White's Shipyard

Site of Shipyards.

Site of Shipyards in Ferrybank Waterford City.

© Waterford City Library

Site of Shipyards.
© Waterford City Library

Site of Shipyards.

Site of Shipyards in Ferrybank Waterford City.

© Waterford City Library

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Previously site of White's shop. The Whites family were prominent Quaker entrepreneurs in Waterford with extensive shipping business interests in the city. They began trading in O'Connell Street (then King Street) in 1776 selling sugar and groceries. They were soon stocking imported goods such as tea, coffee, spices, sugar, hemp and tar, as the business grew they became ship owners and builders.

William White opened the shipyard in Ferrybank in 1820, many of their skilled workers and labours were recruited locally. Between 1820 and 1870 the craftsmen and artisans built over sixty wooden sailing ships.

The work was of such a high quality that the reputation of Whites grew nationally and internationally, leading cross - channel ship owners in Britain including Beasley and Blyth ordered ships.

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