Date

Historical Event

Current status

1710

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

Replica of a 1712 engine on display at Dudley

1769

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

1800

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

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

Three quarter size replica. Now on display at New Port Downie - The Falkirk Wheel

1812

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 built by Henry Bell - first successful passenger steamboat used on the Clyde.

Replica can be seen at Port Glasgow town centre

1815

PS Margery - First use of a steamboat on the Thames between London and Gravesend

1832

First practical electric motors being developed

1835

Screw Propeller patented by Francis Pettit Smith

1837

Queen Victoria accession to the throne

1838

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

1839

SS Archimedes - Built 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 - first iron screw steamer providing an Atlantic passenger service

Restored and on display at Bristol

1843

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.

1857

Thames Conservancy formed

1858

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

1859

Re-chargeable electric battery invented - lead acid type

1865

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

1866

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

1867

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

Restored as a static exhibit, on display at Greenwich

1870

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

Static display at Beale Park

1870

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

1871

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 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 - using spar torpedoes

1875

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 which lead to the development of the successful Internal Combustion engine, by others

1876

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

1887

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

Salters passenger steamboat service started between Oxford and Kingston with Alaska

Alaska was rescued and completely rebuilt in  1987 and is now privately owned; available for private outings

1889

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 - at 30 mph was fastest steam launch on the Thames, built by G.F.G. Desvignes for umpire use

1893

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

1893

Speedy - the last large warship built by Thornycroft at Chiswick

1893

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 - 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 using the patented Consuta plywood

Restored 2001 and now operational at various events on the Thames each year

1901

Queen Victoria dies

1904

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

1908

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

1908

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.