The office was established in 1546 under Henry VIII of England when the post holder was styled as Surveyor and Rigger of the Navy until 1611.

For vessels built by commercial contract (limited to wartime periods, when the Royal Dockyards could not cope with the volume of work), the Surveyor's office drew the designs to which the private shipbuilders were required to build the vessels.

Before 1832, the building, fitting out and repairing of HM ships were the responsibility of the Navy Board.

Originally the principal officer most involved was the Surveyor of the Navy, who estimated annual stores requirements, inspected ships' stores and kept the Fleet's store-books and repair-bills.

In the eighteenth century his duties passed increasingly to the Comptroller of the Navy.