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Home » Industry » Manufacturing (excluding metal) » Shipbuilding

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  • During the 17th century, the development of Cardigan port as a centre for trade and herring fishing provided a market for a budding boatbuilding industry, and the further increase in trade during the latter half of the 18th century led to the construction of larger vessels. The size of the ships that were built in Cardigan was limited to about 160 tons because of the sand bar at the entrance to the port, and so most of the ships that made transatlantic voyages were constructed in places such as New Quay, Chepstow, Poole and Swansea. Nevertheless, the shipbuilding industry at Cardigan enjoyed its golden age between 1792 and 1866, during which about 140 ships were built in local yards. The industry began its long period of decline in the late 1840s. By the 1880s, the yards were primarily used for breaking up old ships and for the sale of parts, and by the turn of the 20th century, shipbuilding had all but ceased in Cardigan. Source: W. J. Lewis, Gateway to Wales: A History of Cardigan (Carmarthen, 1990)
Shipbuilding in Cardigan, 19th century
  • During the 17th century, the development of Cardigan port as a centre for trade and herring fishing provided a market for a budding boatbuilding industry, and the further increase in trade during the latter half of the 18th century led to the construction of larger vessels. The size of the ships that were built in Cardigan was limited to about 160 tons because of the sand bar at the entrance to the port, and therefore most of the ships that made transatlantic voyages were constructed in places such as New Quay, Chepstow, Poole and Swansea. Nevertheless, the shipbuilding industry at Cardigan enjoyed its golden age between 1792 and 1866, during which about 140 ships were built in local yards. The industry began its long period of decline in the late 1840s. By the 1880s, the yards were primarily used for breaking up old ships and for the sale of parts, and by the turn of the 20th century, shipbuilding had all but ceased in Cardigan. Source: W. J. Lewis, Gateway to Wales: A History of Cardigan (Carmarthen, 1990)
Shipbuilding in Cardigan, 19th century
  • During the 17th century, the development of Cardigan port as a centre for trade and herring fishing provided a market for a budding boatbuilding industry, and the further increase in trade during the latter half of the 18th century led to the construction of larger vessels. The size of the ships that were built in Cardigan was limited to about 160 tons because of the sand bar at the entrance to the port, and therefore most of the ships that made transatlantic voyages were constructed in places such as New Quay, Chepstow, Poole and Swansea. Nevertheless, the shipbuilding industry at Cardigan enjoyed its golden age between 1792 and 1866, during which about 140 ships were built in local yards. The industry began its long period of decline in the late 1840s. By the 1880s, the yards were primarily used for breaking up old ships and for the sale of parts, and by the turn of the 20th century, shipbuilding had all but ceased in Cardigan. Source: W. J. Lewis, Gateway to Wales: A History of Cardigan (Carmarthen, 1990)
Cardigan shipbuilding and ship repairing yards, 19th century
  • Built in Cardiff in 1873 and weighing 140 tons, 'Ezel' was one of the few ships registered in Cardigan in the late 19th century. Over three hundred ships were registered at the port at the turn of the 19th century, but it had since then entered a period of decline, partly due to the accumulation of silt on the riverbed. The 'Ezel' was sunk by German submarine gunfire in the English Channel in 1917.
The schooner, Ezel, being repaired at Cardigan harbour, 19th century
  • Profile and deck plan of the paddle steamer 'S. S. Menna' (passenger and cargo steamer). These plans have been deposited with the Pembrokeshire Record Office and it is believed that the ship was based in that county. This item has three images of different sizes. The largest is 633kb and may take some time to download on a home modem.
Measured drawings of the paddle steamer 'S.S Menna'
  • The 'HMS Duke of Wellington', the once-famous flagship of Sir Charles Napier, was launched at Pembroke Dock in 1852. She is pictured here before her towering masts and sails were added. Throughout the 1850s, Pembroke Dockyard produced the last of the Royal Navy's great wooden line of battleships and played a pioneering role in the development of early steam propulsion. 'HMS Duke of Wellington' and other big wooden liners of the decade were converted while building to carry steam, being 'cut asunder' on the slips and lengthened to make room for boilers and engines. The three-decker 'HMS Duke of Wellington' was initially launched as the 'HMS Windsor Castle' on 14 September 1852, the same day as the Iron Duke died at Walmer. Her name was changed in his honour a few days later. 'HMS Duke of Wellington', manning 131 guns, served as a flagship in the Baltic during the Russian War. She was later relegated to harbour service and used as one of the depot ships for berthing the men of the Portsmouth Dockyard Reserve. Source: Lawrence Phillips, 'Pembroke Dockyard' in David W. Howell (ed.), 'Pembrokeshire County History. Volume IV. Modern Pembrokeshire 1815-1974' (Haverfordwest: Pembrokeshire Historical Society, 1993), p. 158.
The battleship 'HMS Duke of Wellington', 1852