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In 1820 Hilhouse & Sons developed the New Dockyard (Chatham Yard), and built two wet docks, a dry dock and building berths. This was to replace their Hotwell Dock. Charles Hill had joined the Hilhouse Company in 1810 as a shipwright and in 1845 he took over the company and it became Charles Hill & Sons and was called Albion Yard from 1848. Charles Hill & Sons went bust in 1977 and in 1980 the Albion Dockyard was taken over by Abels Shipbuilders. Abels stopped trading in 2016 after the retirement of David Abel.

Bristol Shipyards- Hilhouse in red – Wikipedia

The new dockyard for Hillhouse and Sons built on virgin bankside. In the background is Sydney Row which was built for key workers at the dockyard.

Albion Dockyard ss Bristol City 1917 — Launch of SS Bristol City 1917

To the right of this picture you can see the clock tower on the Dockside Offices.

Top left is Steamship House, in Great Western Dockyard, where the SS Great Britain engine was built which was bombed in 1942. In 1917 it was Wickham and Norris, Timber Merchants.

Top centre is McArthur’s Wharehouse which was demolished in 2019. In the late 19C it was a working malt-house.

charles hill from mardyke 1935 — Charles Hills from Mardyke 21 October 1935 – launch of John King tug – Reece Winstone

PBA790 30 05 – 1938 – Launch of mv “Brockley Combe” at Charles Hill’s Dockyard. HMS “Flying Fox” (distant, far right) has been moved from her usual mooring on Mardyke to accommodate the launch.

PBA1881 Launch of Gracechurch from Charles Hill’s shipyard

Charles Hill Albion Yard 1947 – Western Daily Press

PBAN6148 Drag-boat BD6 being dismantled in Charles Hill’s Dry Dock.The boat was built to Brunel’s design in 1843 for dredging in the Floating Harbour.

Albion Yard Dockside Offices — Dockside Clock Tower 2018.

This building was the head office of Charles Hill. To the right you can see the Banksy art work of October 2014 ‘ Girl with Pierced Eardrum’ which was vandalised the day after it was painted. In April 2020 this image received a mask to reflect the Coronavirus pandemic.

Albion Dockyard 1955 — On the left you can see the timber yard on Chatham Wharf which became the marina in the 1980s

charles hill shipyard 1946 rw — Charles Hill Shipyard with Chatham Timber Wharf on right 1946 – Reece Winstone

Charles Hill & Sons Boston City Paul T — Boston City launched at Charles Hill and Son

Graving Dock Charles Hill Dockyard -Harry Brown — Harry Brown sand dredger

Last ship launched from the Albion Dockyard 1976 – the world’s first purpose built beer tanker – it was scrapped in 1996

Bristol Marina Albion Dockyard 1980s – Bristol Museums MHC34

28 Swans 14th January 2016 — Twenty Eight Swans at Baltic Wharf Marina

Richard Rankin, the owner of No. 7 Boats, also holds the honorary title of ‘Swan Keeper’.

According to Mr Rankin there are up to 40 swans on the river at any one time so 28 in one place could be a record.

Forth Hope Georgetown in the 1820 Graving Dock — The last refit in Albion Yard August 2016

In July 2018 the SS Great Britain Trust revealed a new partnership with the newly established the neighbouring Albion Dock Company in collaboration with Bristol City Council.

Pelican of London Albion Dock 16 Sept 2018

The Pelican of London is the first ship in the Graving Dock under the new Albion Dock Company.