Fountain Dock, Bermondsey
Fountain Dock the yard, of William Castle a timber merchant, was in use at least as early as 1647. Although within Redriff on the River Thames, London, it was located upstream at Bermondsey Wall and not on the Rotherhithe peninsula.
Apparently William Castle, who also built ships at Deptford and Blackwall, in partnership with Henry Johnson succeeded to a business established by his father (also called William Castle). He was well regarded by the Navy Board, which was responsible for placing warship orders with private builders. On 5 July 1663 he married Martha Batten, daughter of Sir William Batten, Surveyor of the Navy. Samuel Pepys who attended the wedding wrote that they seemingly married purely for convenience. After Williams death in 1681 his brother Robert succeeded him; he seems to have worked independently before this, as he is known to have built several merchant ships, including in 1665 the Formosa Frigate.
The dock was occupied by Smith And Co. in AbOUT 1790, Westlake's in 1830, and Williams and Sons in 1850. Mills and Knight Ltd. were situated there from the 1890s until at least 1935.
See also
- Shipbuilding in Rotherhithe