Fred M. Walker

This is another small triumph of publishing by the Shire Library. Only 64 pages and profusely illustrated with colour paintings, photographs and diagrams, it starts with the history of early shipbuilding in Britain but mostly deals with the industry of the last two hundred or so years. Design, model testing, construction, launching, working conditions, trials and tests are all covered in sufficient detail for the layman. The author deals with the technical aspects of shipbuilding pretty well too, in layman's language mostly, but the book would have benefited with their being a glossary of terms. Few mistakes were noted - the paddle steamer Lady Lansdowne is spelled incorrectly (page 3). Omitted from 'Further Reading' at the back of the book is an outstanding documentary film: 'Seawards the Great Ships' (1960) is a 30-minute colour film that captures the last years, evocative testimony to the achievements of the shipbuilders of the Clyde and to the men of the 'black squads' - the film rightly won a Hollywood Oscar. This book is all most people need to know about shipbuilding!… (more)