Richmond Dock

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APPLEDORE Richmond Dock

II*

Dry-dock. 1856. Dressed stone rubble revetment walls with a pronounced concave batter, stepped out at two stages at the top. The inner end is rounded on plan and there are C20 lock gates at the seaward end. At intervals on the sides and at the inner end there are integral flights of steps. The floor of the dock is now concrete and there is a C20 gantry above.

Timber was imported from North America in the early C19 when sources of supply from the Baltic ports were affected by the Napoleonic Wars. This trade gradually developed into shipbuilding by James Yeo whereby ships were constructed on Prince Edward Island and sailed over to the Torridge estuary for fitting out. About 55 ships from Prince Edward Island were finished here in 1843 to 1853, but these ships were actually fitted out on the fare-shore. In 1849-50 James Yeo's son William decided to build a dry-dock at Richmond Yard, then a small creek and the dock was built in 1856. It is said to have been the largest dry-dock in the Bristol Channel at the time.

Sources: 1. B Greenhill, 'West Country men in Prince Edward's Isle'.

1. John Barn 'Appledore Handmaid of the Sea'

2. North Devon Museum Trust Handbook No.2

3. Peter Beacham, Devon County Council.

Listing NGR: SS4647130324