At their zenith in 1913, the British shipyards were responsible for building half the world's ships, with the River Clyde in Scotland producing more than one new ship for every day of the year. For decades either side of this amazing year, Britain was at the forefront of this industry, which dominated not only the history but also the economy of areas like northeast England, the River Thames, Northern Ireland, Merseyside and Scotland: the efforts of hundreds of thousands of specialised workmen were dedicated to delivering efficient and finely crafted vessels. Shipbuilding in Britain outlines the history of the industry, focusing on the heyday of iron and steel hulls in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and is a comprehensive guide to ship construction from the draft board to the completion of sea trials.
