Building the Wooden Fighting Ship

Building the Wooden Fighting Ship is a fascinating account of the building of an historic ship in the eighteenth century, with meticulous records kept of the purchasing of timbers to the last details of their furnishings and armament. The authors have reconstructed the building of HMS Thunderer in extraordinary detail, including descriptions of Woolwich dockyard and details of all the skills and trades involved.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2021
Publisher: Greenhill Books

Building the Wooden Fighting Ship is a captivating account of the construction of an iconic vessel, as well as a vivid and often surprising portrayal of life and labor in the eighteenth century. In an era preceding industrialization, the warship stood as the most intricate object crafted by humanity, employing the most advanced technology of its time. Not surprisingly, the construction of naval vessels during this period was exorbitantly expensive, necessitating meticulous records to be maintained, encompassing every aspect from the acquisition of timbers to the final touches of their furnishings and armament, including even the individual names of some of the shipwrights and craftsmen. Through meticulous examination of these records, the authors have painstakingly reconstructed, in extraordinary detail, the building of HMS Thunderer, a two-decked, 74-gun ship-of-the-line. Contemporary prints, paintings, and specially drawn illustrations accompany the text, vividly depicting every stage of the ship's construction, from the purchase and cutting of timbers to its launch in 1760. The authors provide descriptions of Woolwich dockyard, where the vessel was built, and offer intricate details about the diverse skills and trades involved in her construction. Originally published in 1984, this book is a magnificent and highly informative work on a significant aspect of the Royal Navy, appealing to enthusiasts, modelers, historians, and anyone with an interest in traditional craftsmanship.

Weight: 756g
Dimension: 255 x 256 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784387525