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The Britannia Heritage Shipyard Project

Occupying an area of approximately 8 acres in Steveston, Richmond B.C. The BHS is run as part of a non profit society with the aim of preserving the historical aspects of the area; in particular, preserving the history of ship building in Steveston.

During the latter half of the 19th century, Steveston was a small fishing village, and became famous for it's canning industry. At that time there were about 15 canneries operating. Only one now remains at the western edge of Steveston and is run as a museum, but the one at the most eastern edge of Steveston is the one that is at the centre of this photographic project. This cannery was an L shaped structure built on pilings over the inter-tidal marsh and was built in 1889, but was converted to a shipyard in 1917-18.

Some of the boats that have been restored and still are being restored include the Masters, the only remaining steam driven tug boat in the world, the Fleetwood, which was used as a rum runner during the prohibition years, and the Iona, a collector boat. Collector boats would transport the catch, from the fishing boats out at sea, packed in ice, to the harbor allowing the main fishing vessels to continue their operations without loosing time.

I first saw the Britannia Heritage Shipyard in 2007 and knew that I wanted to photograph at the site but I did not have my camera with me. I made arrangements to visit it in the summer of 2008 and spent a week doing this. The shipyard contains a large slip that can accommodate two boats for restoration. Many workbenches take up most of one arm of the L, where carpenters, mechanics and electricians worked. Large windows let in light and provide beautiful vistas of the surroundings. The workbenches and artifacts are presented in a very natural way so one gets the feeling of what it must have been like to be working in the building. Workers' clothing, boots, pin up calendars, and everyday utensils give one a poignant feeling for the men worked who worked there, while the employers are evident from the many cautionary signs posted everywhere. It was this wonderful sense of presence that moved me to want to photograph here.

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"Fleetwood" and "Iona"
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Britannia Shipyard Entrance
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"Starliner" and "Masters"
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Lockers
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Worker's Clothing
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Worker's Utensils
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Decorative Rope Work, Doormat
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Horseshoe and Sign
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"East Hope" Engine
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Punch Press and Barrow
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Table Saw
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Power Hacksaw
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Forge
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Work Bench
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Carpenter's Bench
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Stowage Under Stairs
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Work Bench and Window
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Work Bench with Views
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"Masters", Sunset
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Britannia Shipyard, Sunset

All 20 photographs © David Butts



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