William Pile (shipbuilder)
Encyclopedia
William Pile was a renowned British shipbuilder
. He was the first to introduce the Clipper
class of ship to the river Wear
, Sunderland.
'his genius was displayed in the building of ships, wherein he was not excelled. As Watt
was great as a builder of engine
s; and Stephenson
was great as a builder of railways
; so William Pile was great as a builder of ship
s.'
It is related that he used, when a young man, after his day’s work was done, to go into the loft
, lay of a ship’s after body, draw the frames in ready for the moulds
making, and have yet time to enjoy himself afterwards.
He was in his element in the midst of difficulties. It was at these times his stoutness of heart, cheerfulness and wonderful flow of good spirits acted like a charm to those around him.
What endeared Mr. Pile so much to those who knew him was his kindness, carefree bearing, and the total absence of pride or affectation. It was said to be a pleasure to deal with or work for him.
He was beloved by every workman under him, many who had served him for ten to twenty or more years, could never remember receiving an inconsiderate word or action from him. Even in the severest trial of all – the death bed – he showed to those around him that his workmen were then in his thoughts, and nearly the last wish he expressed connected with earthly things was, that all should be paid the wages due to them.
Among the most distinguishing traits of Mr. Pile was the simplicity and genuineness of his character, and the total absence of cant. He had the softest heart (which was also often imposed on). He could not bear to see distress without relieving it, or hear a request without granting it. But he shrunk from parading his charity; to what extent will never be known now.
During his business career he must have turned over some millions of pounds, and had self been the all-ruling passion, he, no doubt, would have left a very handsome fortune behind him.
It is said that when he died he left only a good name. He was the greatest ship designer of his age, but no business man
. Costs mattered little to Pile; his only thought was to produce a good ship regardless of profit
to himself. He left no fortune and his stock
was sold off to pay his creditors. The ships on his stocks were completed by others and his shipyard, once the greatest in Sunderland was absorbed by other firms.
He had contributed in a great measure towards the establishment of Sunderland as the largest shipbuilding town in the world, and one can only imagine the heights he would have reached had he been given another 20 years in ship designing.
His bust, now on display in the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
, was paid for by donations from his friends
of J. Mills, for whom his grandfather, another William Pile, was superintending
the construction of wooden ships.
At a very early age he took great interest in everything connected with ships and could not be kept out of the shipyard. In 1823 he moved to Monkwearmouth
. When he was only 5 years of age, he began to construct little ship
s with paper sails. From these he advanced to little yacht
s with cotton sails which he sail
ed in local ponds and streams.
When asked by a friend, as to the shape of his yachts, he replied "Cod's head and mackerel tail", a shape favoured by British boat designers from as far back as the 18th century.
During the 1830s of his childhood, Sunderland became the most important shipbuilding centre in the country, and by 1840 there were 65 shipyards on the river. It was at this time, as he grew older, that William walked the banks of the Wear
from the first shipyard to the last, night after night, never growing tired of seeing ships in the various stages of construction.'. As he grew older he could tell the name of every ship belonging to Sunderland, and who built them.
It was said of him after his death, that being born in a shipyard he was hardly ever out of one.
In 1836, his family removed to Stockton. At the age of 18, William had a very serious accident by having his right hand nearly cut in two which crippled him to a great extent for the rest of his life. On his recovery he went to a shipbuilder in Monkwearmouth to complete his apprenticeship. There his talent was recognised; he was promoted to foreman and was in charge of a yard with a large number of men.
He continued with his relations until 1848 (26 years old) when he took part of the yard and commenced on his own account. When his brother removed to Hartlepool, in 1853, (31 years old) he took the whole of the establishment.
Pile brothers were among the first, at all events, in this river, to introduce long ships with beam in proportion. Their vessels were of large dimensions, and the items of their fittings enormously costly, and they won for the builders the high name they attained in every quarter of the globe.
It was here the first improvements in modelling took place, the old-fashioned counter was abolished, and all the planking turned up to the arch-board; the old-fashioned stern-frame and transoms were done away with, and the vessel framed all round the stern. The first clipper stem was her put up that was seen on the Wear, and was, as it was then termed, turned inside out and upside down, and which is still continued by the builders on the Wear up to the present day.(1874). Pile was the first to introduce the Clipper class of vessel to Sunderland and by his skill in building them he gained recognition in the nautical world.
The following are some of the ships built by Pile:
Funeral was conducted at St Marys Church, Monkwearmouth. The church was crowded and many where unable to gain admission. The crowd stretched over the bridge – shops closed in respect – with the procession over two miles in length consisting of over 3000 people.
The grandfather of William Pile was the first shipbuilder of the family. Preferring shipbuilding to farming he was duly apprenticed to that profession, and became so skilful by the time his apprenticeship expired that he was made a manager of a shipyard shortly after. He became thoroughly conversant with both the theory and practice of shipbuilding and was celebrated for his well-built and fast ships. He preferred rather to manage for others than to build on his own account. He was a celebrated draughtsman, and taught many of the shipbuilders who have built on the Wear for the last half century (1824–1874) including Mr. Pile, as it was from him and his brother that he received his lessons in shipbuilding.
The father of Mr. Pile was also noted for his well-modelled ships and considered the first shipbuilder of his day.
His brother John Pile was born at Sunderland in 1820, and served his apprenticeship in Yarm-on-Tees. In 1852 he moved to Hartlepool to develop a shipyard in the newly opened Jackson’s Dock. In 1889 the people of West Hartlepool presented him with a marble bust of himself, now in the collection at the Gray Art Gallery, Hartlepool,in recognition of the role he played in the industrial development of the town.
Pile was married, in 1849, to Miss I. Rickaby, of Coniscliffe, near Darlington'
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
. He was the first to introduce the Clipper
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
class of ship to the river Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
, Sunderland.
'his genius was displayed in the building of ships, wherein he was not excelled. As Watt
James Watt
James Watt, FRS, FRSE was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the Newcomen steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution in both his native Great Britain and the rest of the world.While working as an instrument maker at the...
was great as a builder of engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
s; and Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
was great as a builder of railways
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
; so William Pile was great as a builder of ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s.'
It is related that he used, when a young man, after his day’s work was done, to go into the loft
Lofting
Lofting is a Drafting technique whereby curved lines are drawn on wood and the wood then cut for advanced woodworking...
, lay of a ship’s after body, draw the frames in ready for the moulds
Molding (process)
Molding or moulding is the process of manufacturing by shaping pliable raw material using a rigid frame or model called a pattern....
making, and have yet time to enjoy himself afterwards.
He was in his element in the midst of difficulties. It was at these times his stoutness of heart, cheerfulness and wonderful flow of good spirits acted like a charm to those around him.
What endeared Mr. Pile so much to those who knew him was his kindness, carefree bearing, and the total absence of pride or affectation. It was said to be a pleasure to deal with or work for him.
He was beloved by every workman under him, many who had served him for ten to twenty or more years, could never remember receiving an inconsiderate word or action from him. Even in the severest trial of all – the death bed – he showed to those around him that his workmen were then in his thoughts, and nearly the last wish he expressed connected with earthly things was, that all should be paid the wages due to them.
Among the most distinguishing traits of Mr. Pile was the simplicity and genuineness of his character, and the total absence of cant. He had the softest heart (which was also often imposed on). He could not bear to see distress without relieving it, or hear a request without granting it. But he shrunk from parading his charity; to what extent will never be known now.
During his business career he must have turned over some millions of pounds, and had self been the all-ruling passion, he, no doubt, would have left a very handsome fortune behind him.
It is said that when he died he left only a good name. He was the greatest ship designer of his age, but no business man
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
. Costs mattered little to Pile; his only thought was to produce a good ship regardless of profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
to himself. He left no fortune and his stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
was sold off to pay his creditors. The ships on his stocks were completed by others and his shipyard, once the greatest in Sunderland was absorbed by other firms.
He had contributed in a great measure towards the establishment of Sunderland as the largest shipbuilding town in the world, and one can only imagine the heights he would have reached had he been given another 20 years in ship designing.
His bust, now on display in the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is a municipal museum in Sunderland, England. It is part of the Tyne and Wear Museums group, and is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It contains the only known British example of a gliding reptile, the oldest known vertebrate capable of...
, was paid for by donations from his friends
Childhood
William was born at the White House, Low Southwick, Sunderland, son of William Pile and brother to John. The house was surrounded by the shipyardShipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
of J. Mills, for whom his grandfather, another William Pile, was superintending
Superintendent (construction)
On larger projects, it is common for most finance-related tasks and long-term scheduling to be handled by a project manager, with the superintendent's job limited to running the day-to-day operations on the construction site and controlling the short-term schedule...
the construction of wooden ships.
At a very early age he took great interest in everything connected with ships and could not be kept out of the shipyard. In 1823 he moved to Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth is an area of Sunderland located at the north side of the mouth of the River Wear. It was one of the three original settlements on the banks of the River Wear along with Bishopwearmouth and Sunderland, the area now known as the East End. It includes the area around St. Peter's Church...
. When he was only 5 years of age, he began to construct little ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s with paper sails. From these he advanced to little yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s with cotton sails which he sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
ed in local ponds and streams.
When asked by a friend, as to the shape of his yachts, he replied "Cod's head and mackerel tail", a shape favoured by British boat designers from as far back as the 18th century.
During the 1830s of his childhood, Sunderland became the most important shipbuilding centre in the country, and by 1840 there were 65 shipyards on the river. It was at this time, as he grew older, that William walked the banks of the Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
from the first shipyard to the last, night after night, never growing tired of seeing ships in the various stages of construction.'. As he grew older he could tell the name of every ship belonging to Sunderland, and who built them.
It was said of him after his death, that being born in a shipyard he was hardly ever out of one.
Education
William disliked school; and thus received little education and was put to work very young. His character was more practical than theoretical, trusting more to their eye than the plan. Ships, and how best to build them, where his constant study. He was constantly watching the progress of the ships he had built, corresponding with their captains. His custom was to seek information where he thought it was to be got, and to get it he used periodically to visit the largest ports of the United Kingdom; and he used to say even to the last that he never went anywhere without learning something.Shipwright training
His mother and or father apparently did not appreciate his shipbuilding disposition and preferred him to work in a ropery. This employment however did not last long, as he ended his engagement by running away from it after six weeks. His family must have relented as it is recorded that he served his time as a shipwright with his father.In 1836, his family removed to Stockton. At the age of 18, William had a very serious accident by having his right hand nearly cut in two which crippled him to a great extent for the rest of his life. On his recovery he went to a shipbuilder in Monkwearmouth to complete his apprenticeship. There his talent was recognised; he was promoted to foreman and was in charge of a yard with a large number of men.
He continued with his relations until 1848 (26 years old) when he took part of the yard and commenced on his own account. When his brother removed to Hartlepool, in 1853, (31 years old) he took the whole of the establishment.
Accolades
John Thompson writes of what he saw on the river Wear in the year 1850. 'At this period a complete revolution in shipbuilding took place, when both Mr. John Pile and his brother William got in full swing. Their mode of construction eclipsed all that had ever previously taken place on the Wear, and even in any other part of the country .. their vessels were acknowledged, and held by many, to be the swiftest sailing vessels in the China trade, known as tea ships.'Pile brothers were among the first, at all events, in this river, to introduce long ships with beam in proportion. Their vessels were of large dimensions, and the items of their fittings enormously costly, and they won for the builders the high name they attained in every quarter of the globe.
It was here the first improvements in modelling took place, the old-fashioned counter was abolished, and all the planking turned up to the arch-board; the old-fashioned stern-frame and transoms were done away with, and the vessel framed all round the stern. The first clipper stem was her put up that was seen on the Wear, and was, as it was then termed, turned inside out and upside down, and which is still continued by the builders on the Wear up to the present day.(1874). Pile was the first to introduce the Clipper class of vessel to Sunderland and by his skill in building them he gained recognition in the nautical world.
Ships
Pile built more than a hundred wooden ships, a similar number made of iron, and a number of composite ships. Although many of the iron ships were steamers, it was his sailing ships that brought renown to his name.The following are some of the ships built by Pile:
| Vessel Name | Original Rig | Material | Owners / Agents | Date Built | Period Owned | Gross Tonnage | Net Tonnage | Length Overall (feet) | Breadth (feet) | Depth(feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1852 | ||||||||||
| 1853 | ||||||||||
| 1856 | ||||||||||
| 1861 | ||||||||||
| Ship | Composite | Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore were a British shipping company formed by Thomas Henry Devitt and Joseph Moore in 1836. They became shipowners and entered the passenger and cargo trade to Australia managing and owning many clipper ships such as the City of Adelaide and the South Australian. With the advent of... |
1864 | 1864-1887 | 791 | 696 | 176.8 | 33.2 | 18.8 | |
| Ship | Composite | Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore were a British shipping company formed by Thomas Henry Devitt and Joseph Moore in 1836. They became shipowners and entered the passenger and cargo trade to Australia managing and owning many clipper ships such as the City of Adelaide and the South Australian. With the advent of... |
1865 | 1865-1887 | 892 | - | 190 | 35 | 18.9 | |
| 1865 | ||||||||||
| 1867 | ||||||||||
| 1867 | ||||||||||
| Ship | Composite | Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore were a British shipping company formed by Thomas Henry Devitt and Joseph Moore in 1836. They became shipowners and entered the passenger and cargo trade to Australia managing and owning many clipper ships such as the City of Adelaide and the South Australian. With the advent of... |
1868 | 1868-1887 | 1078 | 1049 | 201 | 36 | 20.1 | |
| Ship | Composite | Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore were a British shipping company formed by Thomas Henry Devitt and Joseph Moore in 1836. They became shipowners and entered the passenger and cargo trade to Australia managing and owning many clipper ships such as the City of Adelaide and the South Australian. With the advent of... |
1868 | 1868-1888 | 1179 | 1120 | 203 | 36.2 | 21.5 | |
| 1868 | ||||||||||
| Ship | Iron | Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore were a British shipping company formed by Thomas Henry Devitt and Joseph Moore in 1836. They became shipowners and entered the passenger and cargo trade to Australia managing and owning many clipper ships such as the City of Adelaide and the South Australian. With the advent of... |
1869 | 1871-1881 | 717 | 676 | 187.7 | 30.6 | 18 | |
| 1869 | ||||||||||
| 1869 | ||||||||||
| Ship | Iron | Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore Devitt and Moore were a British shipping company formed by Thomas Henry Devitt and Joseph Moore in 1836. They became shipowners and entered the passenger and cargo trade to Australia managing and owning many clipper ships such as the City of Adelaide and the South Australian. With the advent of... |
1874 | 1874-1896 | 1519 | 1447 | 235.6 | 38.4 | 22 |
Obituary
William Pile died on June 5, 1873, aged 50. One day he was suddenly seized with contractions of the bowels, and after suffering severely for a few hours, he expired, leaving a family of wife and seven children.Funeral was conducted at St Marys Church, Monkwearmouth. The church was crowded and many where unable to gain admission. The crowd stretched over the bridge – shops closed in respect – with the procession over two miles in length consisting of over 3000 people.
Family
The ancestors of the late William Pile came into Sunderland around 1770 from Rothbury Northumberland. They were farmers and came to occupy the West House Farm, and afterwards a farm running along each side of Fulwel Lane.The grandfather of William Pile was the first shipbuilder of the family. Preferring shipbuilding to farming he was duly apprenticed to that profession, and became so skilful by the time his apprenticeship expired that he was made a manager of a shipyard shortly after. He became thoroughly conversant with both the theory and practice of shipbuilding and was celebrated for his well-built and fast ships. He preferred rather to manage for others than to build on his own account. He was a celebrated draughtsman, and taught many of the shipbuilders who have built on the Wear for the last half century (1824–1874) including Mr. Pile, as it was from him and his brother that he received his lessons in shipbuilding.
The father of Mr. Pile was also noted for his well-modelled ships and considered the first shipbuilder of his day.
His brother John Pile was born at Sunderland in 1820, and served his apprenticeship in Yarm-on-Tees. In 1852 he moved to Hartlepool to develop a shipyard in the newly opened Jackson’s Dock. In 1889 the people of West Hartlepool presented him with a marble bust of himself, now in the collection at the Gray Art Gallery, Hartlepool,in recognition of the role he played in the industrial development of the town.
Pile was married, in 1849, to Miss I. Rickaby, of Coniscliffe, near Darlington'
See also
- 1852 — Lizzie Webber ship image and more information on William Pile
- 1853 — Crest of the Wave
- 1856 — Lammermuir
- 1861 — Kelso
- 1864 — City of Adelaide
- 1865 — Maitland
- 1869 — Miako
- 1869 — Osaka