Francis Baylie
Encyclopedia
Francis Baylie was a shipbuilder based in Bristol
, England, during the 17th century, a well established merchant shipbuilder who also built warships for the English Royal Navy.
did not publish their lists before 1764, and Statutory Registers did not begin until 1786. The oldest known Baylie built ship is the 280 t merchantman
Charles of 1626. Francis Baylie's first recorded navy orders resulted from Parliament
approval on 28 September 1652 for a fourth rate during the Commonwealth of England
period. Baylie's later attracted several other orders for warships in the mid 1650s.
was located in The Marsh, now predominantly laid out as the Georgian
Queen Square
, at an area known as 'The Gibb' or 'Gibb Taylor', a point of land which used to extend from Narrow Quay at Prince Street on the River Frome
. Building had already been undertaken here since at least the 16th century, as the Frome had been diverted in 1240-47 resulting in additional invaluable land outside the city walls. Baylie's yard was the at the southwest corner of the quay extended by Thomas Wright of the Society of Merchant Venturers
in 1627.
When the third rate Edgar was completed in 1669 she was the biggest ship yet built in Bristol, and in Samuel Pepys
diary, the Admiralty
administrator talks of visiting the ship and tipping the cabin boy
s. She had suffered damage during the launch as the fall was too great, leading to three broken lowermost ways and damage amidships. The Speedwell, built at 'Gib Taylour' and assumed to be Baylie's, also had an unfortunate launching on 1 November 1663 when four boys and men on board drowned during the process.
Northumberland
was completed, and it is likely the yard closed soon afterwards. Gibb Taylor itself continued to see shipbuilding until the early 18th century, when it was closed in order to extend the quays and provide additional wharves for cargo
.
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 17th century, a well established merchant shipbuilder who also built warships for the English Royal Navy.
History
Origins
The yard is one of the oldest named shipbuilders in Bristol, as Lloyd's of LondonLloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is a maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and mitigation services and management systems certification. Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation...
did not publish their lists before 1764, and Statutory Registers did not begin until 1786. The oldest known Baylie built ship is the 280 t merchantman
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
Charles of 1626. Francis Baylie's first recorded navy orders resulted from Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
approval on 28 September 1652 for a fourth rate during the Commonwealth of England
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
period. Baylie's later attracted several other orders for warships in the mid 1650s.
Shipyard
Baylie's shipyardShipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
was located in The Marsh, now predominantly laid out as the Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
Queen Square
Queen Square, Bristol
Queen Square is a garden square in the centre of Bristol, England. It was originally a fashionable residential address, but now most of the buildings are in office use....
, at an area known as 'The Gibb' or 'Gibb Taylor', a point of land which used to extend from Narrow Quay at Prince Street on 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...
. Building had already been undertaken here since at least the 16th century, as the Frome had been diverted in 1240-47 resulting in additional invaluable land outside the city walls. Baylie's yard was the at the southwest corner of the quay extended by Thomas Wright of the Society of Merchant Venturers
Society of Merchant Venturers
The Society of Merchant Venturers is a private entrepreneurial and charitable organisation in the English city of Bristol, which dates back to the 13th century...
in 1627.
When the third rate Edgar was completed in 1669 she was the biggest ship yet built in Bristol, and in Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
diary, the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
administrator talks of visiting the ship and tipping the cabin boy
Cabin boy
A Cabin boy or ship's boy is a boy who waits on the officers and passengers of a ship, especially running errands for the captain....
s. She had suffered damage during the launch as the fall was too great, leading to three broken lowermost ways and damage amidships. The Speedwell, built at 'Gib Taylour' and assumed to be Baylie's, also had an unfortunate launching on 1 November 1663 when four boys and men on board drowned during the process.
Closure
Francis Baylie died in 1678. No further ship builds are recorded after the large 152 ft (46.3 m) ship of the lineShip of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
Northumberland
HMS Northumberland (1679)
HMS Northumberland was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, launched at Bristol in 1679.-Service:She fought in the War of the Grand Alliance....
was completed, and it is likely the yard closed soon afterwards. Gibb Taylor itself continued to see shipbuilding until the early 18th century, when it was closed in order to extend the quays and provide additional wharves for cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
.
Naval
Known naval ships built by Francis Baylie- Islip (1654). 22-gun sixth rate ship
- Nantwich (1655). 40-gun fourth rate frigateFrigateA frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
- St Patrick (1666)HMS St Patrick (1666)HMS Saint Patrick was a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy. In 1665, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the Navy Committee of Parliament adopted a supplement to their 1664 Programme which provided for one third rate and three fourth rates...
. 50-gun fourth rate frigate - Edgar (1668)HMS Edgar (1668)HMS Edgar was a 72-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Baylie of Bristol and launched in 1668. By 1685 she was carrying 74 guns....
. 70-gun third rate ship of the line - Oxford (1674)HMS Oxford (1674)HMS Oxford was a 54-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Francis Baylie in Bristol and launched in June 1674. Her guns comprised twenty-two 24-pounders on the lower deck, with twenty-two large sakers on the upper deck and ten smaller sakers on the quarter deck.On 23...
. 54-gun third rate frigate - Northumberland (1679)HMS Northumberland (1679)HMS Northumberland was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, launched at Bristol in 1679.-Service:She fought in the War of the Grand Alliance....
. 70-gun third rate ship of the line
Merchant
Known merchant ships built by Francis Baylie- Charles (1626). 280 t merchantmanCargo shipA cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
- Speedwell (1663). merchantmanCargo shipA cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...