Devonport / Plymouth Dockyard.

Notes:

17 Jan 1801 it must be peculiarly gratifying to all lovers of their country to know, that by the provident care of Government, the dock-yard in this port, Plymouth, was never so full of timber, iron, hemp, masts, &c. as at present, there being at least eighteen months consumption.

30 Apr 1801 a letter was read to the artificers of the dock-yard from the Commissioners of the Navy Board, stating that if any artificer was dissatisfied with his situation, he would receive his discharge, but on no account be again received into any of his Majesty's dock yards hereafter ; a copy of the above was stuck up at the dock-yard gates.

4 May 1801 so great has been the success of our cruisers from this port, during the last six months, that 140 sail of prizes have been examined by the Commissioners for Prizes at this port, besides the detained Swedish, Russian, and Danish vessels, which are in number sixty-three sail.

9 May 1801 the commissioners of the Navy Board discharged 170 artificers of different descriptions from the dock-yard here, and afterwards went afloat to inspect the ships in ordinary in Hamoaze.

Circa Jul 1801 ___ Ansell, Esq. Master Caulker, at Portsmouth Dockyard, to be Second Assistant at Plymouth Dockyard.

Circa Jul 1801 Benjamin Tucker, Esq. Secretary to Earl St Vincent, is appointed by his Lordship to be Clerk of the Cheque HM dock-yard, Plymouth.

17 Nov 1801 the gun-boat flotilla at Plymouth, under the command of Captain Thomas Hawker, has been paid off and dismantled.

18 May 1802 it is reported that all the Dockyards are to be reduced to the Peace Establishment, following the signing of the Treaty of the Peace of Amiens.

8 Jun 1802 following the recent incendiary attack, which caused such a dreadful fire at Woolwich Warren, and so much damage, the Admiralty has ordered that in future only visitors on business were to be admitted to HM Dockyards in future, the same ruling also being applicable to premises occupied by the Victualling Board / Office &c. Similarly ship's boats were only to use the appropriate steps in the future.

18 Jul 1802 by order of the Lords of the Admiralty, and Navy Board, the ships in ordinary at this port, which are now so numerous, are divided into divisions of fourteen each, in Hamoaze and the River Tamar. Each division has a Superintending Master, who makes weekly reports of their state and condition to a Chief Master of the whole, who sends them to the Commissioner, to be forwarded to the Lords of the Admiralty, and the Navy Board, a measure which will be highly beneficial to the service.

19 Jul 1802 orders came to the Dock Yard to prepare moorings for eight sail of the line, four frigates, and five sloops of war, daily expected from Jamaica to be paid off and laid up in ordinary.

24 Jul 1802 orders came down to Rear Admiral Dacres to give directions for moorings to he prepared for the Gibraltar, 84, Captain Kelly, hourly expected from thence to be stripped, paid off, and laid up in ordinary.

29 Jul 1802 as the ordinary at Plymouth will be larger than was ever known in Hamoaze and the river Tamar, all the bowsprits are to be taken out and laid up in the mast ship for convenience of the service.

25 Aug 1802 a great boar of a sea rushed into this port, swept all before it, and retired as suddenly, without doing any damage.

26 Aug 1802 a signal was hoisted at the flag staff at the North Stairs, for all the men of the ships in ordinary to come ashore to be mustered by the Lords of the Admiralty in the Dock-yard, as the weather is unfavourable for the two Boards to go afloat. 12 Sep 1802 following the discharge of a number of the Dockyard personnel, following the signing of the Treaty for the Peace of Amiens, and a visit of the Board of Admiralty, 2 former employees are reported to have committed suicide.

12 Sep 1802 by order of the Right Hon. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a picquet nightly guard is mounted at Plymouth Dock-yard, from the Royal Marine Barracks, of a subaltern and 36 privates, for the further security of that Naval Arsenal.

28 Sep 1802 there was an amazing great sea in the Plymouth Sound, which rushed into the pool with great violence, and suddenly receded.

11 Oct 1802 The dockyard artificers at Plymouth were paid six months wages, and as usual had an half holiday.

30 Dec 1802 the Navy Board has ordered that two thirds of the pay for apprentices entered into the Dockyard will now be paid to the Master, instead of the whole sum, and the remaining one third will now be paid to the parents or guardians of the apprentice, to be spent on food and maintenance &c.

12 Oct 1824 has blown a hurricane for the last 3 days ; vessels in the Sound in the lee of the Breakwater have been safe.

22 Oct 1832 Captain H. B. Ross, R.N., apptd. to the Plymouth yacht, as Captain Superintendent, it being surmised that the appointment may entitle him to be selected as a Member of Courts Marital ? [I am not sure if this is the Bermuda yacht noted as a pilot vessel of 43 tons bm, at Bermuda, by Colledge 1813-1841.]

29 Nov 1802 yesterday, pursuant to orders from the Board of Admiralty, and Navy-Board, upwards of sixty caulkers, spinners, and ropemakers, were discharged from the dockyard at this port.

13 Jan 1803 an order has been received not to break up any more ships of the line.

11 Feb 1803 the greatest attention is paid, it appears, to the orders for fulfilling the contracts for naval stores at the different Dockyards, agreeably to some late regulations, as they are constantly receiving supplies to complete the establishment laid down, by which means we shall at all times be ready to equip our fleet in cases of unexpected necessity.

Circa 28 Jan 1804 Capt Coffin apptd to be Commissioner of Plymouth Dockyard, in the room of Capt Fanshawe, superannuated.

2 Jan 1841 Assistant Surgeon Charles D A. Newmark, appointed to the Plymouth Dockyard ;

6 Feb 1841 Mr. J. Fincham is appointed foreman of Plymouth dockyard.

17 Dec 1841 Rear Admiral of the Red, Sir Samuel Pym, appointed to be Superintendent of Plymouth Dockyard in ordinary is to hoist his flag on board the San Josef.

3 Jan 1842, Yesterday the master shipwrights, Mr. Oliver Lang, of Woolwich Dockyard ; Mr. John Fincham, of Chatham Dockyard ; Mr. James Atkins, of Sheerness Dockyard ; Mr. Richard Blake, of Portsmouth Dockyard ; Mr. Thomas F. Hawkes, of Plymouth Dockyard ; and Mr. Roberts, late of Devonport Dockyard, assembled at Woolwich Dockyard to decide upon the plans which it would be most desirable to adhere to in future as a fixed principle for building vessels for Her Majesty's Navy.
This resolution on the part of the Admiralty will prevent all chances of difference of opinion on such matters, and prevent the possibility of the work of one Mast Shipwright being altered or condemned when the vessel is sent to any other dockyard than the one where she was constructed, for repair, which has sometimes been the case on former occasions.

11 Oct 1861 Increase of the Salary of Master Attendant of Devonport Dock Yard to �600.

11 Oct 1861 Increase of the Salary of Assistant Master Attendant of Devonport Dock Yard to �500.

1866 Harbour Service as YC 1.

Apr 1889 it is proposed to begin the construction of electric lighting equipment in the dockyard : initially 2 sets of dynamos are to be made for the Rupert and three sets for other ships.

4 Jan 1892 Devonport, electricity is being used to light ships under construction, which has been done for some years at Portsmouth.

1897 homing pigeon lofts established at Devonport.

1899 school of Telegraphy established at Devonport.

Cawsand Bay.

Notes:

31 Jan 1802 remains in the Cawsand Bay : ships of the line : Impetueux, 84, Capt Pellew ; Edgar, 74, Capt Otway ; and Mars, 74, R.-Adm. Thornborough.