Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Castles Shipbreaking Co Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Castle & Beech
  • Castle, Henry, & Sons Ltd
  • Admiralty Shipbreaking Yard
  • Castle, Henry
  • Baltic Wharf

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Charlton, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
  • Millbank, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
  • Plymouth, City of Plymouth, Devon, South West, England
  • Rotherhithe, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
  • Woolwich, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England

Sectors:

  • Recycling & waste management Shipbreaking
  • Transport equipment production Small craft building & repairing exc ships

Notes:

Traced origins to Henry Castle, 1808-65, who in 1838 established a shipbreaking business at Rotherhithe, London. Subsequently operated, inter alia, as Castle & Beech, from 1850s, and as Henry Castle & Sons. Also built barges, etc, from time to time. Latterly located at Baltic Wharf, near Vauxhall Bridge, until 1841, and established a second breaking yard in 1856 at Charlton, known latterly as Admiralty Shipbreaking Yard. Relocated some operations to Woolwich in 1870s. Incorporated in 1894 as Henry Castle & Sons Ltd and reorganised in 1906 as Castles Shipbreaking Co Ltd. Shipbreaking continued on Thames well into 20th century and latterly Castle family developed breaking interests at Plymouth

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