Whitehaven Shipbuilding Co
of Whitehaven, Cumberland
1869 Whitehaven Shipbuilding Company Limited (company number 4679) incorporated 1869-1870.[1] According to the prospectus, capital £25,000 (but was later stated to be £50,000). Leases from the Earl of Lonsdale agreed for the shipyards in Whitehaven, excluding the ground required for a wet dock, but including the patent slip in the South Harbour. Chairman George Augustus Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck MP.[2] The shipyards were those formerly occupied by Brocklebanks.
1871 On 3 Jun 1871 their first ship was launched, the 1,270 ton iron clipper ship Patterdale (reg 65857).[3]
1879 In March, with the company in difficulties, the directors invited tenders to acquire the shipyards and other assets as a going concern.[4]
The yard did not find a buyer and continued to operate with several ships launched during 1879.
In August, at an EGM, it was agreed that 1 “...... the Company cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business, and that it is advisable to wind up the same” and 2 “That the Company be wound up voluntarily.”[5]
The assets of the company were offered at auction by the liquidator in October, but failed to find a buyer.[6]
1880 Through discussions between the liquidators and several prominent members of the old company it was decided to attempt to form a new company to acquire the shipyards. A new company with capital of £80,000 was to be proposed using the same name, and a price of £15,000 agreed, subject to sufficient capital being raised.[7] By mid-March sufficient fund had been subscribed to allow the venture to proceed and Whitehaven Shipbuilding Company Limited (company number 13968) was incorporated in April.[8][9]
1889 In June the half year results showed a loss of £45,000.[10]
On 26 Sep 1889 the 4 mast steel sailing ship Engelhorn was launched, but the ways broke and she remained stranded on the shore for a time.[11] This was to be their last ship and, indeed, the last ship to be built in Whitehaven.
At a meeting of directors of the Company in November it was decided to offer the yard for sale by private treaty, and an advertisement subsequently appeared.[12]
1890 The company went into voluntary liquidation.[13]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Board of Trade File – The National Archives ref BT 31/1504/4679
- ↑ Whitehaven Herald and Cumberland Advertiser - 2 Oct 1869
- ↑ Whitehaven News - 8 Jun 1871 and Lloyd’s Register of Shipping 1872
- ↑ Shipping and Mercantile Gazette - 24 Mar 1879
- ↑ The London Gazette - 26 Aug 1879
- ↑ Shipping and Mercantile Gazette - 8 Sep 1879
- ↑ Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser - 3 Feb 1880
- ↑ Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser - 23 Mar 1880; Globe - 17 Apr 1880
- ↑ Board of Trade file - National Archives ref BT 31/2634/13968
- ↑ Carlisle Patriot - 9 Aug 1889
- ↑ Whitehaven News - 3 Oct 1889
- ↑ Whitehaven News - 7 Nov 1889 and Liverpool Daily Post - 2 Dec 1889
- ↑ The London Gazette - 14 Feb 1890