicholson set up at the Quarry House yard in c.1745. The full list of ships built is unknown but two of the later ones were: [1]

Josiah and Thomas Brindley, leased the Quarry House yard. The first ship was launched from here in 1794. They expanded, built a new yard which became the entrance to the Thames and Medway Canal, then a third shipyard further down river. [1] They built no more ships for the Navy after the Napoleonic War. However they did continue shipbuilding. In 1821 they built the McQueen East India Man and in 1825 the British Steam and Navigation Company contracted them to build a steamship. When the Brindleys were declared bankrupt in 1826 they lost their shipyards and all their other businesses. It had been thought that Josiah and Thomas Brindley were nephews of Lord Nelson but the Nelson family has said there is no relationship.

[4] [5] [6]

Wilson and Co

John Pelham

John King of Upnor

Barge Building

Frindsbury was an important centre for building of Thames sailing barges, using the land vacated by the shipbuilders. Barges were needed for many reasons; on the Medway it was for cement, brick and lime. [1] [7]

Curel's

Other families ran yards in Frindsbury, often they had other yards in Rochester.

Little

Gill

London and Rochester Barge Co

List of Barges

Here are some Frindsbury-built barges grouped by their owners. From 1870 to 1990 the Register of Shipping shows just over 100 Frindsbury Built Barges.

Phoenix Portland Cement Company, Frindsbury.

William Tingey

Formby Cement Company, Whitewall Creek, Frindsbury

Burham Brick, Lime and Cement Company

Peter Bros Ltd. Cement Works Burham

Trenchmann Weekes Company Halling

West Kent Portland Cement Company (Margretts)

Imperial Portland Cement Company

John Blazey White, Gillingham

Queenborough Cement Company

Solomon Brice and Sons, Rainham and Hoo

Eastwoods (Medway brickmakers)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Merrily to Frendsbury-A History of the Parish of Frindsbury. Derek Barnard. Private Pub. City of Rochester Society. post 1994.
  2. ↑ David Cordingly: Billy Ruffian: the Bellepheron and the Downfall of Napoleon, Bloomsbury, 2003. ISBN   0-7475-6537-6
  3. ↑ A History of Strood Rural District, Brian Matthews M.A. 1971. Published Strood Rural District Council.
  4. ↑ Morning Chronicle 25 October 1821
  5. ↑ Morning Chronicle 21 June 1825
  6. ↑ Bankruptcy Index
  7. ↑ Frank Wilmot Archive http://www.thamesbarge.org.uk/barges/Willmott/FWFrindsbury.html
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