THE BLACKWAM, YARD. 1 93 



ill the raising of the wooden walls of old England upon the 

 banks of the Thames. The Blackwall ship-building yard 

 has a chronicle of varied interests, extending over three 

 centuries. For our present purpose it must suffice to give 

 a few particulars relating to its later history. During the 

 greater part of the last century the yard was owned by the 

 Perry family. Mr. John Perry built Moor Hall, Harlow, 

 whence he was in the habit of drivinq; to Blackwall, alono- 

 the then dangerous road through Epping Forest, stopping 

 to dine at Woodford, where he is said to have always taken 

 his own wine with him, paying at the inn for what he 

 might have been expected to consume. Shortly before the 

 century closed, Mr. Perry's daughter was married to Mr. 

 C. E. Green's grandfather, Mr. George Green. The bride- 

 groom's father had neglected his important brewery at 

 Chelsea, through devotion to four-in-hand driving and other 

 amusements, in which there is more pride than profit ; but 

 Mr. George Green was well provided for by admission to a 

 partnership in Mr. Perry's business. He used to relate with 

 much satisfaction how, on one of George the Third's visits 

 to Blackwall Yard, to see the ships then building for the 

 British Navy, he had the honour of buckling on the King's 

 spurs. Early in the present century. Sir Robert W'igram, 

 of Walthamstow House, also became interested in the yard. 

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