1700

1710 Thomas Newcomen builds the first practical steam engine.

Thomas Newcomen builds the first practical steam engine (atmospheric engine also known as a fire engine.

1769 James Watt develops the steam engine.

James Watt develops the steam engine with the invention and patenting of the condenser.

1800

1800 Richard Trevithick introduced the use of high pressure steam.

Richard Trevithick introduced the use of high pressure steam at a Cornish mine. Pressure was around 40 psi; about ten times the pressure used in Watt engines. High pressure steam engines were lighter so could be used for all forms of mechanised transport unlike the massive James Watt beam engines.

1801 Charlotte Dundas built by William Symington.

Charlotte Dundas built by William Symington for towing work on the Forth & Clyde Canal.

1812 New Locks on Thames

Until this time the Thames was tidal up to Staines. Each lock built lower downriver needed an act of Parliament. The new locks now made the river non tidal above Teddington.

1814 Comet - First Successful Passenger Boat

In 1812 Henry Bell commissioned his steam-boat the Comet, of 30 tons displacement, with an engine of three horsepower. The Comet, named after a great comet which had been visible for several months in 1811-12, was constructed by Messrs John Wood and Co.

In August 1814 Bell advertised a passenger service on the Comet between Glasgow, Greenock and Helensburgh three times a week, returning on alternate days.

1815 PS Margery - First use of a steamboat on the Thames

PS Margery - First use of a steamboat on the Thames between London and Gravesend. PS Richmond may have started taking passengers in 1813

1832 First practical electric motors being developed

First practical electric motors being developed.

1835 Screw Propeller patented by Francis Pettit Smith

The screw Propeller was patented by Francis Pettit Smith in 1835. However there is a great deal on controversy over who actually invented the propeller. In truth the idea had been around for centuries and the advent of steam propulsion renewed interest at around the same time from a number of people. These include James Steadman, Robert Wilson and Richard Jordan Gatling.

1837 Queen Victoria accession to the throne

Queen Victoria accession to the throne.

1838 Great Western

Great Western - a wooden paddle steamer makes the first crossing of the Atlantic by steam power alone.

1839 SS Archimedes - first successful use of a propeller

SS Archimedes - Built on the Thames in London was the first successful use of a propeller instead of the paddle wheel. Circumnavigated the UK in 1840; influenced Isambard Brunel to use screw rather than paddle for the SS Great Britain.

1843 SS Great Britain built by Brunel

SS Great Britain built by Brunel - first iron screw steamer providing an Atlantic passenger service

1843 HMS Rattler

HMS Rattler - built at Sheerness was the first naval ship fitted with a propeller. There were a series of trials; screw versus paddle, the screw always proved superior in pull and speed.

Most famous against paddler HMS Alecto in 1845.

1850

1857 Thames Conservancy formed

Thames Conservancy formed.

1858 Nautilus - first Thornycroft steam launch built

Nautilus - first steam launch built by J.I. Thornycroft on the Thames completed 1863.

1859 Re-chargeable electric battery invented

Re-chargeable electric battery invented - lead acid type.

1865 Headly & Yarrow Company formed

Alfred Yarrow establishes Headly & Yarrow Company on the Thames at Poplar.

1866 Thames Conservancy assumes navigation responsibility

Thames Conservancy assumes responsibility for the river navigation from Lechlade to Teddington.

1867 First "practical" dynamos invented

First "practical" dynamos invented independently by Siemens and Wheatstone. Providing a means of recharging the lead acid cells (ie secondary battery).

1869 Cutty Sark - maiden voyage

Cutty Sark - maiden voyage.

1870 Thames Conservancy weed clearance starts.

Thames Conservancy starts to clear the weed obstructing steam screw powered vessel navigation.

1870 Cygnet - built by J.I. Thornycroft at Chiswick; yard no. 9

Cygnet - built by J.I. Thornycroft at Chiswick; yard no. 9

Now on static display at Beale Park.

1870 Miranda, built by Thornycroft, exceeds 18 knots

Miranda - built by Thornycroft, yard no.10 astonishes naval experts with a speed in excess of 18 knots. A paper was given to the Institute of Naval Architects by Professor Bramwell

1871 first use of a steam launch the Henley Royal Regatta

Thought to be first use of a steam launch to carry umpires at the Henley Royal Regatta, possibly using Thornycroft steam launch Ariel

1873 Eva - built by J.I. Thornycroft

Eva - built by J.I. Thornycroft yard no 34 also used for umpire duty before cabin fitted.

Restored to full working order, now on display as a static exhibit at the Henley River and Rowing Museum.

1875 Rap - first torpedo boat supplied to Norway

Rap - first torpedo boat supplied to Norway - using spar torpedoes.

On display at a Museum in Norway.

1875 G.F.G. Desvignes starts 20 years of umpire launch building

G.F.G. Desvignes built the umpire launches for the Henley Royal Regatta for the next 20 years

1876 Otto patented the four stroke engine principle

Otto patented the four stroke engine principle which lead to the development of the successful Internal Combustion engine, by others.

1876 Lightning - first torpedo boat built by Thornycroft for the Admiralty

Lightning - first torpedo boat built by Thornycroft for the Admiralty to carry the new self propelled Whitehead torpedoes. Large numbers of torpedo boats were made for the Admiralty and navy's around the world by Thornycroft and Yarrow

1882 Electricity - the first electric launch on the Thames

Electricity - the first electric launch on the Thames.

1887 Yarrow patented a three drum design watertube boiler

Yarrow patented a three drum design watertube boiler. Lighter water tube boilers were now being use in naval vessels instead of the heavier loco types.

1888 Alaska starts Salters passenger steamboat service

Salters passenger steamboat service started between Oxford and Kingston with Alaska.

1889 Electric launch hire business starts on the Thames

Moritz Immisch employed Magnus Volk as manager to develop an electric launch hire business based at Platts Ayot. Steam dynamo stations were set up on barges at various locations on the Thames for re-charging batteries.

1893 Hibernia achieves 28 mph

Hibernia - at 28 mph was fastest steam launch on the Thames, built by G.F.G. Desvignes for umpire use.

1893 Daring, Decoy, Havock, Hornet

Daring (immediately below), Decoy, Havock (below) and Hornet were the first of a new class of warship called torpedo boat destroyer commissioned by the Admiralty from Thornycroft and Yarrow respectively at their Thames yards.

1893 HMS Speedy - last large warship built at Chiswick

HMS Speedy - the last large warship built by Thornycroft at Chiswick.

To fit under London’s bridges, masts and funnels had to be removed and replaced downriver and Greenhithe, near Dartford. The picture above shows the launch of HMS Speedy in May, 1893

1893 Lodona - built for Mr Palmer of Huntley and Palmers

Lodona - built by Kingdon Yacht, Launch and Engineering Co. Ltd (G.F.G Desvignes) for Mr Palmer of Huntley and Palmers of Reading. 1923 purchase by the Thames Conservancy renamed Donola used as inspection launch until 1969.

Now owned by the National Maritime Museum and held in store - not currently on public display

1897 Turbinia - first successful use of steam turbines.

Turbinia - built by Charles Parsons, first successful vessel using steam turbines.

On static display at the Museum of Discovery Newcastle upon Tyne.

1898 Consuta - built by S.E. Saunders at Goring

Consuta - built by S.E. Saunders at Goring using the patented Consuta plywood.

Restored 2001 and now operational on the Thames each year.

1900

1901 Queen Victoria dies

1904 Saunders moves to the Isle of Wight

Saunders sets up the syndicate and moves to the IoW to exploit the use of Consuta plywood. Springfield works at Goring sold to Hobbs c1908.

1927 became SaundersRoe, and now part of GKN.

1908 Thornycroft moved to the Hampton launch works

Thornycroft moved to the Hampton launch works at Platts Eyot, building small craft

Yard closed 1964

1908 Thornycroft establishes yard at Woolston, Southampton

Thornycroft establishes a ship building yard at Woolston, Southampton.

Woolston yard closed in 2002. Thornycroft became Vosper Thornycroft in 1970 based at Portsmouth, now known as VT.

1909 Thornycroft's Chiswick yard closed.

Thornycroft's Chiswick yard closed.