Ropewalk
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A ropewalk is a long straight narrow lane, or a covered pathway, where long strands of material were laid before being twisted into rope.
Ropewalks historically were harsh sweatshops, and frequently caught on fire, as hemp dust forms an explosive mixture. Rope was essential in sailing ships and the standard length for a British Naval Rope was 1000 ft (305 m). A sailing ship such as HMS Victory required over 20 miles (32 km) of rope.
Downtown Liverpool's bohemian Ropewalks district takes its name from this practice and consists of the lanes where this work once took place.[citation needed]
The ropewalk at Chatham Dockyard is still producing rope commercially, and the rope walk has an internal length of 1,135 ft (346 m). When it was constructed in 1790 it was the longest brick building in Europe. Before steam power was introduced in 1836, it took over 200 men to form and close a 20-inch (circumference) cable laid rope.[1] The rope walk is used to form and close the rope, these being the final stages in rope making. Before this the raw hemp, manila hemp or sisal has to be hatchelled, spun into yarn, and tarred.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "The Historic Dockyard Chatham, where legends were created." Guide Book. 2005. Jarrold Publishing.
[edit] External links
- Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Virginia.
- Boston Harbor Map 8
- Ropewalk: A Cordage Engineer's Journey Through History
- Ropewalks Liverpool
- La Corderie Royale in Rochefort, France
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