Henry Robb
{{Short description|Former Scottish shipbuilding company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Henry Robb
|logo =
|type = Public
|image = Henry Robb mural detail 1.JPG
|image_size =
|image_caption = Shipbuilding at Henry Robb's Yard, shown on the Leith Mural
|fate = Closed
|successor =
|foundation = 1918
|defunct = 1983
|location = Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
|industry = Shipbuilding
|key_people = Henry Robb
|products =
|num_employees =
|parent =
|subsid =
}}
Henry Robb, Limited, known colloquially as Robbs, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based at Leith Docks in Edinburgh. Robbs built small-to-medium sized vessels, particularly tugs and dredgers.
History
The company was founded on 1 April 1918 by Henry Robb, a former yard manager for Ramage & Ferguson shipbuilders, which lay around 1 km to the east.{{cite web |url= http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/wiki/Henry_Robb |title=Henry Robb |date=10 April 2014 |work=Grace's Guide: The Best of British Engineering 1750–1960s }}
Robb was born in Partick, Glasgow in 1874 to Henry Robb (1843-1894), a ships caulker, and his wife Martha Simpson (1840–78). He married Mary Baird Mcintosh Cowan in 1903 and their son, Henry Cowan Robb (1932-2018), became a Director of the firm. Henry Robb died in Edinburgh in 1951.
Robbs grew by buying berths from Hawthorns in 1924, the business of Cran and Somerville in 1926 and the yards of Ramage and Ferguson in 1934. The site became known as Victoria Shipyard.{{cite web |url= http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1_edin/1_edinburgh_history_-_recollections_hawthorn_shipbuilders_leith.htm |title=Hawthorn Shipbuilders |work=Edin Photo }}
Robbs closed its Arbroath and Clyde operations in the 1920s and focused its activities on Leith.{{cite book |last=Todd |first=Daniel |year=1985 |title=The World Shipbuilding Industry |place=London |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=0312892519 |page=117 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VYUOAAAAQAAJ&q=%22Henry+Robb%22+shipyard&pg=PA117}}
During World War II, Robbs built a large number of warships for the Royal Navy, including preparing the designs and building the prototype of the {{sclass|Basset|trawler|0}} anti-submarine / minesweeping trawler. Three {{sclass2|Bird|minesweeper|0}} corvettes were built for the Royal New Zealand Navy. Ordered in 1939, two of these ships famously sank the {{Jsub|I-1}} in January 1943,Waters, Sydney David (1956) The Royal New Zealand Navy, [https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-c20.html#n307 Page 307-309], Historical Publications Branch, Wellington. while the third ship helped sink {{Jsub|I-17}} seven months later.Waters, Sydney David (1956) The Royal New Zealand Navy, [https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-c21.html#n327 Page 327-328], Official History, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington.
On 26 February 1940 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured the shipyard.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsindependent.org/dates1-g.htm |title=Features – Notable Dates in History |work=Timeline of Scottish History |publisher=Scots Independent |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225830/http://www.scotsindependent.org/dates1-g.htm |archive-date=2014-05-23 }} The King visited a second time on 29 July 1943.Edinburgh Evening News 30 July 1943
File:Henry Robb mural detail 2.JPG
In 1963 Robbs took over the neighbouring long-standing shipbuilding yard of Menzies & Co..The Life and Times of Leith by James Scott Marshall ISBN 0 85976 128 2
In 1968 Robbs merged with the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company of Dundee, forming Robb Caledon Shipbuilding,{{cite news |url= http://www.scotsman.com/news/masts-from-the-past-at-leith-docks-1-1330446 |title=Masts from the past |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=1 September 2007 }} and in 1969 the new company took over the Burntisland Shipbuilding Company in Fife. In 1977, under the provisions of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, Robb Caledon was nationalised as part of British Shipbuilders. The Caledon yard in Dundee closed in 1981. Robb's yard in Leith survived two more years, closing in 1983.
The site of Robb's shipyard is now the Ocean Terminal shopping centre, where the former Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed.{{cite news |url= http://heritage.scotsman.com/heritage/Steering-its-own-course.3294367.jp |title=Steering its own course |newspaper=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=12 June 2007}} An early 20th-century pitched roof paint shed that once belonged to the yard, built from rivetted iron plates, survives and was a Category B listed building before being relocated.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB27071|desc=Leith Docks, Paint Shed at Shipbuilding Yard|access-date=28 March 2019}}
The yard features in the video to the song "Letter From America" (1987) by The Proclaimers, whose father worked in the yard. The overall sentiment of the song stresses the loss of Scotland's traditional industries and the mass emigration of Scots to North America due to circumstances such as the Highland Clearances.
Ships built by Robbs
{{inc-transport|date=June 2010}}
=Naval=
{{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}s
- {{HMS|Delphinium|K77|6}}
- {{HMS|Dianthus|K95|6}}
- {{HMS|Petunia|K79|6}}
- {{HMS|Polyanthus|K47|6}}
- {{HMS|Lotus|K93|6}}
- {{HMS|Pink|K137|6}}
Storage Ships
- MV Pembroke Coast
- MV British Coast
- MV Atlantic Coast
- MV Ocean Coast
Armed Trawlers
- HMS Basset
- HMS Mastiff
- MV Gallions Reach
- Tree-class trawlers
- HMS Hazel
- HMS Hickory
{{sclass2|Castle|corvette|1}}s
- {{HMS|Flint Castle|K383|6}}
- {{HMS|Guildford Castle|K378|6}}
- {{HMS|Hedingham Castle|K396|6}}
{{sclass2|Bird|minesweeper|1}}s
- {{HMNZS|Kiwi|T102|6}}
- {{HMNZS|Moa|T233|6}}
- {{HMNZS|Tui|T234|6}}
- HMS Ringdove
- HMS Redstart
Other Minesweepers
- HMS Sword Dance (replacing HMS Sword Dance (1919))
- HMS Staffa
- HMS Sidmouth
- HMS Stornoway
{{sclass2|River|frigate}}s
- {{HMS|Derg|K257|6}}
- {{HMS|Ness|K219|6}}
- {{HMS|Nith|K215|6}}
- {{HMS|Strule|K258|6}} (ex- HMS Glenarm)
- {{HMS|Windrush|K370|6}}
- {{HMS|Wye|K371|6}}
- HMS Naver – cancelled and re-ordered as HMS Loch Achanalt.
{{sclass2|Loch|frigate|1}}s
- {{HMS|Loch Achanalt|K424|6}} – to Royal Canadian Navy on completion.
- {{HMS|Loch Insh|K433|6}} – to Royal Malaysian Navy in 1964 as Hang Tuah.
- {{HMS|Loch Katrine|K625|6}} – to Royal New Zealand Navy in 1949 as Rotoiti.
- three further ships of this class – Loch Kishorn, Loch Nell and Loch Odairn – were cancelled.
{{sclass2|Bay|frigate|1}}s
- {{HMS|Cardigan Bay|K630|6}} (ex- HMS Loch Laxford)
- {{HMS|Carnarvon Bay|K630|6}} (ex- HMS Loch Maddy)
- {{HMS|Padstow Bay|K608|6}} (ex- HMS Loch Coulside)
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships
- {{ship|RFA|Bacchus|A404|6}} – naval stores ship
- {{ship|RFA|Engadine|K08|6}} – aviation training ship
- {{ship|RFA|Hebe|A406|6}} – naval stores ship
Bustler-class ocean rescue tugs
Built during WW2 these huge tugs could manage huge ships over long distances and were used to tow the sections of the Mulberry Harbour during the D-Day LandingsLeith Built Ships on War Service ECL ref.YHE 56567
- {{ship|HMRT|Bustler|W72|6}}
- {{ship|HMRT|Growler|W105|6}}
- {{ship|HMRT|Hesperia|W106|6}}
- {{ship|HMRT|Mediator|W125|6}}
- {{ship|HMRT|Reward|W164|6}}
- {{ship|HMRT|Samsonia|W23|6}}
- {{ship|HMRT|Turmoil|W169|6}}
- {{ship|HMRT|Warden|W170|6}}
Other Tugs
- MV George Salt
- MV Firefly
Ships for Robertson Line
- MS Jacinth
- MS Spinel
Other Ships
- MS Kodara for Robetson Co.
- MS Edina for Currie Line
- MV Creole
- MV The Miller for E Marriage & Son
- MV Goldengown
- MV Puriri for Anchor Line of NZ
- MV Underwood for Union Steam Co of NZ
- MV Port Tauranga
{{sclass|Hecla|survey vessel}}
- {{HMS|Herald|H138|6}}
Wild Duck-class RMAS cable-laying and salvage ships
- {{ship|RMAS|Goosander|A164|6}}
- {{ship|RMAS|Pochard|A165|6}}
=Merchant=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||
| Yard No | Name | Type | Launch | Owner/Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 216 | Argos | cargo | 1935 | Cia. Argentina de Lanchas, Buenos Aires | |
| 267 | {{SS|South Steyne | 2}} | Manly ferry | 1 April 1938 | Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company |
| 355 | SS Tinto | cargo | 1947 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 356 | SS Truro | cargo | 1947 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 357 | SS Bravo | cargo | 1947 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 358 | SS Silvio | cargo | 1947 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 361 | MV Kaitangata | cargo | 1948 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 362 | MV Konui | cargo | 1949 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 375 | MV Kaitawa | collier | 1949 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 376 | MV Kaiapoi | cargo | 1949 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 377 | MV Kamona | cargo | 1949 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 379 | MV Mombasa | passenger/cargo | 1950 | British India Steam Navigation Company | |
| 399 | MV Kawatiri | cargo | 1950 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 393 | MV Mtwara | passenger/cargo | 1951 | British India Steam Navigation Company | |
| 398 | MV Waimate | cargo | 1951 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 400 | MV Kokiri | cargo | 1951 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 406 | MV Cavallo | cargo | 1951 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 407 | MV Trentino | cargo | 1952 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 418 | MV Wareatea | refrigerated cargo | 1952 | William Holyman and Sons Pty., Melbourne | |
| 427 | MV Marwick Head | cargo | 1952 | A.F. Henry & MacGregor, Leith | |
| 426 | MV Karamu | refrigerated cargo | 1953 | Union Steamship Company | |
| 428 | MV Longfellow | cargo | 1953 | Rodney Steamship Company | |
| 430 | MV Golden Bay | bulk carrier | 1954 | Tarakohe Shipping Co, Wellington | |
| 434 | MV Auby | passenger/cargo | 1954 | Sarawak Steam Ship Company, Singapore | |
| 437 | SS Cicero | refrigerated cargo | 1954 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 438 | SS Rollo | refrigerated cargo | 1954 | Ellerman's Wilson Line | |
| 443
|MV Kaitoa |cargo |1956 |Union Steamship Company | |||||
| 448
|MV Kaimai |cargo |1956 |Union Steamship Company | |||||
| 456
|MV Kumalla |cargo |1956 |Union Steamship Company | |||||
| 457
|MV Konini |cargo |1957 |Union Steamship Company | |||||
| 508 | {{ship|RRS|Bransfield}} | ice-strengthened research vessel | 4 September 1970 | British Antarctic Survey | |
| 515 | {{MV|Pioneer|1974|6}} | ferry | 4 January 1974 | Caledonian MacBrayne | |
| 516 | S.A. Wolraad Woltemade | salvage tug | 15 May 1975 | South African Marine Corporation | |
| | 521 | MV Borthwick{{cite web|url=http://britishcoastalshippingcompanies.fotopic.net/c1660964.html |title=Geo. Gibson & Co. |publisher=British Coastal Shipping Companies |access-date=3 July 2010 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} | LPG Tanker | 1977 | Geo. Gibson & Co. | |
| 522 | {{MV|Claymore|1978|2}} | ferry | 31 August 1978 | Caledonian MacBrayne | |
| 530{{cite web| url=http://leithbuiltships.blogspot.com/2009/12/ship-no-36-to-ship-no-40.html| title=Ship No 36 to Ship No 40| publisher=Leith Built Ships| access-date=2 July 2010}} | {{ship|THV|Patricia|Official Number 399094|6}} | lighthouse tender | 1982{{cite web|url=http://www.shipphotos.co.uk/pages/patricia82.htm |title=Patricia |publisher=ShipPhotos.co.uk |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614011034/http://www.shipphotos.co.uk/pages/patricia82.htm |archive-date=14 June 2010 }} | Trinity House | |
| 534 | {{MV|St Catherine}} | ferry | 1983 | Sealink/Wightlink | |
| 535 | {{MV|St Helen}} | ferry | 1983 | Sealink/Wightlink |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.angelfire.com/nb/henryrobb/ The Ships of Henry Robb]
- [http://www.leithshipyards.com The Loftsman], history of the ships built at Leith
- [http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_l/0_around_edinburgh_-_leith_docks_ships_1989-95.htm Photos of the closed Robbs yard at edinphoto.org.uk]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080409161154/http://www.shipphotos.co.uk/yards/caledon.htm Photos of Robb Caledon built ships at shipphotos.co.uk]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090426224153/http://windrush.neuf.fr/ History of the Free French frigate La Découverte, ex-HMS Windrush]
- [http://www.henryrobb.wordpress.com Blog about the history of Robb's yard and workers by Henry Robb's great-granddaughter]
{{British Shipbuilders evolution}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robb, Henry}}
Category:1918 establishments in Scotland
Category:Manufacturing companies based in Edinburgh
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1918
Category:Defunct shipbuilding companies of Scotland
Category:Former defence companies of the United Kingdom
Category:1983 disestablishments in Scotland
Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1983
Category:British companies disestablished in 1983