Book excerpt: Anthony Burton's concise and informative guide to British shipbuilding will be absorbing reading for anyone who wants to learn about its history or find out about the life of a shipbuilder and his family. In a clear and accessible way he traces its development from the medieval period to its peak in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and on into the present day. He describes how, at the height of its powers, it was of immense importance. It employed tens of thousands of workers, so a large proportion of the population today has some connection with it. And this great industry was also so widespread that wherever you move around the coast of Britain, you will never be far from a former shipbuilding center.This practical handbook will be an invaluable guide for family and local historians and for readers with a more general interest in shipbuilding. It introduces the variety of national and local records that are available for genealogical research and considers the many other resources that can yield fascinating information about the industry and those who worked in it.