School of Mathematics and Naval Construction facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central School of Mathematics and Naval Construction |
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Part of the 1815 building (left) in Portsmouth Dockyard alongside 18th-century storehouses (right)
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| Active | 1848–1853 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Training |
| Role | Mathematics and Naval Construction |
| Garrison/HQ | Portsmouth |
The Central School of Mathematics and Naval Construction was a special school in England. It taught students how to design and build ships. This school was located at the Portsmouth Dockyard on the southern coast. It started in 1848 but only operated for five years. The school closed its doors in 1853.
The first head of the school was Joseph Woolley. He later founded another important school in 1864. This was the Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. That school eventually became part of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1873.
The School Building
The Central School of Mathematics and Naval Construction was set up in an existing building. This building was inside the Portsea, Portsmouth dockyard. It had been used before by another school, the School of Naval Architecture (1816–1832). The building faced the Commissioner’s house and the Old Naval Academy.
The building is about 53.6 meters (176 feet) long. It is also about 13.7 meters (45 feet) wide. The height of the building is around 11 meters (36 feet). Edward or Edmund Hall designed this structure. Construction began in 1815 and finished in 1817. Over the years, the building has been used for many different purposes. It has served as a home, an admiral's office, and various military headquarters.
What Students Learned
The Central School of Mathematics and Naval Construction was like a final training program. It was for a small group of talented young shipwright apprentices. Shipwrights are people who build and repair ships. The school aimed to prepare them to become officers in the dockyards.
These apprentices came to the school for the last three years of their seven-year training. Joseph Woolley taught them mathematics. The master shipwright of the dockyard taught them about shipbuilding. What was unusual was that they also learned chemistry. A special laboratory was built at the back of the school for this. W.J. Hay, the dockyard's chemical assistant, used this lab for teaching.
Famous Students (Alumni)
Several students from this school became very important in shipbuilding.
- Sir Edward James Reed was a top ship designer for the Royal Navy. He held the title of Chief Constructor from 1863 to 1870.
- Sir Nathaniel Barnaby took over from Reed. He was also Reed's brother-in-law.
- Frederick Kynaston Barnes was another notable naval architect.
