- Brooke Marine
Brooke Marine (also known as J.W. Brooke & Co. and Brooke Yachts) was a
Lowestoft -based shipbuilding firm. The company constructed boats and small ships for civilian and commercial use, as well as minor warships for theRoyal Navy ,Royal Australian Navy , andUnited States Navy .The company was founded in 1874 as a foundry, expanded into boatbuilding and shipbuilding in the early 1900s, and operated until late 1992.
History
In 1874, John Walter Brooke purchased a small iron and brass foundry in
Lowestoft , Suffolk and founded J.W. Brooke & Co.. The company expanded into building engines in the late 1800s, motor cars in 1902, and speedboats in 1904.In 1911, the company opened a small shipyard at
Oulton Broad , on the north side ofLake Lothing . The increase in boat production led to the cessation of car construction in 1913, and during World War I the company established a munitions factory. Following the war, the shipyard was expanded to produce boats up to convert|52|ft|m in length, while the munitions factory was closed in 1938.During World War II, the company produced and serviced
motor launch es andlanding craft for the Royal Navy and other Allied forces. In 1940, the company was acquired by Harry Dowsett and renamed Brooke Marine.In 1955, a new shipyard was built on the south side of Lake Loathing. The old yard was closed in 1955, and in 1975 was sold and levelled. The first ships produced at the new yard were fishing trawlers ordered by the Russian government.
In 1987, Brooke Marine closed down and was put up for sale. The dockyard and facilities were purchased in May, with the new owners trading under the name Brooke Yachts. The company continued until September 1992, when it ceased trading. Receivers sold off all shipbuilding equipment in 1993. The site of the shipyard is being considered for redevelopment as a waterfront residential area.
References
*cite web |url=http://www.oceanpirate.co.uk/pgs/brooke.html |title=Brooke Marine |work=Ocean Pirate |accessdate=2008-09-14
External links
* [http://www.breda.uk.com 52' Express Cruiser "Breda", previously named "Dab II"] .
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