A book tracing the development of Dockyard is in the works by the National Museum of Bermuda’s publishing arm.

Bermuda Sentinel: The Royal Naval Base 1795 to 1950 written by Jonathan Coad, a naval dockyard historian, begins from when Dockyard comprised just a group of wooden buildings.

It follows through to Dockyard becoming a vital link in the British Empire’s global network of naval bases.

The book focuses on Dockyard’s architectural and civil engineering history and its relationship to the fitting out, victualling, arming and maintenance of warships and associated facilities such as hospitals.

It documents major 19th and 20th century developments in armaments, shipbuilding and propulsion, and communications.

The book the story of officials in Bermuda and London involved in the planning, building and successful operation of a massive industrial complex.

Making extensive use of original documents from the collections of The National Archives [UK], The Royal Museums Greenwich, The Admiralty Library, and NMB, Mr Coad’s book sets the Bermuda Dockyard in the wider context of the other Royal Dockyards in the United Kingdom and overseas.

It reflects the 20th century shift in global power from the United Kingdom to the United States.

Elena Strong, the museum’s executive director, highlighted the Dockyard’s “significant impact” on Bermuda’s history, landscape and heritage.

“It was the largest construction project in Bermuda, involving the labour of enslaved and free men, as well as convicts who were transported from Great Britain.

“At the height of its operation, the Dockyard employed over 5,000 Bermudians, including many apprentices, rigorously educated in the dockyard school and workshops in skilled trades including shipwrights, electrical engineers, engine fitters and boilermakers.

“The Dockyard played a key role in the defence of Britain’s 19th and 20th century global and regional economic and political interests, adding a broader dimension to Bermuda’s significant role in the development of the Atlantic World, which has in turn shaped who we are today.”

NMB Press is an arm of the museum that supports the museum’s work facilitating historical and archaeological research.

It has published more than 40 texts related to Bermuda history, archaeology and heritage that are sold locally and internationally.

Ms Strong added: “Bermuda Sentinel is an essential addition to the growing corpus of NMB Press books on Bermuda’s history and built heritage.”

The museum is inviting subscribers to help publish the text. Subscribers receive recognition in the book, a signed copy of the book, and an invitation to the book launch.

Anyone interested in becoming a subscriber can do so by visiting https://nmb.bm/donate/.