A Cowes shipyard that made a huge impact on the industrial life of the Isle of Wight, and built some of this country’s finest warships and commercial vessels, is the subject of the latest exhibition by Cowes Heritage, from 21 October to 12 November.
Part of the exhibition will be the showing of a specially made 46 minute DVD film about the history of White’s, featuring local children, former workers and many pictures.
J. Samuel White, as the business eventually became known, had its roots in a family business which began building wooden ships and boats on the Island in 1802. As new generations of Whites continued the family tradition, enthusiastically embracing innovative ideas along the way, operations mushroomed at extensive sites on both sides of the River Medina, and the workforce reached over 3,000 in times of war.
The impressive output over many decades included a succession of state of the art vessels, ranging from lifeboats to luxury yachts, destroyers, and ferries – and even aircraft and submarines during the 1st World War.
Cowes Heritage chairman, John Groves, said, “Not only could White’s often build vessels in a fast time, particularly during both world wars, but the company was also highly respected for the quality of its products – earning them the plaudit: ‘White’s Built – Well Built’.”
The exhibition, at Regatta House, the modern Cowes Combined Clubs’ headquarters in Bath Road, Cowes, provides a fascinating glimpse into White’s operations. Photographs give a reminder of the diverse range of vessels they built, including the Polish destroyer Blyskawica which heroically defended Cowes during Nazi bomber raids in 1942.
There is also reference to the legendary destroyer HMS Broke which sank four German destroyers in a single action during World War I, and World War II’s HMS Cavalier which became the fastest destroyer in the Royal Navy.
Besides the Admiralty, White’s built warships for several foreign navies. Among its many civilian ship contracts were various ferries, lightships, cable layers – and even floating bridges. Further back in history, White’s built in 1832 what was arguably the world’s first clipper ship, the exceptionally fast Waterwitch.
White’s support of out-of-hours sports and recreational activities are not overlooked. Nor, too, are the health hazards shipyard workers, including mesothelioma from contact with asbestos, and deafness caused by the incessant shipyard noise. Visitors are invited to don earphones and sample the sound of riveting, widely used before welding was introduced during the early 1940s.
The exhibition is sure to be a treat for all nautical enthusiasts, and provide a particularly fascinating insight into how this Cowes shipyard operated during times of war.