Naval Shipyards, York (Upper Canada)
Encyclopedia
Naval Shipyards, York was one of the shipyards of the Royal Navy
on Lake Ontario
. The yards was called for by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe in 1793 and operated from 1798 long before the town of York was populated and up to the War of 1812
. The yard was on the western edge of the town (east of the Fort Rouille
) and located south of Front Street on the shores of Lake Ontario west of Bay Street (today the tracks south of Union Station. Ships were built along the sand shores using the trees from the forests inland and launched into Toronto Bay. While shipbuilding resumed in York
(and later in Toronto), the naval yards did not build any other navy ships after 1813 and abandoned and likely moved to a safer and more protected location in Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard
.
The yard built a few ships:
Shipbuilding in Toronto did re-emerge years later, but it was all in private hands:
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. The yards was called for by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe in 1793 and operated from 1798 long before the town of York was populated and up to the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. The yard was on the western edge of the town (east of the Fort Rouille
Fort Rouillé
Fort Rouillé or Fort Toronto was a French trading post located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that was established around 1750 but abandoned in 1759. The fort site is now part of the public lands of Exhibition Place...
) and located south of Front Street on the shores of Lake Ontario west of Bay Street (today the tracks south of Union Station. Ships were built along the sand shores using the trees from the forests inland and launched into Toronto Bay. While shipbuilding resumed in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
(and later in Toronto), the naval yards did not build any other navy ships after 1813 and abandoned and likely moved to a safer and more protected location in Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard
Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard
The Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard from 1788 to 1853 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, at the site of the current Royal Military College of Canada.-History:...
.
The yard built a few ships:
- Toronto - schooner 1813 and wrecked 1817 - schooner launched 1812 and renamed HMS Beresford in 1813, as HMS Netley 1814 and finally base ship HMS Niagara; broken up 1843 - incomplete frigate 1813
Shipbuilding in Toronto did re-emerge years later, but it was all in private hands:
- Polson Iron Works at Frederick Street 1883-end of World War I
- Cooper's Wharf slip - early 19th century to 1845
- Toronto (Dufferin) Shipbuilding Company at Keating Channel 1917-?
- Dominion Shipbuilding Company 1917-?
- Canadian Shipbuilding Company
- Toronto Drydock and Shipbuilding Company
- numerous builders at mouth of Rouge River 1810-1856
See also
- Provincial MarineProvincial MarineProvincial Marine was a coastal protection service in charge of the waters in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and parts of Lake Champlain under British control. While ships of the PM were designated HMS, they were operated in more of a coast guard manner than as a full fledged navy....
- Navy Island Royal Naval ShipyardNavy Island Royal Naval ShipyardNavy Island Royal Naval Shipyard was a Royal Navy yard in Ontario.Located on Navy Island in the Niagara River, it served as a French naval base in the early 18th century and was acquired by the British in 1763. The Royal Navy used it for their Lake Erie fleet during the War of 1812. Abandoned by...
- Amherstburg Royal Naval DockyardAmherstburg Royal Naval DockyardAmherstburg Royal Naval Dockyard was a Royal Navy yard from 1796 to 1813 in Amherstburg, Ontario. The yard comprised blockhouses, store houses, magazine, wood yard and wharf.Vessels built or serviced at the yard included:...
- Kingston Royal Naval DockyardKingston Royal Naval DockyardThe Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard from 1788 to 1853 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, at the site of the current Royal Military College of Canada.-History:...