The Royal Dockyard was established in 1815. Using convict  and slave labour under the supervision of the Royal Engineers from 1824-63 an extensive collection of  buildings and fortifications were constructed over the next 40 years, from the hard aeolian limestone found principally on this sight. This Bermuda Hard Stone had not been worked commercially for 150 years  and I was asked by  Dr. Harris of the Maritime Museum to make a simple head stone  from a quarried  boulder to establish the working methods and quality of the stone. During 2008 a new exhibition will be mounted at the maritime museum explaining the construction of the dockyard .

 

The photos  clock wise. A dockyard workshop. The head stone incorporating an imported 18th century sand stone inscription to the Darrel family. Dr Harris and Mr- Butterfield inspecting the head stone. Me working the stone. Andrew Harris splitting the rock using plugs and feathers ‘