Willoughby Brothers
of Rendle Street, Plymouth (1864)
of Central Foundry, Plymouth (1867)
See also Willoughby Brothers: History by R. R. Laws
1844 Founded by William Willoughby (1805-1879)
Formerly Murch and Willoughby which was dissolved in 1855.
1860 WM. WILLOUGHBY, Engineer, Iron and Brass Founder, Smith, &c., begs to inform the Public that he has considerably enlarged his Premises, and erected a NASMYTH STEAM HAMMER, and he is now prepared to execute any order which may be entrusted to him with Punctuality and Dispatch. FORGINGS and KNEE MOULDS made for Shipbuilders and Smiths. New and Second-hand STEAM ENGINES and BOILERS always on Sale. Sole Agent for Plymouth and neighbourhood for the sale and fixing of GIFFARD’S PATENT INJECTOR, for feeding Steam Boilers.[1]
1869 Advertising Morton's Patent Condenser [2]
1886 "The boat can be inspected (at any) time in the Great Western Dock, Plymouth. WILLOUGHBY BROTHERS, Plymouth."[3]
At some point Willoughbys took on a shipbuilding yard at Great Western Docks, Plymouth. It had a 200 foot berth, an engine works and a foundry. It mainly built tugs, coasters, Saltash ferries and Blackpool excursion steamers.
c.1889 The partnership of Massey and Bickle was partly dissolved; did perhaps Willoughby Brothers take over their yard soon after this?
1890 Company incorporated; acquired Phoenix Foundry, Phoenix Street, (formerly James Moir) (these premises were closed about 1900 to 1904).
1894 Nearly two hundred employees of Willoughby Bros, (Limited) engineers and shipbuilders, Great Western Docks, Plymouth, were entertained by the directors at dinner, at the Masonic Club, last evening.[4]
1895 Messrs Willoughbys, Limited, yesterday morning launched from their yard (at) the Great Docks a new screw steam tug, which has been built for towing purposes on the River Thames.[5]
1897 Novel refuse destructor was invented by S. Willoughby of Chiswick, a partner in the firm; the destructor was installed at Lewisham[6]
1908 Receiver appointed:
"In the Matter of the estate of WILLOUGHBY BROTHERS Limited, of the Central Foundry, Plymouth.
Between Minnie Sarah Dole and others, plaintiffs, and Willoughby Brothers Limited and others, defendants.
THE creditors of the estate of the above named Company to whom Arthur Lee Hellyer, the Receiver and Manager appointed in this action, is indebted, as from the 31st day of. January, 1908, being the date of the appointment of the said Receiver, are required, on or before the 10th day of November, 1910, to send their names and addresses, and the particulars of their claims, and the names and addresses of their Solicitors, if any, to the said Arthur Lee Hellyer, of No. 6, Unity-street, College Green, in the city and county of Bristol, Chartered Accountant; and if so required, by notice in writing from the said Receiver and Manager, are by their Solicitors, or personally, to come in and prove their said claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice."[7]
1915 a Receiver was appointed and the then company was dissolved. A new company was set up as Willoughby (Plymouth) Ltd.
1925 Messrs Willoughby of Plymouth replaced the gates on the Turf Lock of the Exeter Ship Canal.
1920s Company closed in the 1920s.
1927 Willoughby (Plymouth) Ltd. Ship Repairers, Engineers, Boilermakers, Copper and General Smiths, Iron and Brass Founders, Portable electric welding plant. Works alongside Dry Dock, 454ft.[8]
1958 Merged with Bickle Engineering Co
1971 Willoughby (Plymouth) was still in business.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Western Morning News 27 December 1860 p 1
- ↑ Western Morning News - Saturday 26 June 1869
- ↑ Liverpool Journal of Commerce 28 August 1886
- ↑ Western Morning News 02 March 1894
- ↑ Western Daily Mercury 12 February 1895
- ↑ The Engineer 1897/09/17
- ↑ London Gazette 23 September, 1910
- ↑ Western Mail 1 July 1927 p 14 last col.
- The National Archives BT 31/4744/31333 (Willoughby Brothers Ltd)
- L. A. Ritchie, The Shipbuilding Industry: A Guide to Historical Records (1992)
- British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss