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 ‘