Selborne Graving Dock Explained

Selborne Graving Dock
Map Type:Cape Town
Building Type:Dry dock
Architectural Style:Graving
Location:Naval Base Simon's Town, Simon's Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Client:British Admiralty
Owner:Department of Defence (South Africa)
Coordinates:-34.1919°N 18.44°W
Main Contractor:Sir John Jackson Ltd

The Selborne Graving Dock is a dry dock in Simon's Town, South Africa. It is situated within the Naval Base Simon's Town. It is named for William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne, the High Commissioner for Southern Africa at the time of construction.

History

On 27 July 1900[1] a tender for the construction of a yard was awarded to Sir John Jackson Ltd. The construction used Portland cement from England, as well as granite blocks from Norway. The foundation stone was laid on, and the dry dock was opened on,[1] by the Duke of Connaught.[2]

The Dockyard (including the dry dock) was handed to South Africa in 1957,[1] [3] as part of the Simonstown Agreement.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Naval Dockyard celebrates centenary. defenceWeb.co.za. 4 November 2010. 14 May 2017.
  2. News: Opening of Selborne Graving Dock. Wanganui Chronicle. 4 November 1910. 18 February 2014. L . 12652 . 5.
  3. Robson . Linda Gillian . 2011 . The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact . PhD thesis . University of Pretoria . Pretoria . 109 . 2263/26503.