Vulcan (barge)
Encyclopedia
The Vulcan, launched in 1819, was the first all iron-hulled vessel (boat
) to be built. It was designed as a horse-drawn passenger barge
for use on the Scottish
canals..
, which had earlier successfully adapted new technology to shipbuilding with the Charlotte Dundas
, authorized the development of an all-iron ship, and they quickly settled upon building a canal barge. In 1818, Thomas Wilson (1781–1873), was hired as the shipwright. The barge was to be 20 meters (66.5 ft.) long and narrow enough for the canal. The design called for iron sectionals to be riveted together with covering plates. Two blacksmiths were hired to construct the parts. The plating had to be hammered out of puddled iron as no iron rolling mills existed at the time. The iron was supplied by the Monklands Steel Company. The Vulcan was built outside of Glasgow
, in Faskine, Airdrie
, on the bank of the Monkland Canal
.
The Vulcan was launched in May 1819 and carried passengers between Edinburgh
and Glasgow. Later it was converted to a cargo handler and was sold for scrap in 1873. In 1988, a replica of the Vulcan was constructed in Glasgow
, and now resides at the Summerlee Heritage Park
.
The first iron boat was built in 1787, by Mr. John Wilkinson, of Broseley, in Shropshire. This boat or vessel was 70' long, 6' 8½" wide, drew between 8" and 9" water, and carried 32 tons of goods; was built at Willey, in Shropshire, and used on the Severn. It is most probable that she was a canal barge; but whatever she may have been, there can be but little doubt that she was the first iron vessel.
The London Drawing Association, London, 1867. pp 36-49.
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Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
) to be built. It was designed as a horse-drawn passenger barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
for use on the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
canals..
History
In 1816, the Forth and Clyde Canal CompanyForth and Clyde Canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part of the Scottish Lowlands. The canal is 35 miles long and its eastern end is connected to the River Forth by a short stretch of the River...
, which had earlier successfully adapted new technology to shipbuilding with the Charlotte Dundas
Charlotte Dundas
The Charlotte Dundas is regarded as the world's "first practical steamboat", the first towing steamboat and the boat that demonstrated the practicality of steam power for ships....
, authorized the development of an all-iron ship, and they quickly settled upon building a canal barge. In 1818, Thomas Wilson (1781–1873), was hired as the shipwright. The barge was to be 20 meters (66.5 ft.) long and narrow enough for the canal. The design called for iron sectionals to be riveted together with covering plates. Two blacksmiths were hired to construct the parts. The plating had to be hammered out of puddled iron as no iron rolling mills existed at the time. The iron was supplied by the Monklands Steel Company. The Vulcan was built outside of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, in Faskine, Airdrie
Airdrie, North Lanarkshire
Airdrie is a town within North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies on a plateau roughly 400 ft above sea level, and is approximately 12 miles east of Glasgow city centre. Airdrie forms part of a conurbation with its neighbour Coatbridge, in the former district known as the Monklands. As of 2006,...
, on the bank of the Monkland Canal
Monkland Canal
The Monkland Canal was a 12.25-mile canal which connected the coal mining areas of Monklands to Glasgow in Scotland. It was opened in 1794, and included a steam-powered inclined plane at Blackhill. It was abandoned for navigation in 1942, but its culverted remains still supply water to the Forth...
.
The Vulcan was launched in May 1819 and carried passengers between Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Glasgow. Later it was converted to a cargo handler and was sold for scrap in 1873. In 1988, a replica of the Vulcan was constructed in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and now resides at the Summerlee Heritage Park
Summerlee Heritage Park
Summerlee, Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, formerly known as Summerlee Heritage Park is an award-winning industrial museum in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland...
.
Sources
- Dear, I. C. B. and Kemp, Peter (eds.) (2006) "Vulcan" The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2nd ed.) Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, ISBN 0-19-20568-X
See also
- Aaron ManbyAaron ManbyAaron Manby was a landmark vessel in the science of shipbuilding as the first iron steamship to go to sea. She was built by Aaron Manby at the Horseley Ironworks. She made the voyage to Paris in June 1822 under Captain Charles Napier, with Aaron's son Charles on board as engineer...
, first steamship made of iron, maiden voyage May 1821 - Charlotte DundasCharlotte DundasThe Charlotte Dundas is regarded as the world's "first practical steamboat", the first towing steamboat and the boat that demonstrated the practicality of steam power for ships....
, first commercial steam propelled vessel, maiden voyage 1802.
The first iron boat was built in 1787, by Mr. John Wilkinson, of Broseley, in Shropshire. This boat or vessel was 70' long, 6' 8½" wide, drew between 8" and 9" water, and carried 32 tons of goods; was built at Willey, in Shropshire, and used on the Severn. It is most probable that she was a canal barge; but whatever she may have been, there can be but little doubt that she was the first iron vessel.
- Charles F.T. Young: The Fouling and Corrosion of Iron Ships: Their Causes and Means of Prevention, with Mode of Application to the Existing Iron-Clads.
The London Drawing Association, London, 1867. pp 36-49.
- Gentleman’s Magazine, May 1787.
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External links
- Photograph of the 1988 replica of the Vulcan, from Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
.