Shipbuilding - the Great Western and the Royal Charter

My wife has a newspaper cutting referring to her GGF, Richard White
Manning, which states that he was a nephew of William Patterson who
"built the Great Western, the Royal Charter" and other ships in Bristol
and maybe elsewhere (as if anyone could single-handedly build such
ships :-). Does anybody here know anything about this man or these
ships? There's stuff on the web about the Great Western and more than
one Royal Charter - but I'm looking specifically at this man's
involvement. Where should I look? (As ever, I never have enough time
:-)

Graeme Wall...

There are various references to William Patterson in L T C Rolt's biography
of Isambard Kingdom Brunel[1]. It was Patterson's Dock in Bristol where the
Great Western was built and is now preserved. Patterson was also one of the
first on the site of the stranding of the Great Britain, Brunel's second
ship, in Dundrum Bay on her maiden voyage.

CWatters...

He is also listed as one of the designers of the SS Great Britain....

[1] And doubtless in other biographies of IKB

Hugh Watkins...

1881 England Census Record about William Patterson

Name: William Patterson
Age in 1881: 56

Estimated birth year: abt 1825
Relationship to head-of-household: Lodger

Gender: Male
Where born: Bristol City & County
Address: 119 City Road
Civil parish: Bristol St James & St Paul Out ( outside the old city parish)
County/Island: Gloucestershire
Condition as to marriage: Widow
Occupation: Ship Builder

Source information: RG11/2486
Registration district: Barton Regis <<<<< AKA Clifton
Sub-registration district: Ashley
ED, institution, or vessel: 16
Folio: 66
Page: 16

I found him by using 1881 as a freebie 1881 census

William Patterson
keyword(s)
bristol ship

LOL my grandfather lived across the street Alfred T. Lapham abt 1873

BTW
View Record Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Residence
View Image

Alfred Lapham abt 1843 Bristol City & County Head 120 City Road,
Bristol St James & St Paul Out, Gloucestershire, England << g
grandfather and all scottish Lapham descend from his brother

Alfred T. Lapham abt 1873 Bristol City & County Son 120 City Road,
Bristol St James & St Paul Out, Gloucestershire, England

Alice A. Lapham abt 1877 Bristol City & County Daughter 120 City
Road, Bristol St James & St Paul Out, Gloucestershire, England

Fanny Bartley Lapham nee Ball abt 1841 Pitchcombe, << I share her
middle name
Gloucestershire, England Wife 120 City Road, Bristol St James & St Paul
Out, Gloucestershire, England

no 120 burned down before 1891

Hugh W

JohnB...

This is great stuff. When we checked census records we found a lot of
William Pattersons but were struggling to find one that matched, mostly
because I wasn't bright enough to consider a filter by occupation!
However, I'm wondering if there was more than one WP, perhaps father
and son, because he is mentioned as involved in the building of the
Great Western in 1837 when the gentleman above would have been only 12!
Also the yard was referred to by the Patterson name, so there must
presumably have been a long-established family business.

Forrest Anderson...

Father and son did appear to share the same name. The Times of 21 and
22 Sep 1859 had the following letters, which should give a good idea
of the father's involvement in the design of these ships:

The Times, 21 Sep 1859
Sir,
In the notice of the late Mr Brunel, which appears in The Times of
this morning, it is stated that the Great Britain was designed and
built under Mr Brunel's superintendence, and that he was the designer
of the Great Western. Allow me to state through your columns that my
father, Mr W Patterson, was the designer of both these steamships, and
the only correct lines of them are now in my possession.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM PATTERSON, Jun.
Great Western Ship-yard, Bristol, Sept. 19.

The Times, 21 Sep 1859
THE GREAT WESTERN AND GREAT BRITAIN.
Sir,
Mr William Patterson, jun, has claimed for his father the merit of
being the designer of the Great Western and Great Britain, and it is
beyond dispute that the lines were his; and, perhaps, it would have
been nearer the mark had your notice stated that the Great Western and
Great Britain were emanations of Mr Brunel's genius. I was the
managing director of the company which built both ships, Mr Patterson,
a friend of my own, having been pointed out by me to Mr Brunel as a
man of talent and above prejudice, and one more than any other man I
knew likely to carry out his intentions, views, or whatever term best
suits the occasion, if design does not fit. Mr Patterson drew the
lines; Mr Brunel, Mr Guppy, and myself, often sat over them; Mr
Patterson got instructions and made his own calculations accurately;
Brunel made his also often by my side. The company built their own
ships, Mr Patterson superintending the building of them. Mr Brunel
advised the directors, and having the responsibility of the engines,
aided Mr Patterson, if that term is better approved by his son, in his
praiseworthy effort in upholding that which I think requires no effort
- his father's fame. That as a shipbuilder is established, and I have
always thought, and still believe, he was proud in being called upon
to assist Mr Brunel. Of this I am quite certain, had Patterson died
and Brunel lived, the latter would have been the first to bear
testimony to the share the former had in the construction of both
vessels.
Your obedient servant
C. CLAXTON.
Chelsea, Sept. 21.

I think more research is required! - But many thanks for your
contributions so far.