Index of warships built in Kent Commercial Shipyards

[stuartwaters]

This is an index of ships built in commercially owned shipyards for the Royal Navy. Up until the middle of the 18th Century, warship-building was almost exclusively done by the Royal Dockyards, in the case of our county, those at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham and Sheerness. In the middle of the 18th Century, Great Britain became involved in a series of wars which were part of a struggle to both defend the nation and to gain control of world trade. For about 70 years, the Royal Dockyards were unable to cope with the demand for warships and a great deal of ship-building was contracted out to commercial shipyards. After the end of the Napoleonic War in 1815, the demand for warships slumped and the Royal Dockyards were again able to keep up with demand. With the coming of Iron, Steel and Steam, ship-building in the south-east of England virtually died out, apart from the remaining dockyards at Chatham and Sheerness. This was because commercial ship-building moved nearer to the suppliers of iron and later, steel and ship-building in England became mostly centred around shipyards on rivers in the north of the country, such as the Mersey, Tyne and Clyde.


This list is grouped by location and company and where possible, links to pages on this forum about those ships. It is only concerned with commercial shipyards, not the Royal Dockyards. Ships are listed in chronological order by yard.




Deptford
Miscellaneous privately-built ships


1587 - Ark Ralegh (Renamed Ark Royal when given to Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Walter Ralegh)
1594 - Adventure 26
1596 - Repulse 50
           Warspite 29
1601 - Superlativa Galley
           Volatilla Galley


Adams & Co
1773 - Ambuscade 32
1774 - Experiment 50
           Hector 74
1779 - Zephyr 14


Bronsden & Co
1740 - Dover 44
1742 - Dreadnought 60
1743 - Chester 50
1744 - Maidstone 50


John Buxton Jnr
1740 - Fox 24
1741 - Launceston 44
1742 - Lowestoffe 24
           Otter 14
1743 - Swallow 16
           Sheerness 24
1744 - Galgo 14
           Speedwell 14
           Hazard 14
1757 - Richmond 32


Castle
1666 - Defiance 66
1668 - Hope 70
1670 - Kitchin (Yacht)
1679 - Elizabeth 70
1690 - Griffin ??
1691 - Phaeton ??
1692 - Woolf ??
1694 - Swann 24
1695 - Grenada Bomb ketch


Ditchburn & Mare
1843 - Princess Alice (Paddle Gunboat)
1845 - Fairy (Royal Yacht - Screw)
           Trident (Paddle Sloop)
           Harpy (Paddle Sloop)
           Myrmidon (Paddle Sloop)
           Onyx (Paddle Sloop)
           Torch (Paddle Sloop)
           Violet (Paddle Sloop)


Durrell
1687 - Triumph 44


Poperly
1703 - Panther 54


Stacey
1719 - Greyhound 20
1730 - Terrible 14
1731 - Wolf 14
1732 - Tryall 14
1734 - Prince of Orange 70


Thomas West
1740 - Blast (Bomb Ketch)
           Drake 14
           Lyon 14
1741 - Blandford 24
1742 - Wolf 14
           Baltimore 14
1744 - Defiance 60
1747 - St Albans 60
1756 - Viper 10
1758 - Warspite 74      https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=727
           Aeolus 32        https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=86
1761 - Lowestoffe 32
1764 - Russell 74


Charles Lungley
1814 - Brilliant 36
1845 - Spitfire (Paddle Sloop)
1860 - Mullet (Screw Sloop)
1865 - Vixen (Screw Sloop)


Wells
1703 - Larke 42
1747 - Tiger 60
1756 - Diligence 10
1757 - Pallas 38
1758 - Shrewsbury 74
1759 - Basilisk (Bomb) https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=92
           Mortar (Bomb)  https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=735
1760 - Essex 64
1761 - Cornwall 74
1764 - Augusta 64
1765 - Invincible 74
1773 - Amazon 32
1774 - Eagle 64           https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=227
1776 - Vulture 14
1783 - Thunderer 74
1785 - Terrible 74
1787 - Swiftsure 74
1795 - Amazon 36
           Madras 56
           Kangaroo 18    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=112
           Seagull 18
           Weymouth 36
1796 - Cynthia 18
1797 - Acasta 40   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=43
           Biter 12     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
           Bouncer 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
           Bruiser 12   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
           Boxer 12     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
1798 - Dragon 74


Barnard
1781 - Africa 64
1782 - Scipio 64
1783 - Inconstant 36
1784 - Tremendous 74
1785 - Zealous 74
         - Majestic 74   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=185
1786 - Orion 74
1794 - Diamond 38  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=162
1795 - Dryad 36     https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=876
           Kite 18
           Sylph 18     https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=583
1796 - Triton 32     https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=563
           York 64
1797 - Spiteful 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
           Adder 12    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
           Contest 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111 
           Crash 12     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
1798 - Northumberland 74 https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=164
1801 - Aeolus 32
           Mallard 12    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
1803 - Repulse 74    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=50
1804 - Harrier 18   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=22
        - Elk              https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=603
1807 - Marlborough 74
1808 - Parthian 10
1809 - Rodney 74
1812 - Devonshire 74
1813 - Pactolus 38


Dudman
1783 - Carnatic 74
1794 - Teazer 12
1796 - Termagent 18
1797 - Sirius 36
           Blazer 12     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
           Clinker 12    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111
           Buffalo 12
1798 - Renown 74   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=52
1799 - Apollo 36
1800 - Blanche 36    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=149
1801 - Charger 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Constant 12 https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Conflict 12    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
1804 - Teazer 12    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Tigress 12    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
            Haughty 12 https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
            Manly 12     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
            Plumper 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
            Pelter 12     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
            Wrangler 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Amaranthe 18
1805 - Calypso 18
1807 - Sultan 74
1808 - Calliope 12
           Britomart 12
           Cadmus 12


Woolwich

Matthew Baker
1590 - Merhonour 41
1596 - Triumph 68 (Dismantled and rebuilt)
1598 - Elizabeth Jonas 56 (Dismantled and rebuilt)
1601 - Advantagia Galley


Campbell & Johnson
1872 - Bulldog (Gunboat)
           Pickle (Gunboat)
           Pike (Gunboat)
           Snap (Gunboat)


Greenwich

J & G Rennie
1871 - Arrow (Coastal Monitor)
           Bonetta (Coastal Monitor)
1880 - HMTB-20 (Torpedo Boat)


William Joyce
1855 - Fidget (Gunboat)
           Flirt (Gunboat)


Northfleet

Thomas Pitcher & Son
1794 - Lark 16
           Force 12      https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=716
1795 - Emerald 36  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=60
           Ardent 64    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=184
1797 - Osprey 18   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=54
           Grappler 12  http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0
           Growler 12   http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0
           Griper 12     http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0
           Gallant 12    http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0
1798 - Supply ??
           Superb 74    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=214
1801 - Medusa 32   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=90
           Mariner 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Minx 12       https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
1804 - Eagle 74
           Blazer 12    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Bruizer 12   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Clinker 12   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Cracker 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
1807 - Cumberland 74
1808 - Venerable 74
1810 - Egmont 74
1812 - Gloucester 74
           Medway 74
1813 - Marauder 38
           Alert 16
           Araxes 36


William and Henry Pitcher
1854 - Badger (Gunboat)
           Pelter (Gunboat)
           Pincher (Gunboat)
           Snapper (Gunboat)
1855 - Bite (Gunboat)
           Boxer (Gunboat)
           Clinker (Gunboat)
           Cracker (Gunboat)
           Redwing (Gunboat)
           Skylark (Gunboat)
           Snap (Gunboat)
           Starling (Gunboat)
           Stork (Gunboat)
           Swinger (Gunboat)
           Teazer (Gunboat)
           Weazel (Gunboat)
1855 - Banterer (Gunboat)
           Bullfrog (Gunboat)
           Bustard (Gunboat)
           Carnation (Gunboat)
           Charger (Gunboat)
           Cockchafer (Gunboat)
           Dove (Gunboat)
           Forward (Gunboat)
           Grasshopper (Gunboat)
           Hasty (Gunboat)
           Herring (Gunboat)
           Insolent (Gunboat)
           Mayflower (Gunboat)
           Staunch (Gunboat)
           Seagull (Gunboat)
           Skipjack (Gunboat)
           Sandfly (Gunboat)
           Sheldrake (Gunboat)
           Plover (Gunboat)
           Ticker (Gunboat)
           Fenella (Gunboat)
           Garnet (Gunboat)
           Handy (Gunboat)
           Hunter (Gunboat)
1856 - Charon (Gunboat)
           Haughty (Gunboat)
           Leveret (Gunboat)
           Mackerel (Gunboat)
           Peacock (Gunboat)
           Pheasant (Gunboat)
           Pickle (Gunboat)
           Porpoise (Gunboat)
           Primrose (Gunboat)
           Procris (Gunboat)
           Prompt (Gunboat)
           Shamrock (Gunboat)
           Spey (Gunboat)
           Tilbury (Gunboat)
1857 - Algerine (Gunboat)
           Lee (Gunboat)
           Levern (Gunboat)
           Slavely (Gunboat)
1860 - Griffin (Gunboat)


Gravesend

William Cleverley
1780 - Zebra 18       https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=711
1782 - Cato 50         https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=766
1784 - Director 64    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=159
1787 - Colossus 74   https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=689
1794 - Fearless 12    https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=716
           Lynx 16
1795 - Doris 36   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=51
1797 - Hydra 38  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=46
           Hardy 12  http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0
           Haughty 12  http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0
1798 - Achille 74     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=204


Rochester

John Nicholson
1795 - Dispatch 16
1797 - Staunch 12
1801 - Monkey 12       https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=70


Ross
1795 - Albatross 16
1805 - Martial 12        https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=564
           Resistance 38  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=109 
1806 - Spartan 38      https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=110
1810 - Vigo 74
1811 - Stirling Castle 74
1812 - Epervier 18   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=64.0
           Thistle 12
1813 - Eridanus 36
           Tanais 38
           Confiance 18
1814 - Fury (Bomb)


Thomas Seward
1758 - Maidstone 28


Frindsbury

Greaves
1785 - Meleager 32
1786 - Bellerophon 74


Thomas and Josiah Brindley
1794 - Hazard 16       https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=182
           Conquest 12   https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=716
1801 - Tartar  32       https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=600
1803 - Shannon 36 
1804 - Firm 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
           Flamer 12  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0
1805 - Pomone 38   https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=779
1806 - Shannon 38  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=63.0
1807 - Aboukir 74  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=12
1808 - Badger 12
1809 - Crane 18
           Thracian 18
1810 - Cressy 74   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=89
1811 - Asia 74
           Chatham (Transport)
1813 - Orontes 36
           Salamander 36
           Slaney 20
1814 - Lee 20
           Menai 26
           Tamar 26


Wilson & Co
1794 - Peterel 16   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=161
         - Attack  12  https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=716
1796 - Cyane 18   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=181
1797 - Hasty 12   http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0
           Hecate 12  http://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=8.0


John Pelham
1807 - Leonidas 36   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=74
1808 - Wild Boar 12
           Bermuda 12
1809 - Echo 18
           Sophie 18
1812 - Arab 18
1814 - Conway 20
1915 - Romney 58


Chatham


John Henniker
1758 - Panther 60           https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=154
1759 - Thunder (Bomb)   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=55
1763 - Exeter 64             https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=85
1773 - Siren 28               https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=118
1774 - Isis 50                 https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=117


Sedger & Hogben
1747 - Assistance 50


Upnor

John King
1808 - Reynard 10
           Ephira 10    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=58
           Helicon 10
           Cordelia 10  https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=546
           Briseis 10
1809 - Hecate - 18
           Rifleman 18  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=72
           Poictiers 74   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=198
1810 - Pygmy 10
           Pioneer 12
           Algerine (Armed Cutter)
1812 - Heron 18         https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=458
           Dispatch 18
           Mulgrave 74     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=95
1813 - Euphrates - 36
           Bann 20


Gillingham

Edward Muddle
1781 - Deptford 12 - included in thread https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=10.0
1782 - Mooring Lighter No. 8 (unarmed)
1801 - Mary (Victualling vessel) - included in thread https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=10.0
1801 - Mooring Lighter (number unknown - unarmed) - included in thread https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=10.0
1808 - Unknown 50ft 1808 Pattern Gunboat - Included in thread https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=10.0
1808 - Opossum 10  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=68


Broadstairs

White
1764 - Lapwing 10
1805 - Desperate 12 https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0


Dover

Unknown Builder
1545 - Brigantine 15


Henry Ladd
1777 - Alert 10                          https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=459
1778 - Expedition 10
1779 - Drake 14
           Swallow 14
1781 - Tisiphone 14 (Fire Ship)  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=136
           Alecto 14 (Fire Ship)      https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=91
1782 - Bulldog 16
1785 - Circe 28


Thomas Allin
1779 - Scourge 16


King's Boatbuilders
1777 - Sprightly 10
1779 - Lively 14
1780 - Merlin 18
1781 - Pygmy 14
           Cockatrice 14
1782 - Flirt 14
           Speedy 14
           Incendiary 14 (Fire Ship)  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=135
1783 - Thisbe 28
1785 - Lapwing 28        https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=137
1794 - Piercer 12          https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=716
1796 - Rambler 14
           Harpy 18        https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=120
           El Corso 14
1797 - Echo 16
1803 - Scorpion 18     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=186
1804 - Kingfisher 18  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=73
           Espoir 18       https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=108
           Moselle 18
1805 - Nightingale 16
           Resolute 12
1806 - Leveret 18
           Forester 18
           Foxhound 18
1807 - Eclipse 18


James and Joseph Johnson
1806 - Surly 12        https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=15
           Cheerful 12   https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=15


Folkestone

Philemon Jacobs[size=78%]
1764 - Wells 6
1780 - Scout 14
1781 - Nimble 10     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=190
1782 - Wasp 14


William Hall
1764 - Folkestone 6


Thomas Farley
1777 - Rattlesnake 14
1778 - Busy 10


Sandgate


Joshua Stewart
1780 - Fortune 16
1782 - Pluto 14 (Fire Ship)  https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=57
1782 - Barracouta 14


Francis Willson
1783 - Rattler 16
1784 - Hussar 28               https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=191


Hall Stewart
1783 - Rose 28
1784 - Dido 28    https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=19


Phineus Jacobs
1784 - Brisk 16
1787 - Alligator 28


Wilson Clayton
1785 - Hind 28


William Baker
1810 - Racer 10


Lowes
1810 - Dwarf 10


Sandwich

Andrew Hills
1782 - Otter 14
1782 - Falcon 14
1783 - Weazle 14
1784 - Ferret 14


Robert Hill
1796 - Hound 16
1812 - Manly 12
1812 - Hasty 12
1813 - Argus 18


Thomas Hills
1806 - Satellite 10     https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=97
1806 - Recruit 18       https://www.kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=189
1809 - Arachne 18
1809 - Castilian 18


As and when articles get written about individual ships, I'll add a link as appropriate. Ships built in the Royal Dockyards at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham and Sheerness will be listed and linked seperately. This way, articles about ships built in these places won't get lost in the crowd.[/size]