Henry Fletcher, Son and Fearnall, marine engineers, of Union Docks, Limehouse, London, and Tilbury
c.1750 The Fletcher family started in the business of ship repairing and shipbuilding. The business was carried on at Shadwell for several generations before the London and St. Katharine's Dock Co purchased the premises there to form the Wapping entrance of their docks (presumably this refers to the London Dock Co, a predecessor of the London and St Katharine's).
1818 Business established at Union Docks, Limehouse; the original establishment at Shadwell was carried on simultaneously with the Union Docks until 1829.
1819 Mentioned as Fletcher and Co, Union Dock, Limehouse.[1]
1820 Advertisement. 'Schooner LADY LEITH, 166 tons per register, foreign built, has been wood-sheathed, and had thorough repair in Messrs. Fletcher’s and Fearnall’s Union Dock; is remarkably strong vessel, sails well, and is well adapted for the Mediterranean, Newfoundland, Coasting Trades...'[2]
c.1824 Thomas Joseph Ditchburn took on the management of the extensive shipbuilding establishment of Messrs. Fletcher and Fearnell, at Limehouse
1826 Mention of Fletcher, Son and Fearnall, shipbuilders.[3]
1828 Started construction of the lower dock which was completed in 1833. Because of problems at the site (it had been the location of a breach in the banks of the river), an East Indiaman, the Canton, was purchased and sunk in the position of the new dock to provide a basis for the dock.
At later times, the Middle and Upper Docks were constructed.
1859 Bankruptcy. 'Name and description of the Debtor, as in the Deed - John Thompson Fletcher, of Park-villa, Belvedere road, Upper Norwood, in the county of Surrey, late of No. 15, Upper Hamilton-terrace, St. John's Wood, in the county of Middlesex, out of business, and also late carrying on business as a Shipbuilder and Shipwright, at Union Dock, in the parish of Shadwell, and county of Middlesex, in partnership with Thomas Keddey Fletcher, under the style or firn of Henry Fletcher, Son, and Fearnall'[4]
1869 Partnership dissolved. '... the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, John Thompson Fletcher and Thomas Keddey Fletcher, trading under the tirm of Henry Fletcher, Son, and Fearnall, Shipbuilders and Shipwrights, at Union Dock Limehouse, in the county of Middlesex, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent...'[5]
1896 Partnership dissolved. '...the Partnership heretofore subsisting between the undersigned Henry Marshall Fletcher and Reginald George Fletcher carrying on business at Union Docks Limehouse in the county of Middlesex as Shipwrights and Engineers under the style or firm of Henry Fletcher Son and Fearnall has this day been dissolved by the retirement of the said Henry Marshall Fletcher. The debts due to the firm will be received and the debts due from the firm will be paid by the said Reginald George Fletcher who carries on the business as heretofore...'[6]
1896 The company of Fletcher, Son and Fearnall was registered on 10 December, to take over the business of the firm of the same name, ship repairers and engineers. [7]
1899 Commissioned a new graving dock at Union Docks, Limehouse, reusing the site of the lower dock, providing a considerably larger dock. The remnants of the Canton were removed.
1922 Ship Repairers and Dry Dock Owners. Directors H. K. Fletcher (Chairman and Managing), E. H. Fletcher (Managing), W. S. Bailey, H. C. Pelly, T. P. Little and J. M. Wilkinson (also Secretary).
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Monday 22 November 1819
- ↑ Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Tuesday 14 March 1820
- ↑ Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Tuesday 22 December 1829
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date:22 October 1869 Issue:23548 Page:5700
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date:20 July 1869 Issue:23518 Page:4080
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date:18 August 1896 Issue:26769 Page:4716
- ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908