_Photo.jpg)
.jpg)
- This page was last modified on 11 June 2025, at 18:25. Suggest an edit.
J & W Dudgeon facts for kids
J & W Dudgeon was a company in London that built ships and made powerful engines during the Victorian era. It was started by two brothers, John and William Dudgeon. Their company was known for creating advanced marine engines and building many ships, including some for important historical events.
Contents
Building Ships and Engines
John and William Dudgeon first opened their "Sun Iron Works" in Millwall in the 1850s. They quickly became famous for making really good marine engines for ships.
In 1862, they decided to start building ships too. They set up a shipyard in Cubitt Town, London. At first, they focused on building fast ships called blockade runners. These ships were used during the American Civil War to sneak past blockades. At times, the company employed as many as 1,500 people.
The Shipyard and Its Ships
The shipyard had a riverfront area of about 105 meters (344 feet). It stretched inland for almost 183 meters (600 feet) to Manchester Road. The very first ship built there was the Flora. This ship was 46 meters (150 feet) long. It was special because it was the first ship with two propellers (twin-screw steamer) to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
The company managed to survive a big financial crisis in 1866. They had enough orders to even take over another shipyard nearby in 1869. This made their total riverfront area about 152 meters (500 feet) long.
Challenges and Closure
In 1874, the company faced a big problem. They were launching a large warship called Independencia for the Brazilian government. The launch did not go well, and the ship was damaged. Another company, Samuda Brothers, had to fix and refit it. The Royal Navy later bought this ship, renaming it HMS Neptune.
William Dudgeon passed away in 1875. After this, the shipyard closed down.
What Happened to the Site Later?
By 1882, the old shipyard site was used for something completely different. It became a place to store oil. Large tanks were built underground to hold the oil.
By 1913, there were 27 oil storage tanks. They could hold over 14,000 tons of oil. The site continued to be used for oil storage until the 1960s. By then, it had nearly 100 tanks, some of which held 20,000 gallons each.
Today, the site has been developed into housing. It is now known as Compass Point.
Ships Built by J & W Dudgeon
| Ship | GRT | Yard No | Date of Launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS Flora | 305 | 25 September 1862 | |
| Annie | 370 | 1863 | |
| Coya | 515 | August 1863 | |
| Apelles | 1030 | 6 May 1863 | |
| Dee | 324 | 1863 | |
| Kate | 477 | 1863 | |
| Vesta | 370 | 1863 | |
| Ceres | 374 | 1863 | |
| Don | 390 | 23 May 1863 | |
| Hebe | 449 | 9 | 1863 |
| SS Far East | 1259 | 31 October 1863 | |
| SS Experiment | 1863 | ||
| SS Edith | 537 | 1864 | |
| Atalanta | 380 | 1864 | |
| PS Avalon | 614 | 26 March 1864 | |
| PS Zealous | 613 | 23 April 1864 | |
| SS Run Her | 481 | 1864 | |
| SS Rattlesnake | 432 | 1864 | |
| SS Virginia | 614 | 1864 | |
| SS Louisa Ann Fanny | 680 | 1865 | |
| SS Mary | 902 | 1865 | |
| SS Ruahine | 1504 | March 1865 | |
| SS John Wells | 393 | 1865 | |
| SS Mary Augusta | 680 | 1865 | |
| SS Ravensbury | 666 | 23 May 1864 | |
| SS Handig Vlug | 138 | 1865 | |
| SS Bolivar | 933 | 1866 | |
| SS Zeeland | 16 June 1866 | ||
| SS George Reed | 170 | 1866 | |
| SS Thames | 103 | 1866 | |
| SS Liguria | 198 | 60 | 28 July 1866 |
| SS Henda | 143 | 1867 | |
| SS Assunta | 143 | 1867 | |
| HMS Viper | 1228 | 21 December 1867 | |
| SS Eugenie | 143 | 18 April 1867 | |
| SS Spindrift | 171 | 1869 | |
| SS Conchita | 181 | 1869 | |
| SS Manuelita | 505 | 1869 | |
| SS Pepita | 181 | 1869 | |
| SS PO | 1698 | June 1870 | |
| SS Eleanor | 1698 | August 1870 | |
| SS Italo-Platense | 1698 | 30 December 1869 | |
| SS Plemmtannikov | 1870 | ||
| SS Aleksey | 1870 | ||
| HMS Abyssinia | 2900 | 19 February 1870 | |
| SS La Pampa | 1698 | 75 | 4 April 1870 |
| SS King Masaba | 281 | 1871 | |
| SS Lulio | 670 | 13 October 1870 | |
| HMS Hecate | 3480 | 30 September 1871 | |
| PS Richard Young | 718 | 1871 | |
| SS Salgir | 498 | July 1872 | |
| SS Pasages | 791 | 28 May 1872 | |
| SS Fair Penang | 105 | 1872 | |
| SS Tenasserim | 2570 | 20 April 1872 | |
| SS Khoper | 861 | November 1872 | |
| SS Alma | 498 | September 1872 | |
| SS Gauthiod | 730 | 1873 | |
| SS Union | 245 | March 1873 | |
| SS Enterprise | 604 | April 1873 | |
| SS Chatham | 278 | 1873 | |
| SS Svithiod | 734 | June 1873 | |
| SS Santander | 2213 | 103 | 13 December 1872 |
| SS Langkat | 276 | November 1874 | |
| SS Brahestad | 233 | May 1874 | |
| SS Calais | 309 | 1874 | |
| SS South Western | 657 | 12 September 1874 | |
| SS Guernsey | 545 | 121 | 31 January 1874 |
| SS The Miner | 1874 | ||
| SS Duckenfield | 368 | 131 | 15 May 1875 |
| HMS Neptune | 9310 | 10 September 1874 |