2-995-769 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Messrs. Forrestt's Life-Boat Building Yard, Limehouse, [London], 1860. 'The accompanying Engraving represents the building establishment...known as Norway Yard...where the boats of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are constructed. The firm of Messrs. Forrestt is well known to the mercantile navy, having been in existence ever since 1786, during which period some thousands of their little craft have been carried by the shipping of England over the wide waters of the world. From this yard have also been launched boats of every size and variety - from the small, gaily-painted pleasure-boat floating on the ornamental waters of the stately homes of England...to the more useful-looking cargo-vessels employed in our colonies, or some of the smaller of those dashing clipper-yachts of which England and her aristocracy are so justly proud. At the time our Sketch was taken as many as fourteen of the life-boats of the National Life-boat Institution were in different stages of construction, some of them only in frame, others prepared to be dispatched to their stations, to be ready for their errands of mercy'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.