The launching of the ORWELL East Indiaman at Halifax shipyard, Ipswich, on Thursday the 28th of August 1817
Printer
J Raw
Date1817
Object number00004455
NamePamphlet
MediumPaper
DimensionsOverall: 260 x 173 x 12 mm, 293 g
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis booklet contains lyrics of a song commemorating the launch of the East Indiaman ORWELL on 28 August 1817 at Halifax Shipyard. It was printed and sold by J Raw in Ipswich. It contains historical notes on Ipswich, shipbuilding, details of the new ship and an illustration of the launch.HistoryEstablished in 1600, the Honourable East India Company (EIC) had established trading 'factories' in India by 1609 and had built its own shipyard at Deptford on the River Thames to construct the biggest and best merchant vessels of the period - the famous East Indiamen. Under Charles II the EIC was granted an enlarged Charter giving them a virtual monopoly on all British trade east of the Cape of Good Hope, including trade with India, China and the new British colonies in eastern Australia.
Even in the early half of the 19th century when the EIC was in decline, the vessels being produced by the yards at Deptford, Blackwall and Ipswich - where the ORWELL was built - were still of the highest standard and considered by many to be the 'Lords of the East'.
Built at the Jabez Bayley yard at Ipswich, England in 1816/1817, the East India Company ship ORWELL was built from over 2,000 tons of English oak, 1,000 tons of wrought iron, and 30 tons of copper. The ORWELL was one of the largest sailing vessels ever built for the East India Company, and reflected the increasing amount of cargo - in particular tea - being carried by the Company's ships in the 1820s between China and England. The ORWELL was considered a First Class Company ship, and made eight successful return voyages to the Far East between 1818 and 1832.
SignificanceThe launch of an East India Company ship - especially one that had been built away from the Company's usual yards at Blackwall and Deptford - would have been seen as no small event by the people of Ipswich. The publisher of The Launching of the ORWELL was no doubt cashing in on this local interest by publishing this new song commemorating the event.
early-mid 19th century
