Signboard with a ship, anonymous, c. 1700 - c. 1799
Shipyards are situated right on the waterfront, but are often hard to spot from the landward side because of the surrounding buildings. Thus in the past, shipyards – like many shops and homes – would display signboards or gable stones. These showed the name of the company, or the work carried out there. Naturally ships often featured on signboards for shipyards.