Author Archives: George Armitage

sv Cistus – FD214

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical
2nd class Part IV registered
Registered tonnage: 12.75
Length: 34.8 ft
Breadth: 11.2 ft
Depth: 5.3 ft
Fitted with iron keelson as ballast giving a max. draught of 3ft 6ins, to work the shallow runs and edge of banks.
Half-decked/Prawner
Built: William Crossfield, Arnside

History

1908: Completed by William Crossfield, Arnside for John Moss and David Moss, both of Kemp Street, Fleetwood as CISTUS.
23.5.1908: Registered at Fleetwood (FD214). (Skippers John and David Moss).
12.6.1909: At the Blackpool & Fleetwood Sailing Club regatta, in the handicap half decked race, unplaced (Sk. John Moss).
18.6.1910: At the Blackpool & Fleetwood Sailing Club regatta, in the handicap half decked race, placed sixth (Sk. David Moss).
30.6.1913: Reported that at the seventh annual Blackpool & Fleetwood Sailing Club regatta, in the handicap half decked race,
placed third (Sk. John Moss).
25.8.1916: Sold to Jeff Wright Jnr, 117 Kemp Street, Fleetwood. (Sk. Jeff Wright Jnr).
9.1921: Sold to ??. Barrow.
20.9.1921: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Barrow.

Click to enlarge image

sv Cistus FD214

sv Cistus FD214
Picture from The Sankey Collection

Changelog
05/10/2022: Page published.
16/10/2022: Updated history.

sv Hannah FD225

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical
Registered Tonnage: 10.70
Length: 32.7 ft
Breadth: 10.5 ftp
Depth: 4.3 ft
Rig: Cutter

History
1908: Completed by William Crossfield, Arnside for Richard Wright, 15 Kemp Street, Fleetwood as HANNAH.
15.10.1908: Registered at Fleetwood (FD225). (Sk. Richard Wright).
12.6.1909: At the Blackpool & Fleetwood Sailing Club regatta, in the handicap half-decked race finished second (Sk. Richard Wright).
1909: Morecambe regatta, in the handicap half-decked race finished second (Sk. Richard Wright).
18.6.1910: At the Blackpool & Fleetwood Sailing Club regatta, in the handicap half-decked race finished first (Sk. Richard Wright).
21.6.1911: At the Coronation Regatta promoted by the Blackpool & Fleetwood Sailing Club race for half-decked Registered Fishing Boats not exceeding 40ft, finished second (Sk. Richard Wright- £5 in cash).
26.2.1918: Sold to Thomas Warren Trevor, The Grey House, Glyngarth, Anglesey. (Sk. Thomas W. Trevor).
24.2.1923: Fleetwood registry closed “No longer fishing”.

Click to enlarge image

sv Hannah FD225

sv Hannah FD225

Changelog
12/09/2022: Page published.
26/09/2022: Updated history.

sv Harriet – CK59

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 53487
Registered Tonnage: 25
Completed: 1865
Rig: Cutter/Jigger Smack

History

1865: Completed at Jersey possibly by Charles W Aubin, Gorey, as Harriet possibly an oyster smack.
11.10.1865: Registered at Jersey.
11.10.1865: Appropriated.
By 1870: Owned by Charles Auger, Burnham, Essex. Registered at Colchester (CK59).
1872: Sold to George Maskell, Brightlingsea.
1879: Sold to Robert A. Dawson, 20 East Beach, Lytham and George Maskell, 25 London Street, Fleetwood.
24.9.1881: Took part in the Fleetwood Regatta, Trawl Boat Race, (Sk. George Maskell) in wet and hazy weather. OYSTER GIRL (FD115) (Sk. William Coulborn) was favourite, leading at first but soon overtaken by GRATITUDE (FD156) (Sk.Richard Johnson). Finished third (£3).
25.9.1883: Sailed Fleetwood for the fishing grounds (Sk. David Herbert, crew, T. Lennox, J. Smith and Sam Colley.
26.8.1883: Running for home In gale force winds, squally rain and heavy seas. About noon came off the wind and while the crew were engaged in taking a third reef in the mainsail, the forestay broke allowing the mast to break and fall over the stern. Smith who was reefing the sail had a narrow escape for had the mast not partially fallen, giving warning, he would either have been killed or knocked overboard. The crew cut away the rigging, allowing the mast to go clear and then put a spar to the stump and hoisted signals of distress. The OYSTER GIRL (FD115) passed within 200 yards, but probably owing to the weather could not risk stopping. The skipper let go the anchor and assessed the damage. About an hour later the mainmast and rigging floated close past the smack. This caused some anxiety, as it was generally supposed that the smack MARY ELLEN (FD21) first lost her mast and was afterwards sunk owing to it coming in contact with the boat. At about 11.00pm, the smack was spoken by the smack BADGER (FD55) who stayed with them overnight, their positions being marked by torch lights.
27.9.1883: At 6.00am weighed anchor and an hour later, the BADGER having closed and connected, the tow was underway. Several of the smacks that had returned yesterday reported that the HARRIET was seen with decks swept and masts gone. At about 10.00am the smacks WONDER (FD68) and BEAVER (FD55) sailed with volunteer crews of eight to ten men each to search for the HARRIET. They had not got far, however, before they met the disabled smack in tow of the BADGER. Arrived of Steep Brest about 1.00pm and met by steam tug WARDLEYS (122grt.1882), the service of which, however, was refused. Numerous spectators greeted them on arrival.
5.10.1883: Reported that mast and gear except standing rigging belonging to the smack has been picked up north of Ravenglass. Mr Maskell, the owner, has been to claim it, and it will be forwarded to Fleetwood by rail.
From at least 1886: Engaged in the coasting trade (Taylor, master) mainly out of Whitehaven but also Workington and Maryport. Ports visited, principally Garlieston, but also Wigtown, Creetown, Kirkcudbright, Dalbeatie, Port William, Ramsey and Larne, most likely with coals, returning either light or with grain, potatoes, etc.
1887: Sold to George Maskell, 25 London Street, Fleetwood.
18.1.1889: Arrived Whitehaven from Garlieston.
12.9.1893: Arrived Fleetwood.(Taylor, master).
24.10.1893: Sailed Fleetwood (Taylor, master) for Port Erin, IoM.
1.1894: Sold to Hamilton Dixon, Whitehaven & others. Hamilton Dixon managing owner.
1895: Remeasured 14n.
1894: Colchester registry closed. Registered at Whitehaven (WA56).(2/1894).
13/14.2.1895: A severe snow storm accompanied by a perfect gale of wind hit the Cumberland coast and the Solway Firth. In the area was the HARRIET and for 25 hours she encountered the worst of the weather.
14.2.1895: Arrived Garlieston., Wigtownshire, her appearance, covered with ice and snow, was that of a ghost ship. One of the crew had frost bite and all had traces of exposure.
17.2.1895: Arrived Whitehaven from Garlieston.
29.12.1915: Whitehaven registry closed. Broken up.

Changelog
19/08/2022: Page published.

sv Sparkler – ??

Information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info

Technical
Registered Tonnage: 17
Rig: Smack – trawling

History
4.9.1855: Advertised. For Sale by Private Treaty, THREE FISHING SMACKS, namely the JANE, Fifteen Tons Register; the MARGERY, Twenty-one Tons: the SPARKLER, Seventeen Tons. They are each in good Working Order, have Nets and Trawl Gear, complete and are at present fishing out of Fleetwood. Applications to be made to John Jackson, 1 West Street, Whitehaven; or to Ebenezer Cox, Fleetwood. August 15th, 1855.

7.7.1856: Sailed on the morning tide for the fishing grounds. The wind was variable changing direction and freshening throughout the day. At about 11.30pm it started to blow from the north.
8.7.1856: At 12.30am a furious gale suddenly blew up and the Fleetwood fleet 12 in number, which were lying off Black Combe, north of Duddon Estuary, received considerable damage. Lost the foresail. The smacks then laid their vessels under snug canvas and the wind later being favourable for them to reach Fleetwood; left the area.
10.7.1856: Most of the fleet arrived home about 6.00am without further damage.
17.7.1862: Report by John Studholm, master.
10.7.1862: Fishing out of Whitehaven. In a strong NNW wind, when some two miles wide of Douglas Head at about 8.00pm picked up a gig with five hands onboard which was in a sinking state. The crew of the gig were bailing with their shoes and it was their cries that first attracted Capt. Studholm’s attention. The trawler was put about, the crew brought onboard and with the gig in tow brought them into Douglas. For this service the owner of the boat, Mr Nicholson, a painter, of Douglas, presented Capt Studholm with 5s for saving the boat. FATE.

Changelog
19/06/2022: Page published.

sv Gipsey Queen – FD32

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 27133
Registered Tonnage: 31
Built: Runcorn
Rig: Smack – trawling

History

1858: Completed at Runcorn as GIPSEY QUEEN.
16.2.1859: Registered at Liverpool.
1865: Owned by John Beaham, Dublin.
1870: Sold to William Johnson, Preston. Liverpool registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood (FD32).
1873: Owned by John Johnson, Bradford.
1875: Owned by John Johnson, Fleetwood.
1880: Sold to William Sherlock, 3 Marmion Road, Hoylake. Fleetwood registry closed.
4.6.1880: Registered at Liverpool (LL64).
1890: Sold to Mrs M. Sherlock, 3 Marmion Road, Hoylake & others. Mrs M. Sherlock managing owner.
17.2.1897: Sold to George James Pratt, 31 Bedford Street, North Liverpool.
1897: Tonnage recorded as 23 regd tons
8.12.1898: Liverpool Part IV registry closed.
1900: Register closed.

Changelog
13/06/2022: Page published.