FW Green
Encyclopedia
Green Shipbuilders were based in Bristol
, England, during the 19th century, constructing wooden sailing ships at Wapping on the River Avon from 1814, and later at Tombs' Dock
in Dean's Marsh and the Butts on the Frome
.
The main site, later known as Green's Dock after the company, was filled in for improvement to the quayside in 1883, and now lies approximately under the Watershed Media Centre
on Saint Augustine's Reach.
John Green, a shipwright opened the first yard at Wapping in 1814, having been admitted as a burgess in October 1812. This yard was probably used only for boatbuilding, and in 1815 he leased a second much larger premises at Tombs' dock and building yard at Dean's Marsh from Waring & Fisher.
Building at both yards continued until 1817 when he left Wapping to concentrate the business at Dean's Marsh, likely owning the whole site and drydock by 1821, leading to the dock being renamed Green's Dock. The first vessel identified as built by Green’s was the schooner
Hunter in 1826.
through it into the River Frome
. The most well known ship built by Green’s was the Clifton, launched in 1835, a large 579 ton East Indiaman, which sailed under the flag of its builder. She was one of several ships launched directly into the dock, which was a hazardous manoeuvre and attracting some attention in the press. John Green's son, Frederick William, joined the business by this time after being admitted a burgess in 1830, and completing an apprenticeship
with the shipbuilder Joseph Blannin. He took over the company in about 1835, to be named Frederick William Green or simply F.W. Green, and his father died two years later.
trades and owning at least one ship built by them. Several relatives including John’s third son John Irvin Green, a shipwright apprentice in the yard from 1830-37 and an educated mariner, were involved in the business. Sidenham and Horatio Green, likely grandsons of John Green, were also masters
in the Green’s fleet.
Jr. (son of the SS Great Britains
builder) 1869-70, George A. Miller 1871-73 and probably J. & W. Peters during 1862-73. Green closed in 1873, and the dock and shipyard were taken over by George A. Miller, eventually closing in 1883 when it was bought by the Bristol Corporation and filled in to improve the quayside
.
Known ships built by Frederick William Green
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England, during the 19th century, constructing wooden sailing ships at Wapping on the River Avon from 1814, and later at Tombs' Dock
Dock
-In transportation:*Dock , a structure for handling ships**Drydock, a basin that can be flooded and drained to allow a load to come to rest on a dry platform**Ferry slip, a docking facility that receives a ferryboat...
in Dean's Marsh and the Butts on the Frome
River Frome, Bristol
The River Frome is a river, approximately long, which rises in Dodington Park, South Gloucestershire, and flows in a south westerly direction through Bristol, joining the former course of the river Avon in Bristol's Floating Harbour. The mean flow at Frenchay is The name Frome is shared with...
.
The main site, later known as Green's Dock after the company, was filled in for improvement to the quayside in 1883, and now lies approximately under the Watershed Media Centre
Watershed Media Centre
Watershed opened in June 1982 as the United Kingdom's first dedicated media centre. Based in former warehouses on the harbourside at Bristol, it hosts three cinemas, a café/bar, events/conferencing spaces, and office spaces for administrative and creative staff. It occupies the former V and W sheds...
on Saint Augustine's Reach.
Origins
Building at both yards continued until 1817 when he left Wapping to concentrate the business at Dean's Marsh, likely owning the whole site and drydock by 1821, leading to the dock being renamed Green's Dock. The first vessel identified as built by Green’s was the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Hunter in 1826.
Shipyard
Ships were later built at the head of the drydock and launchedShip naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
through it into the River Frome
River Frome, Bristol
The River Frome is a river, approximately long, which rises in Dodington Park, South Gloucestershire, and flows in a south westerly direction through Bristol, joining the former course of the river Avon in Bristol's Floating Harbour. The mean flow at Frenchay is The name Frome is shared with...
. The most well known ship built by Green’s was the Clifton, launched in 1835, a large 579 ton East Indiaman, which sailed under the flag of its builder. She was one of several ships launched directly into the dock, which was a hazardous manoeuvre and attracting some attention in the press. John Green's son, Frederick William, joined the business by this time after being admitted a burgess in 1830, and completing an apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
with the shipbuilder Joseph Blannin. He took over the company in about 1835, to be named Frederick William Green or simply F.W. Green, and his father died two years later.
Other Businesses
The Green family were also a prominent shipowner, operating ships in both the West Indies and East IndiesEast Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
trades and owning at least one ship built by them. Several relatives including John’s third son John Irvin Green, a shipwright apprentice in the yard from 1830-37 and an educated mariner, were involved in the business. Sidenham and Horatio Green, likely grandsons of John Green, were also masters
Master (naval)
The master, or sailing master, was a historic term for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel...
in the Green’s fleet.
Closure
In later years, Green leased part or the whole of his premises to other builders, notably William PattersonWilliam Patterson (engineer)
William Patterson was a 19th century engineer and boatbuilder.Born in Arbroath, he moved to London where he learned his craft at the yard of William Evans. He then moved to Bristol where he worked for William Scott. When Scott became bankrupt, he took over his yard...
Jr. (son of the SS Great Britains
SS Great Britain
SS Great Britain was an advanced passenger steamship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Steamship Company's transatlantic service between Bristol and New York. While other ships had previously been built of iron or equipped with a screw propeller, Great Britain was the first...
builder) 1869-70, George A. Miller 1871-73 and probably J. & W. Peters during 1862-73. Green closed in 1873, and the dock and shipyard were taken over by George A. Miller, eventually closing in 1883 when it was bought by the Bristol Corporation and filled in to improve the quayside
Quayside
The Quayside is an area along the banks of the River Tyne in Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in the North East of England, United Kingdom....
.
Merchant
Known ships built by John Green- Hunter (1826), 76 t schoonerSchoonerA schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
- Susan (1826), 313 t merchant ship later barqueBarqueA barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
- The King (1827), 500 t merchant ship (possibly the same vessel as the above)
- Eliza (1829), 291 t schooner later barque
- Prince George (1830), 482 t schooner
- Victor (1833), 338 t schooner later barque
Known ships built by Frederick William Green
- Clifton (1835), 579 t East Indiaman (lengthened in 1844 to 868t)
- Neptune (1844), 132 t brigBrigA brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
(later a 187 t barque) - Henry (1849), 473 t merchant ship
- EnmoreEnmore (1858)The Enmore was a wooden ship-rigged merchantman built by Green Shipbuilders in Bristol in 1858, the last known ship built by the shipyard.She was built for the Barbadan service for Michael Cavan and Company, a Bristolian shipping line, and named after the old established residence of the firm...
(1858), 540 t copper sheathedCopper sheathingCopper sheathing was the practice of protecting the under-water hull of a ship or boat through the use of copper plates affixed to the outside of the hull. It was pioneered and developed by the Royal Navy during the 18th century.-Development:...
merchant ship (later a 581 t barque)