The records consist of eight letterbooks and two plans. The latter, ca.1735 and ca.1740, show the initial development of the yard. The letterbooks deal with yard operations in the early-nineteenth century. They include the Commissioner's letters to the yard officers, 1815 to 1829 (1 vol); officers' letters to the Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief, 1809 to 1835 (2 vols); yard officers' letters to the Navy Board and principal officers of the Navy, 1828 to 1835 (2 vols); and one volume of the letters received by the yard officers from the Navy Board, 1815 to 1820. Finally there are two volumes of out-letters from the victualling officers at Port Royal to naval officers and the Commander-in-Chief, 1812 to 1826.

Administrative / biographical background
A naval officer was stationed at Port Royal, Jamaica, from at least 1675, from which time ships were careened there. In the reign of Queen Anne a hulk was established there to facilitate operations and between 1735 and 1744 two careening wharves, capstan houses, storehouses and accommodation for officers and workmen were built. Thereafter the yard's wharf age and storage capacity were increased; coaling sheds and wharves were added in the mid-nineteenth century and a torpedo-boat slip installed in 1900. The yard was closed in 1905 See M. Pawson and D. Buisseret, Port Royal, Jamaica (London,1975)