"Bulwark" and "Robust" were suspended on the stocks in March 1861 in an advanced state of construction. The Controller "had plans prepared for the "Bulwark" to be converted into a twin turret breastwork monitor but they were never used. As Edward Reed pointed out this was a wise policy as they would have been inferior to, and yet more costly than, iron-hulled ships built from scratch." "In war time the rapidity with which these ships might be converted into iron-clads would probably outweigh these considerations". "Bulwark" and "Robust" were eventually broken up in March 1873 and August 1872 respectively.