This covers sailing vessels built in the Solway: at Ravenglass, Whitehaven, Harrington, Workington, Maryport, Port Carlisle, Annan and the river Nith [Carsethorn, Glencaple, Kelton, Kingholm]. 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 Harrington.
Martha 1817 brig.
Martha 1826 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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Harrington:
Wooden brig Martha, built Peile, Wood & Co., Harrington, 1817. In LR as 200 tons. ON 25690. Reistered Whitehaven 1853, 200 tons. Crew list to 1874. In MNL to 1876, owned William Burnyeat, Whitehaven, 174 tons.
[from
Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser - Tuesday 28 October 1817]:
Saturday last was launched from the building yard of Messrs. W.
Peile, Wood and Co. at Harrington, a beautiful new copper bottomed
vessel of 200 tons register, called the MARTHA; built for Capt. John
Moordaff and intended for the foreign trade.
Wooden brig Martha, built Peile, Wood & Co., Harrington, 1826, In LR as 208 tons, owned Ditchburn. Struck ice and sank, 10 May 1833, 290 miles off Newfoundland, all crew saved after 15 days in their boat.
[from Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser - Tuesday 04 July 1826]:
On the 21st ult. was launched from the building-yard of Messrs. W.
Peile & Co. at Harrington, a fine new brig called the Martha, burthen
per register 208 tons, built for Capt. Peter Ditchburn.
[from Preston Chronicle - Saturday 06 July 1833]:
SHIPWRECKS. LOSS OF THE BRIG MARTHA. - A letter has been received from
Captain John Sewell, of the brig Martha (late the property of Captain
Peter Ditchburn); it is addressed to the Captain's father at
Harrington, and dated Newfoundland, 30th of May last. The letter
details the loss of the Martha, which struck against the ice about
half-past four o'clock in the afternoon, of May 10th, when about 290
miles off the Newfoundland coast, and the vessel went down at five
o'clock. The lower bow-port was nearly stove in, and part of the
bow-plank. It was impossible to prevent the vessel from sinking, and
therefore the crew took to the boat to save their lives. They saved
some provisions and clothes and a top-gallant studding sail, with
which they left the vessel, but had scarcely pulled clear of the wreck
when she went down, head foremost, and in two minutes totally
disappeared. They were on the water eight days in the boats,
pulling when the freedom of the sea from ice rendered that possible.
At night they regularly lifted their boats on the ice to prevent their
being stove during darkness. They rowed, as they calculated, about 130
miles before they got clear of the ice, and then stood to sea for
seven days more before they reached St. John's. Their voyage in the
boats the Captain estimates at least 600 miles, and the time they were
thus travelling was fifteen days. They were in a most pitiable state
when they landed, being nearly starved to death. The merchants at
St. John's received them with kindness, and did all they could to
alleviate their wretchedness. The feet of some of the crew were so
swelled that they could not walk, but we are happy to hear that they
are all recovering rapidly. Captain Sewell adds the melancholy news
that he has heard of eight other vessels being lost in the ice,
besides many not accounted for. Three or four crews who met with
disasters, were at St. John's; among them was the crew of the Hero,
Captain Wilson.
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