Frindsbury TQ744697 51.39942°N, 0.50813°W is a parish on the River Medway, on the opposite bank to Chatham Dockyard in Kent, England. It was a centre of ship building before 1820, building at least six 74 gun third rate ships of the line and many smaller vessels. From 1820, until recent times, the ship yards built over 100 Thames sailing barges. Shipbuilding has stopped but in 2006, one yard was still active in ship repair.

Ships

Quarry House Yard

Edward Greaves and Nicholson set up at the Quarry House yard in c.1745. The full list of ships built is unknown but two of the later ones were: Josiah and Thomas Brindley, leased the Quarry House yard. The first ship was launched from here in 1794. They expanded, built a new yard which became the entrance to the Thames and Medway Canal, then a third shipyard further down river. They built no more ships for the Navy after the Napoleonic War. However they did continue shipbuilding. In 1821 they built the McQueen East India Man and in 1825 the British Steam and Navigation Company contracted them to build a steamship. When the Brindleys were declared bankrupt in 1826 they lost their shipyards and all their other businesses. It had been thought that Josiah and Thomas Brindley were nephews of Lord Nelson but the Nelson family has said there is no relationship. Wilson and Co John Pelham John King of Upnor

Barge Building

Frindsbury was an important centre for building of Thames sailing barges, using the land vacated by the shipbuilders. Barges were needed for many reasons; on the Medway it was for cement, brick and lime. Curel's Other families ran yards in Frindsbury, often they had other yards in Rochester. Little Gill London and Rochester Barge Co

List of Barges

Here are some Frindsbury-built barges grouped by their owners. From 1870 to 1990 the Register of Shipping shows just over 100 Frindsbury Built Barges. Phoenix Portland Cement Company, Frindsbury. William Tingey Formby Cement Company, Whitewall Creek, Frindsbury Burham Brick, Lime and Cement Company Peter Bros Ltd. Cement Works Burham Trenchmann Weekes Company Halling West Kent Portland Cement Company (Margretts) Imperial Portland Cement Company John Blazey White, Gillingham Queenborough Cement Company Solomon Brice and Sons, Rainham and Hoo Eastwoods (Medway brickmakers)