Implementing and operating the Portsmouth Block Mill, 1803–1812

ABSTRACT

The Portsmouth Block Mill is a well-known early industrial concern, but little is known about its management and use. It was built in 1803 as part of Samuel Bentham’s reforms to naval administration and operations. Past research based on an analysis of the machinery considers the Mill as a ‘production line’. Newly found archival materials show staff numbers, hours, work assignments and output. These allow insights into the management of workers, machinery and materials along with insights into overall facility organization. These detailed analyses of the factory’s operations allow inferences about historic factory management practices more generally.

KEYWORDS:

• Portsmouth Block Mill
• Samuel Bentham
• Marc Isambard Brunel
• production line
• industrial revolution

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland for their grant supporting this research. I would also like to thank anonymous reviewers and the discussants at various conferences for their helpful comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Caveat: Even if the machines were not used as described this has no significant implication 
for the following analysis. The workload would simply fall more heavily on the mid-range machines and workers would spend more time on them, and the need to move workers between machines slightly affected but not fundamentally changed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

James M. Wilson

Dr. James M. Wilson is a Senior Lecturer in Operations Management at the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow. He was educated in the USA and holds undergraduate degrees in Electrical Technology (BScTech) and Political Science (BSc), post graduate degrees in Economics (MA) and Finance (MBA), and a PhD in Operations Management. He has worked in an engineering capacity and as a production planner. His research interests focus on the History of Operations Management and Manufacturing Information Systems. His publications include several on the history of production management and inventory control models. In 2011 he received the John F. Mee Award for the Best Contribution.in Management History for his paper on Ford’s development and use of the moving assembly line.