RIVER COLNE SHIPBUILDERS
A Portrait of Shipbuilding, 1786-1988

John Collins' research of the shipping registers has brought to light this fascinating and almost forgotten history and shown how the shipyards of this small river have played such an important part in the affairs of the nautical world.

The Colne shipbuilders pioneered new designs to produce some of the fastest sailing cutters and schooners ever built. The ingenious shipwrights constructed specialist vessels, destined for every corner of the globe, including boats which could be transported overland as kits for reassembly in inaccessible places.

The book charts the history of the shipyards and boat builders from 1786 to 1988 and follows the river, flowing downstream from Colchester Hythe, through Rowhedge and Wivenhoe, and on to Brightlingsea. Each yard is covered, from Stuttle's at the Hythe to Aldous at Brightlingsea, from the speedy racing cutters and schooners of Sainty and Harvey to the innovations of iron and steel from Forrestt's and Rowhedge Ironworks, and finally to the last yards which closed in the late 1980s.

  

The generous co-operation of local people, the Colneside museums, Essex University and the Colne Maritime Oral History Project (with Lottery funding) have enabled the story to be brought to life through a rich array of illustrations and personal accounts. Produced in full colour with over 350 images of shipyards, workers and vessels, the book is replete with maps, photographs, lines drawings and half-models and includes ten linocuts by James Dodds.

(Classic Boat, March 2010)

(Ships Monthly, March 2010)

320 x 240mm, 328pp,
over 450 illustrations printed in full colour.
Publication date 18th September 2009

Hardback: £75. (Limited Edition of 250,
signed & numbered with slipcase and CD included)

Paperback: £28.