Orchard House Yard facts for kids

Orchard House Yard, also known as Orchard Yard or Hercules Wharf, was an important place where ships were built in England. It was located in Leamouth, a part of London, right next to the River Lea at Bow Creek. Many different companies used this shipyard over the years to construct various vessels.

Orchard House Yard: A Historic Shipyard

Orchard House Yard was a famous shipbuilding site. It was part of the larger Orchard House estate. This yard was busy for many years. Different companies built ships here. It was located in Leamouth, London. This area is near the River Lea and Bow Creek.

Who Built Ships Here?

Over time, several shipbuilding companies operated at Orchard Yard. They each played a part in its history. Here are some of the companies that worked there:

• 1840: Ditchburn & Mare
• 1846: C J Mare & Co
• 1857: Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company Ltd
• Before 1873: Joseph Spencer Watson
• 1889: W J Jolly
• 1890: H H Mackenzie/Mackenzie, MacAlpine & Co.

The Story of SS Robin

One very special ship was built at Orchard House Yard. This ship is called SS Robin. She is a 300-ton steam-powered coaster. A coaster is a type of ship that carries goods along the coast. SS Robin was built in 1890 by Mackenzie. She is the only known ship from Orchard Yard that still exists today.

SS Robin is part of the National Historic Fleet. This means she is a very important ship in British history. She is the last ship of her kind still around. Today, you can find SS Robin not far from where she was built. She is located in the Royal Victoria Dock in London.

Images for kids

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  Lighthouse personnel being trained at Orchard Yard c. 1950