Ashore and afloat : the British navy and the Halifax naval yard before 1820

__Ashore and Afloat__ tells the early history of the Halifax Naval Yard. From the building of the yard and its expansion, to the people involved in the enterprise, to the nuts and bolts of buying the masts and paying the bills, Julian Gwyn's history of the Halifax Naval Yard leaves no stone unturned. Dozens of illustrations and copious appendices, including a biographical directory, accompany this compelling history.

Naval squadrons are little good without the bases that equip and supply them and a major aspect of their functioning is economic. In this history of the Halifax careening yard, Gwyn (emeritus, history, U. of Ottawa, Canada) discusses that economic aspect of Halifax, the only British naval yard of consequence on the North American coast before 1820. He first describes the history of the yard, with a particular focus on its spatial and physical evolution. He then examines the actual work of the yard, exploring such topics as the conditions and varieties of work for all those employed at the yard, from the resident commissioner on down. A final section—looking at such topics as relations with the wider community, the yard's role as a quasi-bank, and other issues—discusses the economic impact of the yard. Distributed by the U. of Toronto Press. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

pt. 1. Naval Yard complex. Building the Yard, 1758-1783 Development and expansion, 1783-1819 Hospital complex and admiral's house pt. 2. Work force. Officers and their clerks Artificers and labourers The work of the Yard pt. 3. Economic impact. Suppliers and tradesmen Mast contractors and wood merchants Paying bills and raising cash Conclusion Appendix 1. Halifax Yard establishments, 1763-1815 Appendix 2. Halifax Yard workforce, 1761-1820 Appendix 3. Naval Yard officers, 1756-1819 Appendix 4. Yard returns sent the Navy Board, 1780s Appendix 5. Orders for the night watch, 1785.