Ship Building Collection

New Hydraulic Lift at the Victoria Docks, 1858. Creator: Walmsley
New Hydraulic Lift at the Victoria Docks, [London], 1858. The new graving-docks in connection with the Victoria Docks, the construction of which was commenced about two years back

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, 1857, printed 1863-64

Building ships in preparation for war, Bayeux Tapestry, Bayeux, Normandy, France, Europe

Poster for This Working Life: Tales from the Shipyard at BFI Southbank (7 - 22 February 2011)
Face of Britain: Shipyard (Paul Rotha) (1935) The building of the S.S. Orion at Barrow-in-Furness

Poster for the RMS Majestic
Poster for visits to the RMS Majestic, the worlds largest liner in the worlds largest dock, the King George V graving dock in Southampton

The Shipbuilder, Special Aquitania Number
Front cover of The Shipbuilder industry journal, June 1914 issue, focusing on the Cunard cruise liner Aquitania, launched the same year

HMS Courageous, British battlecruiser, WW1
HMS Courageous, British battlecruiser, launched 1916, served during the latter part of the First World War, converted to use as an aircraft carrier during the late 1920s

Tyneside Shipyard
Shipbuilding on the River Wear in Sunderland, Tyneside

Boys Watching Ship
A group of boys lean against the dock railings and watch a steamship being built

Peter I, the Great (1672-1725) at Deptford Dockyard, 1857 (oil on canvas)
RHC9705 Peter I, the Great (1672-1725) at Deptford Dockyard, 1857 (oil on canvas) by Maclise, Daniel (Croquis, Alfred) (1806-70); 152.3x243.7 cm; Royal Holloway

A Prospect of Chatham Dock from Finsbery Windmill (engraving)
XJF3058229 A Prospect of Chatham Dock from Finsbery Windmill (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The national company for boat building by machine at Deptford, 1860 (photo)
7340365 The national company for boat building by machine at Deptford, 1860 (photo) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); National Maritime Museum, London

George Vancouver's 'Discovery', c.1789 (pen, ink wash)
7295413 George Vancouver's 'Discovery', c.1789 (pen, ink wash) by Unknown artist, (18th century); National Maritime Museum, London

'The HMS 'Buckingham' on the docks in front of the main warehouse of the Royal Shipyards in Deptford
MMM5466267 'The HMS 'Buckingham' on the docks in front of the main warehouse of the Royal Shipyards in Deptford (England) by Cleveley

View near Woolwich, Kent, England, depicting the use of forces to build pontoons
MMM5480415 View near Woolwich, Kent, England, depicting the use of forces to build pontoons (disarmed vessels used as floating prisons); National Maritime Museum, London

Photocard, 1930s: Quebec (coloured photo)
8671687 Photocard, 1930s: Quebec (coloured photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Quebec)

Photocard, 1930s: Rotterdam (coloured photo)
8671650 Photocard, 1930s: Rotterdam (coloured photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rotterdam)

A Medieval manuscript
3359940 A Medieval manuscript; (add.info.: Woodcut after a Medieval manuscript. Dated 14th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The dry docks at the Victoria Docks, 1850
3330901 The dry docks at the Victoria Docks, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of the dry docks at the Victoria Docks. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Plan of the Portsmouth shipyard (England) in 1850. Drawing and watercolor (65.5x79.5 cm), from a 1906 compilation
MMM5480454 Plan of the Portsmouth shipyard (England) in 1850. Drawing and watercolor (65.5x79.5 cm), from a 1906 compilation, by D. Hucker (?)

A hydraulic lift at the docks near Blackwall, 1850
3330793 A hydraulic lift at the docks near Blackwall, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of a hydraulic lift at the docks near Blackwall. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Iron ships on the stocks, c.1910 (brown wash)
7341732 Iron ships on the stocks, c.1910 (brown wash) by Wyllie, William Lionel (1851-1931); 25.3x35.3 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The launch of 84-gun ship HMS 'Thunderer' at Woolwich Dockyard, 1831 (lithograph)
7341852 The launch of 84-gun ship HMS 'Thunderer' at Woolwich Dockyard, 1831 (lithograph) by Campion, George Bryant (1796-1870) (after); 27.8x37 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

shipbuilding, France, early 20th century (chromo)
1790147 shipbuilding, France, early 20th century (chromo); (add.info.: shipbuilding : inauguration of a submarine in a shipyard in France, early 20th century); Photo © CCI.

View of the Royal Docks of Chatham, County Kent, England, on the River Medway
MMM5480609 View of the Royal Docks of Chatham, County Kent, England, on the River Medway, the heart of England's maritime power, where ships were built, maintained, equipped

Woolwich dockyard, late 18th century (pen, black ink, watercolour)
7342004 Woolwich dockyard, late 18th century (pen, black ink, watercolour) by Unknown artist, (18th century); 26.7x40.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The White Star Line steamship 'Adriatic' leaving Liverpool, late 19th century (oil painting)
7338104 The White Star Line steamship 'Adriatic' leaving Liverpool, late 19th century (oil painting) by Greenwood, George Parker (1850-1904); 25.4x40.6 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

A hydraulic lift at the Victoria Docks, 1850
3330523 A hydraulic lift at the Victoria Docks, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of a hydraulic lift at the Victoria Docks. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Launching of HMS Ark Royal, 1937 (b/w photo)
8663976 Launching of HMS Ark Royal, 1937 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Launching of HMS Ark Royal, Birkenhead, 1937)

The 'Discovery' convict ship (lying at Deptford), the vessel which accompanied Captain Cook on his last voyage
7295544 The 'Discovery' convict ship (lying at Deptford), the vessel which accompanied Captain Cook on his last voyage, 1829 (etching) by Cooke

Harwich Dockyard, 1722 (drawing)
7337578 Harwich Dockyard, 1722 (drawing) by Unknown artist, (18th century); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

The shipyard of the firm Archibald McMillan et fils in Dumbarton (Scotland), manufacturing 'gabbarts'
MMM5461528 The shipyard of the firm Archibald McMillan et fils in Dumbarton (Scotland), manufacturing 'gabbarts', large Scottish boats and steel-framed boats by Bough

The construction of Noah's Ark, description of the activities of shipwrights
MMM5480901 The construction of Noah's Ark, description of the activities of shipwrights by Schedel, Hartmann (1440-1514); National Maritime Museum, London

The construction site of a boat, on the beach of Cancale (France), with a young woman
MMM5466481 The construction site of a boat, on the beach of Cancale (France), with a young woman, dressed in a traditional costume, a blue serge skirt and a gray and white striped shirt

The restoration of HMS 'Victory', in the docks basin of Portsmouth (England)
MMM5466202 The restoration of HMS 'Victory', in the docks basin of Portsmouth (England), after the launch of a major national financing operation to save the ship from the victory of

Caulking, 1850
3359219 Caulking, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the Caulking of a ship by turning in the edges of the riveted plates with a chisel. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

British ocean liner Aquitania under construction (colour litho)
8663654 British ocean liner Aquitania under construction (colour litho) by Dixon, Charles Edward (1872-1934) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: British ocean liner Aquitania under construction)

Peter the Great's Naval Preparations (colour litho)
8661449 Peter the Great's Naval Preparations (colour litho) by Randall, Maurice (1865-1950); Private Collection; (add.info.: Peter the Great's Naval Preparations)

The frigate HMS Bacchant, off the Royal Shipyards of Deptford (England) in 1811. Watercolor (28.4x43 cm) 19th century
MMM5483549 The frigate HMS Bacchant, off the Royal Shipyards of Deptford (England) in 1811. Watercolor (28.4x43 cm) 19th century; National Maritime Museum, London

The 'Kinfauns Castle' as a troop ship, c.1900-05 (Painting)
7337813 The 'Kinfauns Castle' as a troop ship, c.1900-05 (Painting) by Lacy, Charles John de (c.1860-1936); 34.1x49.3 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

King John II of Portugal visiting a shipyard, late 15th Century (colour litho)
8672906 King John II of Portugal visiting a shipyard, late 15th Century (colour litho) by Gameiro, Alfredo Roque (1864-1935); Private Collection; (add.info)

The island of Onrust, off the coast of Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia), equipped with all the infrastructures
MMM5461438 The island of Onrust, off the coast of Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia), equipped with all the infrastructures necessary for commercial activities

Port San Stefano shipyard (Italy). Oil on canvas by Reinier Nooms (1623-1667)
MMM5459684 Port San Stefano shipyard (Italy). Oil on canvas by Reinier Nooms (1623-1667).; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Port San Stefano shipyard (Italy)

Launch of ARIZONA, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Launch of ARIZONA, between c1910 and c1915.

Launch of the Turkish iron-clad frigate Sultan Mahmoud, at the Thames Ironworks, Blackwall, 1864. Creator: Smyth
Launch of the Turkish iron-clad frigate Sultan Mahmoud, at the Thames Ironworks, Blackwall, 1864. Ship '...built for the Sultan of Turkey by the Thames Ironworks Company...of 4221 tons burden;

English women in ship yards, between c1915 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
English women in ship yards, between c1915 and 1918. Women at work building navy ships during World War I in England.

English women in shipbuilding yards, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
English women in shipbuilding yards, between c1915 and c1920. Women at work building navy ships during World War I in England.

Women working on propeller, Eng. [i.e. England], between c1915 and 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Women working on propeller, Eng. [i.e. England], between c1915 and 1917. Women working on a propeller in a navy shipbuilding yard in England during World War I.

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Ship Building: A Journey Through Time and Craftsmanship" Step back in time to witness the awe-inspiring process of ship building, where innovation meets tradition. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a visionary engineer, stands proudly before the launching chains of the magnificent Great Eastern, symbolizing human determination and progress. From preparing for war to creating works of art, shipyards have played a pivotal role throughout history. The Bayeux Tapestry in Normandy showcases scenes of ships being built as part of military preparations, reminding us that even in times of conflict, craftsmanship thrives. In This Working Life: Tales from the Shipyard exhibition at BFI Southbank, we delve into the stories behind these colossal structures. Posters depicting RMS Majestic and Aquitania highlight their grandeur and elegance—testaments to meticulous design and engineering prowess. The Shipbuilder magazine's Special Aquitania Number takes us inside the heart of shipbuilding culture—a celebration of skillful hands shaping dreams into reality. Meanwhile, HMS Courageous serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during World War I by British battlecruisers. Young eyes filled with wonder watch intently as ships take shape before them—an enduring image capturing generations fascinated by this age-old craft. Tyneside Shipyard becomes a bustling hub where hardworking men forge vessels that will sail across oceans with pride. Traveling further back in time reveals Peter I standing tall at Deptford Dockyard—an oil painting frozen in history showcasing his dedication to expanding Russia's naval might. And an engraving titled "A Prospect of Chatham Dock from Finsbery Windmill" offers a glimpse into daily life within these vibrant shipyards centuries ago. One cannot discuss ship building without mentioning one iconic vessel—the Titanic. Witness her birth amidst towering cranes and skilled artisans who poured their hearts into constructing what would become both legend and tragedy on that fateful night. Finally, let us not forget the beauty that surrounds shipyards.