"The first book in series about Lincolnshire shipyards, this tells the story of the growth of the yard at Burton upon Stather on the banks of the River Trent, from a small provincial yard to one known nationally for the quality of the ships built there. researched, written and published by Rodney Clapson. The book records the foresight and energy of the Wray family in planning the yard, and their determination to develop the yard to win orders from the new shipping companies that had been formed to trade with the rapidly-expanding British Empire in the mid 19th century. With details of every ship built at Burton upon Stather and at their earlier yard at nearby Alkborough, census records of the shipwrights and other craftsmen employed there."--Provided by the publisher.