Solway built Sailing Vessels


Chris Michael.

This covers sailing vessels built in the Solway: at Ravenglass, Whitehaven, Harrington, Workington, Maryport, Port Carlisle, Annan and the river Nith. Dates to 1860. [under construction]

See also:
Early steam vessels in NW England;
Steam vessels built at Preston;
Sailing vessels built in the Ribble;
Steam Vessels built Liverpool and the Mersey;
Sailing Vessels built Liverpool and the Mersey;
Steam Vessels built in the Dee Estuary;
Sailing Vessels built in the Dee Estuary and N Wales.
MDHB wreck listings

Main index



Built Lumley, Kennedy, Whitehaven.
Watson 1837 brig;
British Queen 1838 brig;
Champion 1840 barque;
Kyanite 1840 brig;

Built Lamport, Workington.
Alpha 1851 composite screw steamer, converted to sail, brig, by 1855;

Built Wood, Maryport.
Cheshire Witch 1837 wooden paddle steamer; converted to sail, schooner, by 1854;

Wooden brig Watson, built Lumley, Kennedy, Whitehavem, 1837, 164 tons. Voyage Whitehaven for Cardiff, sunk off Wicklow, on Arklow Bank, 24 December 1838, crew saved.

[from Carlisle Journal - Saturday 09 December 1837]:
A very handsome new brig of 164 tons register measurement, was launched on Tuesday week from the building yard of Messrs. Lumley Kennedy and Co., at Whitehaven. She was named the WATSON, was built for Capt. Stoup, and is intended for the coal trade.

[from Carlisle Journal - Saturday 05 January 1839]:
The Watson, Stoup, from Whitehaven for Cardiff, sunk in Wicklow Wash last week, crew saved, but so sudden was the misfortune which befel the Watson that every thing belonging them on board went down with the ill-fated vessel. Several ships have lately sunk in the vicinity of the Wicklow Banks, and it is supposed that the Watson had struck upon the mast of a sunken vessel, hence the unfortunate mishap which has befallen her. [location also quoted as Arklow Bank]


Wooden brig British Queen, built Lumley, Kennedy, Whitehavem, 1838. Registered Whitehaven 20/1838, 217 tons; 6/1847, 218 tons. ON9360, in RCUS. Latterly owned T Cowmans. Voyage Liverpool to Greenspond, Newfoundland, with salt, struck ice and foundered, 6 May 1861, crew of 11 saved.

[from Carlisle Patriot - Saturday 02 June 1838]:
At an early hour in the morning, the vessels in the harbour were decorated with flags and ensigns; and about eleven o'clock, a fine new vessel, of 218 tons register measurement called The British Queen, built for Messrs R and H Jefferson, was launched from the yard of Messrs Lumley Kennedy and Company, and intended for the West India trade. The day was remarkably fine, and a large concourse of spectators assembled to witness the interesting scene. At the hour appointed, away, the last shore was struck away and the stately vessel glided magnificiently into her destined element, amidst the cheers of the assembled crowd, the usual ceremony of christening having been performed by G. H. Wilcox. ....

[from Morning Post - Monday 27 May 1861]:
British Queen (brig), of Whitehaven, Captain Hind, from Liverpool to Greenspond, salt laden, struck the ice on the 6th of May and went down in a few hours, crew picked up. St. John's, Nfld., May 16.


Wooden barque Champion, built Lumley, Kennedy, Whitehavem, 1840. Registered Whitehaven 1840, 241 tons; Dumfries 1850; Arbroath 1857; Dundee 1863. ON24371. By 1865 owned W Moore, Dundee, 222 tons. Voyage St Marc to Falmouth, with lignum vitae and logwood, foundered off Pointe Plateforme, Haiti, 14 January 1865, crew saved.

[from Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser - Tuesday 11 February 1840]:
On Wednesday last, a splendid new barque, coppered and copper-fastened, called the CHAMPION, burthen per register 220 tons old, and 241 tons new measurement, was launched from the building-yard of Messrs. Lumley Kennedy and Co., at this port. The Champion will be commanded by Captain Steele, late of the Hotspur, and is intended for the East India trade.

[from Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser - Tuesday 09 October 1849]:
The Barque CHAMPION, Capt. Steele, of the Port of Whitehaven, Burthen per register 241 Tons, N. M., and 220 Tons, O.M., A 1 for Twelve Years at Lloyd's, and built Messrs. Lumley Kennedy and Co., ol Whitehaven, in the Year 1840. The Champion is well found in Stores, is in excellent Condition, was sheathed with Muntz's Yellow Metal at the Commencement ot the present Year, and may be sent to Sea at a very trifling Expense. Apply to Messrs. John J. Peile and Co., 74, Market Place, Whitehaven; or to the Captain on Board the Vessel, in the Queen's Dock, Liverpool.

[from Liverpool Mail - Saturday 13 September 1856]:
LINE OF PACKETS FOR BAHIA has made large engagements of cargo, and will have prompt despatch. The well-known superior Whitehaven-built Barque CHAMPION, A 1 at Lloyd's twelve years; 241 tons; is fast sailer, in all respects a verv eligible conveyance. ... Cotesworth & Co.

[from Dundee, Perth, and Cupar Advertiser - Friday 22 March 1861]:
ARBROATH. The barque Champion, Arbroath, arrived at Queenstown from Miragone, was making much water. She struck on a reef off Great Inagua on the 27th January and broke the lower part of her rudder. She has been surveyed and recommended to discharge part of her cargo.

[from Arbroath Guide - Saturday 19 October 1861]:
Death of an Arbroath Captain at HAVANNA, Intelligence was received here on Wednesday of the death of Captain Alexander Buick, master and owner of the barque, Champion, of this port, who died at Havanna on i7th September, after a brief illness of two days. Disease of the heart was stated to be the cause of death. Captain Buick was thirty-two years old, and leaves a widow and three children, who reside at Colliston.

[from Dundee Courier - Tuesday 14 February 1865]:
Wreck of the Champion. On the 22d Jan., the barque Champion, of Dundee, tonnage 220, Captain Macintosh, and Mr William Moon, owner, foundered off the coast of Hayti. Fortunately the crew were saved.

[from Morning Herald (London) - Tuesday 14 February 1865]:
Gonaives. Jan 22. The Champion of Dundee, from St Marc for Falmouth, with lignum vitae and logwood, foundered off the Plateforme coast of Hayti. 14 January, crew saved.


Wooden brig/barque Kyanite, built Lumley, Kennedy, Whitehaven, 1840 Registered Whitehaven 30/1840, 124 tons; then Liverpool 54/1850, 124 tons. ON18702, registered Bridport, 4/1854, 170 tons; then Plymouth, 4/1856, 152 tons; then Bridport again 1865; by 1872 rigged as a barque, then Guernsey 1878, as barquentine, 140 tons. In MNL to 1882, owned John Hamley, Guernsey. Voyage Shields to Guernsey, with coal, departing 22 October 1882, posted missing, all 7 crew lost.

[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 24 December 1840]:
The new brig KYANITE, 130 tons old, and 124 tons new measurement, built at Whitehaven, and launched in September, 1840, is a burthensome vessel, sails fast, her materials are of the best description, and she is completely equipped for sea. and adapted for any trade her burthen may suit, she is well worthy of the attention of purchasers; lying in George's Dock. For further particulars apply to Messrs. Lumley, Kennedy & Co. of Whitehaven ...

[from Guernsey Star - Thursday 04 January 1883]:
October 1882 ..... During the latter part of October, a severe gale visited the east coast of England, and it was known that several Guernsey vessels were in it; three of these: the Kyanite, Veritas and Alice, not having been heard from for a month, it was considered that they too were lost, and a public meeting presided over by Mr. Julius A. Carey was held to consider the best means to be adopted to assist the widows and orphans left unprovided for by this disaster, there being eighteen widows and about forty children.

[from Jersey Express and Channel Islands Advertiser - Tuesday 28 November 1882]:
From information supplied by the owners of the above named vessels there were 7 persons on board the Kyanite who leave 2 widows and 8 children: David Savage, Commander, a widow and four children. J. Hodgson, mate, a widow and four children. A. Lucas, a widow. J. Heuze, a widow. F Le Fevre, unmarried. Constant Leon, unmarried. - Kiston, unknown, shipped in London.

[from Glasgow Weekly Herald - Saturday 03 March 1883]:
Missing vessels: The following vessels, previously listed as overdue, were posted as missing: ... The Kyanite (of Guernsey) which sailed from Shields for Guernsey with coal, on 22 October last. [Captain Savage]



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