Henri Grace a Dieu

Henry Grace à Dieu by Anonymous
Source: wikimedia commons

13th June 1514, Woolwich Dockyards, London. King Henry VIII flagship, Henri Grace a Dieu, was launched and became the most advanced, biggest (50m long) and heavily armed (43 cannons) warship carrack in the world at that time. "Great Harry" (as nicknamed) was first ship build in Woolwich Dockyard. First Royal dockyards were built at Portsmouth during Henry VII reign with the main purpose to build trade ships. Henry VIII had different priorities - threats from France and Spain make it essential to building warships. Woolwich and Deptford are located close to London, at Thames river.

"(...) there was a threat of war from England's Catholic neighbours, France and Spain. Portsmouth was a long way from the Armouries in the Tower of London, where all ships were equipped with cannon and artillery. To make the building of warships more convenient, Henry decided to build two dockyards on the Thames in 1513. These would be close to London where it was easier to get arms, supplies for building the ships and a ready labour force. Henry chose Woolwich and Deptford as his sites as they were also conveniently near his Palace at Greenwich, which meant that he could watch the shipbuilding in progress." Source: The Royal Dockyards of Deptford and Woolwich