The name Erith comes from the Saxon ‘Earhyth’ meaning muddy landing place. It was traditionally a small port along the
River Thames. In the 16th century
King Henry VIII established a naval dockyard in Erith. It became a trading hub, as spices and cotton from the East Indies were delivered onto London. A naval storehouse was constructed at Erith in 1512 that was managed by the Keeper of the Kings Storehouses who was one of the Clerks of the Kings Marine a Tudor (naval administrator).[2] Erith Dockyard was used as an advance base for routine maintenance before ships were transferred to
Deptford Dockyard.[3] It closed due to persistent flooding in 1521.[4] However, according to naval historian
Nicholas A. M. Rodger although Erith dockyard closed it was an important center of naval administration of the English Navy from 1514 into the 1540s.[5]
Administration of the dockyard and other key officials
The Master Shipwright was usually the
key official at the royal navy dockyards until the introduction of resident commissioners by the
Navy Board after which he became deputy to the resident commissioner. In 1832 the post of commissioner was usually replaced by the post of
admiral superintendent.
^Rodger, N.A.M (1997). The safeguard of the sea : a naval history of Britain. Vol 1., 660-1649. London, England: Penguin. pp. 222–223.
ISBN9780140297249.
^Childs, David (March 2010). Tudor sea power : the foundation of greatness. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Pub. pp. 252–253.
ISBN9781848320314.
^Rodger, N.A.M (1997). The safeguard of the sea : a naval history of Britain. Vol 1., 660-1649. London, England: Penguin. pp. 222–223.
ISBN9780140297249.
^Childs, David (March 2010). Tudor sea power : the foundation of greatness. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Pub. pp. 252–253.
ISBN9781848320314.
^Rodger, N.A.M (1997). The safeguard of the sea : a naval history of Britain. Vol 1., 660-1649. London, England: Penguin. pp. 222–223.
ISBN9780140297249.
^Childs, David (March 2010). Tudor sea power : the foundation of greatness. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Pub. pp. 252–253.
ISBN9781848320314.
Childs, David (March 2010). Tudor sea power : the foundation of greatness. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Pub.
ISBN9781848320314.
Oppenheim, Michael (1896). A history of the administration of the royal navy and of merchant shipping in relation to the navy, from MDIX to MDCLX, with an introduction treating of the preceding period. London, New York, J. Lane.
Rodger, N. A. M. (1997). The safeguard of the sea : a naval history of Britain. Vol 1., 660-1649. London, England: Penguin.
ISBN9780140297249.