The department existed until 1707 when England and Scotland united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, after which it was known as the British Admiralty.

Under Henry VIII, the Admiralty supervised the creation of a "Navy Royal",[2] with its own secretariat, dockyards and a permanent core of purpose-built warships.

By the end of the 16th century, corruption within the Admiralty had seriously weakened the Royal Navy, leading to a government enquiry and calls for naval reform.

Organization of Home Naval Base and Dockyards Note: Shipbuilding storehouses during this period were mainly used for masts, rigging and 'Cooperage’ (the making barrels in which most supplies were stored).

In the 16th century an historically important ship was built at the “Henry Grace a Dieu” or “Great Harry” constructed in 1514.

Then known for innovative ship designing resulting in the production of a race-built warship the first of which was HMS Dreadnought launched in 1573 this led to a new phase in naval warfare.

Home Ordnance Yards Gunpowder Magazines Stores In the 19th and 20th centuries referred to as the Justice Department of the Royal Navy.

From its inception in 1483 until 1657 the Court sat in a disused church in Southwark, and from then until 1665 in Montjoy House, a private premises leased from the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral.

The function of an admiralty court initially in the 14th century was to deal with piracy and other offences committed upon the high seas.

His responsibilities included, deciding the outcome of the Prize court (captured by pirate ships), dealing with salvage claims for wrecks, acting as a judge in relation to maritime issues.

In English legal theory, the Lord Admiral, as vice-regal of the monarch, was the only person who had authority over matters relating to the sea.

[50] the holder of the post Vice-Admiral of the Coast[29] was responsible for the defence of one of the twenty maritime counties of England, the North and South of Wales.