Brooke Marine
Encyclopedia
Brooke Marine was a Lowestoft
-based shipbuilding
firm. The company constructed boats and small ships for civilian and commercial use, as well as minor warships for the Royal Navy
, Royal Navy of Oman
, Royal Australian Navy
, Kenya Navy
and United States Navy
.
The company was founded in 1874 as a foundry by John Walter Brooke and expanded into boatbuilding and shipbuilding in the early 1900s. It operated until 1992.
. In 1911 it opened a shipyard on the north side of Lake Lothing
and began to produce its own craft, all using engines produced at its Adrian Works in the town. Car production stopped in 1913, although the company continued producing engines until 1938, in total producing more than 7,000.
During World War I the company established a munitions factory. Following the war, the shipyard was expanded to produce boats up to 52 feet (15.8 m) in length. During World War II, the company produced and serviced motor launch
es and landing craft
for the Royal Navy and other Allied
forces. In 1940, the company was acquired by Harry Dowsett and renamed Brooke Marine.
In 1954, a new shipyard was built on the south side of Lake Lothing. The old yard was closed in 1955, and in 1975 was sold and levelled. The first ships produced at the new yard were twenty fishing trawlers ordered by the Russian government. Over 300 craft were eventually produced in the yard. In 1968 the company won the Queen's Award to Industry for Export Achievement.
In July 1977 the company was nationalised and became part of British Shipbuilders
until a management buy-out in 1985. In 1987, Brooke Marine closed down and was put up for sale. The dockyard and facilities were purchased in May, with the new owners trading under the name Brooke Yachts. The company continued until September 1992, when it ceased trading. Receivers sold off all shipbuilding equipment in 1993.
The name and some assets of Brooke Marine were acquired in 2006 by Michael Fenton, who relaunched the business with many of the former employees. Brooke Marine Yachts Ltd traded until 2009. The shipyard was then purchased by an investment company which now leases many of the original buildings to a diverse range of business's many of which are marine orientated.
, a trawler, is a floating museum based in the Port of Lowestoft
for much of the year. The sail training ship Young Endeavor
was begun by Brooke Marine before being completed by Brooke Yachts. It was a gift from the U.K. to Australia to celebrate the bicentenary of that country
in 1988.
Brooke Marine built the seaplane tenders Zeta (1940) and Tristan (1949) as well as the flying boat refueller Lindsey 2111. All three craft are in the National Historic Ships register.
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
-based shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
firm. The company constructed boats and small ships for civilian and commercial use, as well as minor warships for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, Royal Navy of Oman
Royal Navy of Oman
The Royal Navy of Oman was formed in the early 1950s-Ships:* Qahir class corvettes built by Vosper Thornycroft ** Q31 Qahir Al Amwaj** Q32 Al Mua'zzar...
, Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
, Kenya Navy
Kenya Navy
Kenya Navy is the naval branch of Kenyan military forces. It is headquartered in Mombasa. Kenya Navy was established on December 12, 1964, exactly one year after Kenya gained independence. It was preceded by the colonial Royal East African Navy...
and United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
The company was founded in 1874 as a foundry by John Walter Brooke and expanded into boatbuilding and shipbuilding in the early 1900s. It operated until 1992.
History
Until 1911 the company, which produced engines and motor cars, sub-contracted its boat building operations to another firm in Oulton BroadOulton Broad
Oulton Broad refers to both the lake and the suburb of Lowestoft in Suffolk, England located 2 miles west of the centre of the town.-Oulton Broad:...
. In 1911 it opened a shipyard on the north side of Lake Lothing
Lake Lothing
Lake Lothing is a saltwater lake located in Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. The lake, which is believed to be the remnant of medieval peat cutting, flows into the North Sea and forms part of the Port of Lowestoft...
and began to produce its own craft, all using engines produced at its Adrian Works in the town. Car production stopped in 1913, although the company continued producing engines until 1938, in total producing more than 7,000.
During World War I the company established a munitions factory. Following the war, the shipyard was expanded to produce boats up to 52 feet (15.8 m) in length. During World War II, the company produced and serviced motor launch
Motor Launch
A Motor Launch is a small military vessel in British navy service. It was designed for harbour defence and submarine chasing or for armed high speed air-sea rescue....
es and landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
for the Royal Navy and other Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
forces. In 1940, the company was acquired by Harry Dowsett and renamed Brooke Marine.
In 1954, a new shipyard was built on the south side of Lake Lothing. The old yard was closed in 1955, and in 1975 was sold and levelled. The first ships produced at the new yard were twenty fishing trawlers ordered by the Russian government. Over 300 craft were eventually produced in the yard. In 1968 the company won the Queen's Award to Industry for Export Achievement.
In July 1977 the company was nationalised and became part of British Shipbuilders
British Shipbuilders
British Shipbuilders Corporation was a public corporation that owned and managed the shipbuilding industry in England and Scotland from 1977 and through the 1980s...
until a management buy-out in 1985. In 1987, Brooke Marine closed down and was put up for sale. The dockyard and facilities were purchased in May, with the new owners trading under the name Brooke Yachts. The company continued until September 1992, when it ceased trading. Receivers sold off all shipbuilding equipment in 1993.
The name and some assets of Brooke Marine were acquired in 2006 by Michael Fenton, who relaunched the business with many of the former employees. Brooke Marine Yachts Ltd traded until 2009. The shipyard was then purchased by an investment company which now leases many of the original buildings to a diverse range of business's many of which are marine orientated.
Ships built by Brooke Marine
Most craft produced by the company were steel, generally ranging in size from 20 to 93 metres. Notable vessls include the Virgin Atlantic Challenger II and the first Al Said, the fomer royal yacht and flagship of the Oman navy. The MincarloMincarlo (trawler)
Mincarlo is the last surviving sidewinder fishing trawler of the Lowestoft fishing fleet. She is also the last surviving fishing vessel built in Lowestoft, with an engine made in the town.-Construction:...
, a trawler, is a floating museum based in the Port of Lowestoft
Port of Lowestoft
The Port of Lowestoft is a harbour in Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk owned by Associated British Ports. It is the most easterly harbour in the United Kingdom and has direct sea access to the North Sea. The harbour is made up of two sections divided by a bascule bridge...
for much of the year. The sail training ship Young Endeavor
STS Young Endeavour
STS Young Endeavour is an Australian tall ship. Built by Brooke Marine , Young Endeavour was given to Australia by the British government in 1988, as a gift to celebrate Australia's bicentenary of colonisation...
was begun by Brooke Marine before being completed by Brooke Yachts. It was a gift from the U.K. to Australia to celebrate the bicentenary of that country
Australian Bicentenary
The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1970 on the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing and claiming the land, and again in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of permanent European settlement.-1970:...
in 1988.
Brooke Marine built the seaplane tenders Zeta (1940) and Tristan (1949) as well as the flying boat refueller Lindsey 2111. All three craft are in the National Historic Ships register.