There is
scarcely an instance of so large a rate of increase in the
British Islands, save in the exceptional case of Middlesborough,
which was the result of the opening out of the Stockton and
Darlington Railway, and the discovery of ironstone in the hills
of Cleveland in Yorkshire. Dundee and Barrow are supposed to
present the next most rapid increases of population.
The increase of shipping has also been equally great. Ships from
other ports frequented the Lough for purposes of trade; but in
course of time the Belfast merchants supplied themselves with
ships of their own. In 1791 one William Ritchie, a sturdy North
Briton, brought with him from Glasgow ten men and a quantity of
shipbuilding materials. He gradually increased the number of his
workmen, and proceeded to build a few sloops. He reclaimed some
land from the sea, and made a shipyard and graving dock on what
was known as Corporation Ground. In November 1800 the new
graving dock, near the bridge, was opened for the reception of
vessels. It was capable of receiving three vessels of 200 tons
each! In 1807 a vessel of 400 tons burthen was launched from Mr.
Ritchie's shipyard, when a great crowd of people assembled to
witness the launching of "so large a ship"--far more than now
assemble to see a 3000-tonner of the White Star Line leave the
slips and enter the water!
The shipbuilding trade has been one of the most rapidly
developed, especially of late years.
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