Shipbuilding On The Thames and Thames Built Ships
The Proceedings of a symposium held at The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich - edited by Dr. Roger Owen. Published by Dr. J. R. Owen, 8, The Drive, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 0EP. isbn: none given. Available direct from Dr. J. R. Owen. Telephone: 0208 777 7103 Fax: 0208 402 0368. E-mail: jr_owen100@hotmail.com. Price £10.00 plus £2.00 postage & packing.
The book is a well-written collection of the papers that were given at a symposium arranged by Dr. Roger Owen and in an immense treasure trove of generally unpublished information given by well-known contributors who are regarded as amongst the leaders in their various fields. The spread of interest in the various topics discussed ranges much wider that the title of the Symposium might suggest and whilst clearly is does have a bias towards the Thames, it nevertheless provides much interesting material to the more general researcher. One of the more useful avenues is the detailed references which enable the researcher to extend his avenue of enquiry.
The topics covered include:
Royal Ships on the Thames before 1450 - Dr. Susan Rose
Convicts to Australia - HMS Glatton and her sister ship HMS Calcutta - Dr. Brian Swann
William Evans, Shipbuilder of Rotherhithe and his steamships - Stuart Rankin
Scott Russell and the screw collier - a lost opportunity for Thames shipbuilding - Roy Fenton
Steam warships supplied to the Spanish navy in the 19th. century - Edward Sargeant
Power relations in Deptford and Woolwich dockyards in the 17th and 18th centuries - Dr. Ann Coats
Volunteer Landsmen Recruits to the Royal Navy 1795-1811: Three Thames-built frigates - Nick Slope
Marmaduke Stalkartt, 18th. Century Naval Architect and Shipbuilder - Fred M. Walker
Coastal Shipping and the Thames - Professor John Armstrong
Some Thames and Medway Drydocks - Dr. Ian Buxton
It would be invidious to select a particular paper for comment as all are written and researched to a high academic standard, whilst being presented in a most readable fashion. Dr Owen has done a great service in assembling these papers and privately publishing them. The soft-back book is A4 format and runs to some 172 pages being very well illustrated throughout and includes six maps, some 13 sets of tables and 67 illustrations. At the total cost of £12.00 including postage and packing this does represent exceptional value and members are encouraged to see for themselves!
Reviewed by D.B. Clement
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