The panel contains a clock, on either side of which is a female figure, the whole symbolizing Honour and Glory crowning Time. Above all a great dome of iron and glass throws a flood of light down the stairway, and on the landing beneath it a great carved panel gives its note of richness to the otherwise plain and massive construction of the wall. In the middle of the hall rises a gracefully curving staircase, its balustrade supported by light scrollwork of iron with occasional touches of bronze, in the form of flowers and foliage. Dignified and simple oak panelling covers the walls, enriched in a few places by a bit of elaborate carved work, reminiscent of the days when Grinling Gibbons collaborated with his great contemporary, Wren. We leave the deck and pass through one of the doors which admit us to the interior of the vessel, and, as if by magic, we at once lose feeling that we are on board a ship, and seem instead to be entering the hall of some great house on shore. It was described best in the White Star Line brochure “Olympic” / & “Titanic” / Largest Steamers in the World: Perhaps the most famous and recognisable part of the Titanic was the Forward Grand Staircase. At the end of the day, the bourd was returned to the Time Office and the day’s wage was calculated.

A bourd was issued to each shipyard worker at the start of the day, and kept on their person while they worked. Timekeeping bourd’s were in use at the Harland & Wolff Belfast Shipyard between 18. As a result, trades usually stayed within families.Īlongside is a timekeeping bourd from the Pattern Stores Photo Room, Harland & Wolff, Belfast. With the exception of unskilled workers, who were usually tasked with jobs such as hull riveting, an apprenticeship was the only way to join Harland & Wolff and you could only be accepted by recommendation. An apprenticeship with Harland & Wolff was an incredible opportunity for young men interested in shipbuilding. At the peak of construction at the Harland & Wolff yard in Belfast, more than 14,000 men were adding rivets, carving ornate wooden mouldings, and fitting out the ship.īelow is a rare apprenticeship receipt dated 2nd March 1916. It is also stated that the name of the second vessel will be the Titanic.”Ĭonstruction on the Titanic officially began on March 31, 1909, just four months after its nearly identical sister, the Olympic. This will make them about 40 feet longer than the two largest existing Cunarders, and give them an estimated tonnage of from 45,000 to 50,000 gross. Information from Belfast, in addition to the company’s statement, is to the effect that the new vessels will be 840 feet long and 78 feet broad. Both turbines and reciprocating engines will be supplied, and a speed of not less than 21 knots is to be guranteed.

Once, as our correspondent stated, will be called the Olympic. The company issued an announcement yesterday that two steamers are to be built for them at Belfast, and that the keels will be laid down within the next two months. Official confirmation comes from Liverpool of our correspondent’s message of a few days since that the White Star Company intend to build one or two huge vessels to surpass in size any other ships in the world. The names were rumoured in an article dated April 23rd, 1908, for the newspaper The Daily News. This newspaper clipping represents the first time the names “Titanic” and “Olympic” were ever mentioned.

Titanic constuction timelane