Campbell, Johnstone and Co
Of North Woolwich, London.
Shipbuilder and Iron bridge constructors.
1868 'Large numbers of workmen are now employed in preparing for the launch of the immense iron dry dock from the premises of Messrs. Campbell, Johnstone, and Co., at North Woolwich. Several steamers will be engaged for the purpose, and every necessary appliance will be supplied from the Government dockyards. The vast structure is a very prominent object on the river shore, and it is intended to launch her sideways into the water.'[1]
1869 'Orders from the Admiralty have been issued to the authorities at Sheerness to have Campbell Johnstone, and Co.'s iron dock ready to leave the Medway for Bermuda on the first convenient day after the 2lst instant. The dock will be in charge of Staff-Commander Haynes, and the Government inspector, Mr. Barnaby, will also take a passage in the huge structure. It was first intended that the crew should have consisted of 60, but the number has now been extended to 100, for whom there has been stored a stock of provisions sufficient to last them nine months. The dock will also be provided with three lighthouses, two guns, a quantity of rockets, fog signals, and Coulomb's flashing lights. Nothing that money could provide or human ingenuity could suggest has been omitted to insure the safe arrival of this leviathan dock at its destination.'[2]
1870 Description and illustrations of iron lattice girder railway bridge designed by John Mortimer Heppel.[3]. See illustration.