Selborne Graving Dock

The Selborne Graving Dock is a dry dock in Simon's Town, South Africa. It is situated within the Naval Base Simon's Town. It is named for William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne, the High Commissioner for Southern Africa at the time of construction.

Selborne Graving Dock
Location within Cape Town
General information
Type	Dry dock
Architectural style	Graving
Location	Naval Base Simon's Town, Simon's Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Coordinates	34°11′31″S 18°26′24″E
Construction started	15 November 1906; 118 years ago (1906-11-15)
Inaugurated	3 November 1910; 114 years ago (1910-11-03)
Client	British Admiralty
Owner	Department of Defence (South Africa)
Design and construction
Main contractor	Sir John Jackson Ltd

History

On 27 July 1900^[1] a tender for the construction of a yard was awarded to Sir John Jackson Ltd. The construction used Portland cement from England, as well as granite blocks from Norway. The foundation stone was laid on 15 November 1906, and the dry dock was opened on 3 November 1910; 114 years ago (1910-11-03),^[1] by the Duke of Connaught.^[2]

The Dockyard (including the dry dock) was handed to South Africa in 1957,^[1][3] as part of the Simonstown Agreement.

Images

• 
  Construction in 1906
• 
  The ships crests painted on the wall
• 
  The dock split to allow two ships to enter