In 2008 VT's UK shipbuilding and support operations were merged with those of BAE Systems to create BVT Surface Fleet.

John Isaac Thornycroft had shown shipbuilding ability when, aged 16, he began building a small steam launch in 1859.

The vessel was named Nautilus and in 1862 it proved to be the first steam launch with enough speed to follow the contenders in the University race.

During the 1890s it became increasingly difficult for the new vessels to pass under the Hammersmith Bridge – masts and funnels had to be lowered or removed, and put back in place again further down the Thames, and if something went wrong during trials and the boat had to return to the yard, then the whole process had to be reversed.

In 1904 the former Oswald Mordaunt yard[5] at Woolston was acquired from Mordey, Carney & Co, and production of larger ships gradually moved there.

[10] His daughter, naval architect Blanche Thornycroft worked alongside him (and after his death) testing models, calculating and recording results.

The construction on Platt's Eyot included yachts and – during the two world wars – a large number of small vessels for the Royal Navy.

In the inter-war years there was still some construction for the Royal Navy at Woolston, but the yard also built civilian ships, like the ferry SS Robert Coryndon for Uganda in 1930.

Production was delayed by several bombings, probably influenced by the yard's proximity to the Spitfire-building Supermarine factory, also situated in Woolston.

The largest naval vessel built at Woolston during the war years was the fast minelayer HMS Latona of 2,650 tons, with turbines capable of 72,000 shaft horsepower (53,690 kW) and a speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph).

Thornycroft's design was much closer to what the navy wanted, with its low silhouette, silenced engines and shallow draught.