The most comprehensive history of Portsmouth Dockyard ever published. The importance of Portsmouth in the annals of British naval history cannot be overstated. Here Paul Brown seeks to fill the gaps left by other histories and tell the full story for the first time. Complemented by extensive illustrations, this work embraces the history since the first dockyard in 1212 to the present day naval base and historic dockyard, covering the technical, organisational and social aspects of the story. From the late 18th century to the early 20th century Portsmouth was Britain's premier dockyard and naval base and the largest industrial organisation in the world; now it is one of the country's leading tourist attractions. Drawing on original research, combined with data from authoritative secondary sources, this exciting new book is intended to be the most comprehensive history of Portsmouth Dockyard ever published. AUTHOR: Paul Brown was born and brought up in Gosport, Hampshire. From a naval family and with a life-long interest in maritime affairs and the history of Portsmouth, he is a retired academic and now a writer, researcher, speaker and photographer who has lectured at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. He lives in Northamptonshire and has previously written Maritime Portsmouth and Historic Sail. SELLING POINTS: . New research from an expert author and historian . New focus on social history alongside the more usual industrial (technological / architectural / organisational) and naval history of the yard . Also includes the modern 20th -century history of the dockyard . New research features sections on building Dreadnought, the social history including discipline and security and the Royal . Naval Academy, and some of the material on dockyard apprentices, and much more besides . With a wide array of accompanying illustrations, including a vibrant colour section 30 colour, 130 b/w illustrations