F E WALKER LIMITED -
WOODS LIGHTERAGE
Page under
reconstruction
-----------------------------------
F E WALKER LIMITED
----------------------------
DART [1]
Built 1870 by
Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda, CubittTown.
L59.44'. B13.8'. D7.4'. 39grt. 30nhp 2cyl compound steam engine by John
Stewart, Blackwall. ON63693
1870
Delivered to Thames
Conservancy Commissioners, London
1898 Transferred to Conservators of the River Thames,London.
1909 Acquired by Port
of London
Authority., London.
1920 Sold to Wilders & Walker Ltd., London.
1925 Owners F.W. Walker Ltd., London.
1926 Scrapped.
------------------------------
DART [2]
Built
1927 by James Pollock Sons & Co Ltd., Faversham. YN 1248. L50.4'.
B13.1'. D5.4'. 21grt. 120bhp Bolinder diesel engine. ON149961.
11-1927
Launched. 1-1928 Delivered to F.E. Walker Ltd., London.31-5-1941
Req for Admiralty service. 13-11-1945 Returned to owners.
194? Sold to Balfour Beatty & Co Ltd., London.
1976[by] Owners Commissioner for Transport, Nairobi.
No further trace.
--------------------------------------
DART III
Photo D
Castle colln
Built
1955 by P.K. Harris & Sons Ltd., Appledore. YN 62. L56'. B16'. D8.9'.
37grt. 360bhp Lister Blackstone diesel engine. ON186200.
1955
Delivered to F.E. Walker Ltd., London.
1958 Sold to Overseas Dredging Co Ltd., London,
renamed Overseas One. No further trace.
------------------------------
DART IV
Photo D
Castle colln
Built
1957 by P.K. Harris & Sons Ltd., Appledore. YN 70. L56'. B16'. D8.9'.
37grt. 360bhp Lister Blackstone diesel engine.
1957
Delivered to F.E. Walker Ltd., London.
1971 Sold to A. & H. Huntemann, Germany,
renamed Tiger. 1985 Sold to Hans Schramm GmbH & Co KG., Brunsbüttel,
renamed Moritz. 2003 Sold to Karl H. Meyrose, Hamburg,
renamed Katrin 2005 Transferred to Meyrose
Schleppkontor, Hamburg.
------------------------------------------------
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THOMAS A WALKER
FANNY
Built 1887 by
John Cran and Co., Leith.
YN2. L66.2'. B14. D5.7'. 37grt. 50ihp 2cyl compound steam engine by builder.
ON88717.
1887
Delivered to Thomas A Walker, London.
1891 Owner William H Topham, London.
1893 Sold to Manchester Ship Canal Co Ltd., Manchester.
1910 Scrapped.
-----------------------------------
HAWK
Built
1887 by The Penarth Shipbuilding and Repair Co., Penarth. L70.4'. B15'.
D8.1'. 51grt. 500ihp 2cyl compound steam engine by John Stewart
and Company, Blackwall. ON94351.
1-1888
Delivered to James Watkins, London.
1888 Sold to Thomas A Walker, London.
1889 Owners Charles H Walker, Thomas Reeves and Louis Nott, London.
1898 Owner C H Walker and Co, London.
1899 Reported in South
America. 1913 Converted to hulk.
---------------------------------
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
RICHARD WATERS
ARIEL
Built 1866 atCubittTown.
Iron. L56.5'. B12.6'. D6.4'. 25grt. Steam engine. ON91981.
1891[by]
Owner Richard East, London.
1911[by] Owner Richard Waters, London.
1919[by] Owners Edward Agius and Co., Southampton. 1939[by] Owner Lewis and
Agius Ltd., Southampton.
--------------------------
PETRO
Built 1891 at London.
Iron. L62.1'. B13.6'. D6.8'. 34grt. 5nrt. 35nhp steam engine. ON98937.
1891
Delivered to Richard Waters, London.
1900 Sold to William H Shepherd, London.
1915 Owners Alfred and John Buck, Brentford. 12-1917 Req for Admiralty
service. 4-1919 Returned to owner. 1936 Believed scrapped.
------------------------
SHAH
Photog unknown. B Hunt colln
Built 1873 by
Thomas A. Young & Son., Blackwall. L61.5'. B12'. D6.3'. 30nhp 2cyl steam
engine by builder. ON91960.
1873
Delivered to unknown owner. 12-10-1886 Ist regn London. 1886 Sold to Richard Waters, London.4-9-1886
Collided with and sank brick laden sailing barge Brent off Silvertown. 1890 Owner James Westwood, Millwall, managed by R Waters. 1896[by] Owner Richard Waters, London. 1916
Owners Jessie Waters & Edgar Goss, London.
1918 Sold to Edgar Goss, London.
1919 Sold to George Dove, London.
1928 Scrapped. Regn closed.
-------------------------
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
JAMES WATKINS
HAWK
Built 1887 by
Penarth Shipbuilding and Repair Co., Penarth. Steel screw tug. 70'x15'x8'. 2cyl
13.5"x29"x18"s compound steam engine by John Stewart and Co.,
Blackwall. Boiler 9'diax9.6'. Speed 11knots. ON94351.
15-9-1887 Launched by
Miss Lizzie Monroe. 17-1-1888
On trials on Thames.
Later delivered to James Watkins, London.
1888 Owner Thomas A Walker, London.
[civil engineering contractor]. 1889 Owners Charles H Walker, Thomas
Reeves & Louis Nott, London.
1898 Owners C H Walker & Co Ltd, London.
1899-1904 reported at Buenos Aires
and Bahia Blanca.
1911 Owner C H Walker and Co Ltd., London,
1913 Dismantled and converted to a hulk.
-----------------------------------------
MABEL
Built 1890 by Westwood, Baillie & Co., Poplar. Iron Screw Tug. 55 grt 73.5ftx15.1ftx8.0ft 50nhp C2cyl (14, 28 x 20in) steam engine by Vulcan Ironworks Ltd. ON98064
03/1890 Completed for James Watkins, London. 1891 Owner Mabel Screw Tug Co. Ltd. - William Coombe, Llanelly. 03-1909 Owner William J. Guy, Cardiff. 03-1913 Owner Thomas C. Spink, Hull. 03-1921 Owner United Towing Co. Ltd., Hull. 1949 Scrapped.
-----------------------------
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WHITE AND FOXWELL
CRICKET
Built 1878 by
John Stewart and Son, Blackwall. Iron screw tug. 11GRT 2NRT.
40.6'x9.2'x5.2'. 6nhp 2cyl compound steam engine by Smith Bros,
Limehouse. [Manufactured 1897] ON 112678.
1878
Delivered to unknown owner. [Unregistered vessel]. 1900 First registered London.
3-1900 Owner Nicholas C Dixon, Rotherhithe, London.
6-1900 Sold to George Pearce White, barge owner, 36
Plough Rd., Rotherhithe.
7-1900 Owners G P White and James Foxwell, Deptford, barge owners. 10-1918
Sold to J Foxwell and William Downing, Rotherhithe. 1924 [by] Managing
owner James Foxwell, 36 Plough
Rd., Rotherhithe. 1926 Same
owner. 3-1-1929[by]
Scrapped.
-----------------------------------------
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
W E WHITE AND SONS
Including
Alfred E White.
-------------------
Funnel; Black
with White 'W'.
-------------------------------
My thanks to
Jonathan Batty for information regarding tugs sold to J J Batty and Associates,Singapore.
These included Alfred II, Chalky White, Doris White, Keith White, Pusher White,
and Snow White[ Research on this vessel ongoing]
---------------------------
ALFRED II
Built
1934 by Rowhedge Ironworks Co Ltd., Rowhedge. YN 489. L39.9'. B10.5'. D4.8'.
12grt. 60bhp diesel engine. ON163457.
1934
Delivered to W E White and Sons Ltd., London.
194? Req by MoWT. 1972 Sold to M J Batty and Associates, Singapore
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed ????? B. 1976 Possibly sold to Persian owners.
------------------------------------------
ALGONDA
See under
Alpha Towing Company.
-------------------------------
BOYS WHITE
[1]
Built 1956 at
Thorne. L63.7'. B18.3'. D6.2'. 58grt. 310bhp diesel engine. ON187399.
1956
Delivered to River Lighterage Co Ltd., London,
named Falcon Brook. 1967 Sold to W E White Ltd., London
renamed Boys White. 1969 Sold to Fleetwood Fishing Vessel Owners, renamed
Finch. 1978 Sold to Pevensey Castle Ltd., Lowestoft.
----------------------------------
BOYS WHITE
[2]
Photo © C.
Sproet.
Photo W Armstrong
Built 1934 by
A Brown, Wivenhoe. L65'. B16'. D7.6'. 53grt. 200bhp Deutz diesel engine.
1934
Delivered to W T Beaumont Ltd., London,
named Rodney II.. 1960 Reengined 350bhp Lister-Blackstone diesel. 1969 Sold to
W E White & Sons Ltd., London,
renamed Boys White. 19?? Owner A E White Ltd, Erith. 1983 [by]
Owners Thames Marine & Civil Engineering Ltd. 19?? Owner W G S Crouch Ltd.,
Greenhithe, renamed Boys Spearing. No further trace.
-------------------------------
CHALKY
WHITE [1]
Built 1934 by
Henry Scarr Ltd., Hessle. YN 364. L71.5'. B20,7'. D10.7'. 92grt. Steam engine.
ON163557.
1934
Delivered to River Lighterage Co Ltd., London,
named Abbotsbury. 1965 Sold to W.E. White & Sons (Towage) Ltd., London,
renamed Chalky White. 19?? Re-engined 425bhp diesel. 1972 Sold to Michael J.
Batty and Associates, Singapore
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed ????? B. 1976 Possibly sold to persian owners.
----------------------------------------
CHALKY
WHITE [2]
Built 1936 by
Henry Robb Ltd Leith.
YN 222. L65'. B16'. D6.6'. 50grt. 390bhp 6cyl Atlas Polar diesel engine.
ON164604.
1936
Delivered to General Lighterage Co Ltd., London
named General IV. 24-9-1942
Req by Admiralty. 12-1942 On Admiralty service in West
Africa. 194? Returned to owners. 1963 Acquired by
Thames & General Lighterage Co Ltd., London.
1970 Sold to Electro Marine Engineering Co Ltd., London.
19?? Owners Millwall Lighterage Ltd., London.
1980 Sold to A.E. White & Sons Ltd., London,
renamed Chalky White. 1983 Sold to Penfold, Erith, renamed Sarah Burn. 1987
Sold to Able Towing and Marine Services, Rochester.
1989 Sold to Argyle Charters, Campbeltown. 1990 Renamed General IV. 1994 Sold
to Frank Warling for use as a private vessel. 1994 Laid up at
Campbeltown. 2003 Sold to Simon Sawers, Firth of Clyde,
for restoration. 2004 Sank in Bowling harbour.
----------------------------------------------
COBORN
See under
James W Cook Ltd
-----------------------------
DORIS
WHITE
Built 1930 by
W.J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd., Northwich. YN 401. L55.1'. B15.1'. D6.9'. 40grt.
100ihp 2cyl 9"x18"x12" compound steam engine by A G Mumford, Colchester.
ON162482.
25-7-1930 Launched. 9-01930
Delivered to James Dredging, Towage & Transport Co Ltd., Southampton,
named Prima. 16-9-1936 Sold to the Admiralty operating as dredging tug with
Civil Engineer in Chief, Portsmouth. Pennant W95. 195? Re-engined 330bhp
6cyl National diesel engine 8-6-1955
Sold to A. White (W.E. White & Sons (Towage) Ltd), Erith, renamed
Doris White. 1972 Sold to M J Batty and Associates, Singapore
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed ???? B. 1976 Possibly sold to Persian owners. Some sources state vessel never shipped and scrapped 1982 by Thames Metal Company, Charlton. 1992 Register closed.
--------------------------------
DUCKETT
Built 1938 by
James Pollock Sons & Co Ltd., Faversham. L49.6'. B13'. D4.9'. 19grt.
180bhp Crossley diesel engine. ON166581.
1938
Delivered to Thames Steam Tug & Lighterage Co Ltd., London.
1963 Acquired by Thames & General Lighterage Co Ltd., London.
1972 Sold to E.M. Mayhew, Queenborough. 3-1983 Sold to A.E.White Ltd. 1992 Sold
to Tilbury Douglas
Construction, Erith. 199? Sold to Bill Blake, Barking. 2005 Sold to Spithead
Trading Ltd., Braintree.
2006 Still in service
---------------------------------------
GIMPY
Diesel launch
tug
No details known
------------------------------
IRANDE
Built
1929 by J.I. Thornycroft & Co Ltd., Woolston, Southampton.
YN 1085. L77.5'. B19.6'. D10.4'. 96grt. 340bhp Ingersoll Rand diesel engine.
ON161357.
1929
Delivered to Thames Steam Tug & Lighterage Co Ltd., London
named Irande. 1947 Re-engined 340bhp National diesel. 1963 Acquired by Thames
& General Lighterage Co Ltd., London.
1970 Sold to W.E. White & Sons (Towage) Ltd., London.
1973 Sold to Thomas J. Dilks., London,
renamed John White. 197? Sold to Alfred E. White, London.
1983 Sold to Thames & Medway Towage Co Ltd., Rochester.
1985 Owner Alan C. Bennett & Sons Ltd., Rochester
renamed Irande. 1992 Scrapped.
--------------------------------------
JOHN WHITE
Photo A
Hughes colln.
Built 1937 by
Alexander Hall Ltd., Aberdeen.
YN662. L78.1'. B21.1'. D7.6'. 88grt. 1nrt. 500bhp British Polar M44M diesel
engine. Official No. 165474.
Launched
4-1937. 1937 Delivered to T. C. & D. Co., London.
Named Seething Lane. 1938 Transferred to Silvertown Services Lighterage Ltd., London,
renamed Silvermark. 1966 Sold to W. E. White and Sons, London,
renamed John White. 1973 Scrapped by T. W. Ward Ltd., Grays, Essex.
-------------------------
JOLLY
WHITE
Built 1926 by
James Pollock Sons & Co Ltd., Faversham. YN 1159. L54.5'. B14.1'.
D7.1'. 34grt. 135bhp Bolinder diesel engine. ON149692.
1926
Delivered to T.H. Pearce Ltd., London,
named Jolly Tar. 1967 Sold to W.E. White & Sons (Towage) Ltd., London,
renamed Jolly White. 1973 Sold to Peter Horlock, Mistley, renamed Rogue.
---------------------------
KEITH
WHITE
Photo Rays
colln
Built 1940 by
Cochrane & Cooper Ltd., Selby. YN 1207. L75.5'. B19.1'. D7.1'. 83grt.
520bhp 7cyl British Polar diesel engine. ON167389.
1940
Delivered to Silvertown Services Lighterage Ltd., London
named Silvertown. 1966 Sold to W. E. White & Sons (Towage) Ltd., London,
renamed Keith White. 1972 Sold to Michael J. Batty and Associates, Singapore
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed ?????? B. 1976 Possibly sold to Persian owners.
------------------------------------------------
KNOCKER
WHITE
Photo J
Tiley.
Built 1924 by
T van Duijvendijk, Lekkerkerk. YN2. L77.2'. B20'. D9.6'. 90grt. 400ihp
3cylTE steam engine by Crabtree and Co., Gt. Yarmouth. ON147703
1924
Delivered to Harrisons
(London)
Ltd., London
named Cairnrock. 195? Sold to W.E. White & Sons (Towage) Ltd., London,
renamed Knocker White. 1960 Re-engined 600bhp 2x Petter diesels.[ Conversion
carried out by William 'Bill' Quelch]. 1972 Owner Alfred E. White, London.
1983 Sold for scrapping to Penfold Ltd., Erith. 198? Sold to Museum
of London
in Docklands for preservation. 2010 Stll in existence as exhibit at museum in West
India Dock.
-------------------------------
LASH WHITE
Built
1937 Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby. YN1192. L1060. B25.1'. D12.8'.
230grt. 850ihp 3cylTE 14.5"x26"x41"x27"s 210psi steam
engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. ON165694 Callsign GFGC.
21-10-1937 Launched.
1-1938 Delivered to United Towing Co Ltd., Hull,
named Brahman. 26-8-1939 Req by RN, renamed Bat. Based at Rosyth. 1941
Despatched from Rosyth to assist HMS Kelly, damaged during evacuation of Norway.
12-1944 Towed 2 hopper barges Arromanche to Portsmouth.
12-1944 Towed 1 Ham barge Southampton
to Hull.
27-1-1945 Returned to owners, renamed Brahman. 1-1962 Sold to J H Piggott and
Sons Ltd., Grimsby,
renamed Lady Vera. 1963 Reengined 12cyl Mirrlees Bickerton & Day
diesel. 1125bhp. 1969 Sold to W E White Ltd, London, renamed Lash White.
1973 Sold to Thames Services Ltd, Gravesend,
renamed Turbulent. 2-1974 Scrapped by Van Hegen Freres, Bruges.
----------------------------------------
LILY WHITE
Photog unknown
Built 1929 by
Haarlemsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Haarlem
YN 233. L54.6'. B14.5'. D6.3'. 38grt. 200bhp 4cyl Kromhout diesel engine by
Perman and Co., Bermondsey. ON161360.
1929
Delivered to A H Green Ltd., London
named Balna. 25-7-1942
Req by Admiralty. 10-1942 Transferred to MoWT for port duties in Scotland,
Managers Ross and Marshall Ltd. 3-12-1942 Sold to Admiralty. 1-10-1942
Sold to W E White and Sons Ltd., London.
1953 Reengined 300bhp Widdop diesel. 4-8-1953 Renamed Lily
White. 1973 Sold to M Tugs Ltd., London.
1973 Reengined with second hand Gardner
diesel. 1975 Converted to liveaboard at Hoo. Reengined 2x Foden MR4 diesel,
twin screw. Renamed Lilly White. 1991 Registry closed. 6-2010 Still in
existence as live-aboard at Hoo,Kent.
----------------------------
LOUISA
WHITE
Built 1942 by
H Bernhard Scheepswerf 'Het Jacht', Nieuwendam. L56.6'. B14.9'. D5.2'. 39grt.
Diesel engine. ON186181.
1942
Delivered to unknown owners. 1955 Sold to Alfred, James & Sarah
White, Erith renamed Louisa White, reengined 300bhp 12cyl
Davey Paxman diesel. 1957 Owners W E White & Sons (Towage) Ltd, Erith. 1972
Sold to StanleyW Weekes, Bexley.
25-7-1974 Arrived at T W Ward Ltd, Grays, for scrapping.
--------------------------------------
ORIENT
ORIENT in
Lane ownership after conversion to diesel. Photo's G
Lane colln
Built 1894 at
Millwall. Iron and steel screw tug. L63'. B14.1'. D7.7'. 47grt. 40hp 2cyl
compound steam engine. ON102874.
1894
Delivered to Page, Sons and East Ltd., Nine Elms, London.
1928 Sold to Thames
Steam Tug and Lighterage Co., London.
1932 Sold to Henry D Lane Ltd., Peckham, London.1936 Reengined
220bhp National diesel engine. 14-9-1940
Req by MoWT. 1-11-1940
Returned to owners. 194? Owner Alfred White, Erith. 195? Owners W E White and
Sons Ltd., London.
26-8-1963 Arrived at T W Ward Ltd., Grays, for scrapping.
-------------------------------------------
PUSHER
WHITE
Built 1935 by
J Thornycroft Ltd., Woolston, Southampton. L77.7'. B19.6'. D8'. 90grt. 2x
265bhp Ruston
6KM diesel engines driving BTH generators [diesel electric drive]. ON163580.
1935
Delivered to Thames Steam Tug and Lighterage Co Ltd., London
named Framfield. 196? Owner E McNally,London.
1969 Sold to W E White & Sons Ltd., London
renamed Pusher White. 1972 Sold to Michael J Batty and Associates, Singapore
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed Josephine B and re-engined 1200bhp Mirrlees diesel. 1976 Possibly sold
to Persian owners.
------------------------------------------
SARAH
WHITE
Built 1925 at Groningen.
L53.5'. B14.8'. D6.8'. 34grt. 280bhp diesel engine. ON185902.
1925
Delivered to unknown owners, named Henri. 1957[by] Owners W E White and Sons
Ltd., London,
renamed Sarah White. 1976 [post] Sold to Stour
Salvage, renamed Rebel.
------------------------------------------
SNEEZY
SNEEZY and
GIMPY. Photo C.C. Beazley (Kevin Blair/Andrew Wiltshire collection)
Diesel launch
tug
No details
known.
-----------------
SNOW WHITE
Photo C.C. Beazley (Kevin Blair/Andrew Wiltshire collection)
Photog unknown
Built
1967 by W.R. Cunis Ltd., Woolwich. L45'. B12.6'. D5.5'. 95bhp Thornycroft
diesel engine. Dowty hydrostatic transmission. ON
1967
Delivered to W.R. Cunis Ltd., London,
named Hycu.
19?? Sold to W.E. White & Sons Ltd., London
renamed Snow White.
19?? Sold to Arcap-Welland Plant Hire Ltd., London,
renamed Purbeck John.
2009 Owners Carillion Marine Ltd., London. 2016 Sold to Charlight Towing.
-------------------------------
WILLIAM
WHITE
Built
1915 at Hamburg.
L51.3'. B13.9'. D6.7'. 30grt. 120bhp diesel engine. ON185901.
1915
Delivered to unknown owners. 19?? Owned by Graan voor Visch, Hoofddorp. 1951
Rebuilt for stern trawling, working in the Firth of Clyde
named Frank. 1953 Sold to W.E. White & Sons (Towage) Ltd., London.
Renamed William White. 1953 Rebuilt, re-engined 120bhp Gardner
8L3B diesel. 1976 [post] Sold to J. Dinwoodie & Son, Granton. 198? Sold to
owner at Gourock . 199? Scrapped at CardwellBay,
Gourock.
----------------------------------------
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
W J R WHITEHAIR LIMITED
Funnel;
Yellow with black top and red 'G Q'.
------------------------------
BOGIE
No details
known.
-----------------------------------------
BRENT
BROOK
Photo Derek Brown colln.
See under
RIVER LIGHTERAGE COMPANY
------------------------------
CHARLES W
No details
known but believed later converted to yacht.
-------------------------------------
CROISSET
Built 1892 by
Hepple and Co., North Shields. YN478. Screw tug. L60.72'. B13.23'.
D6.36'. 28grt. 120ihp.2cyl compound 10x"18"x14"
Steam engine. ON114714.
1892
Delivered to French owner and believed based at Rouen. 19-6-1900 Arrived on Thames. 12-7-1901 Owner A S Williams, London.
1901 Owner London Grain Elevator Company. 12-1910 Transferred to PLA. 1911 Owner
Alfred S Williams, London.11-1941 Sold to W. J. R. Whitehair Ltd., London.
1957 Still owned. 1970 Registration deleted No further trace.
-----------------------------------
ELLEN
See under
Phillips and Graves Ltd.
-------------------------
HERO
See under
UNION LIGHTERAGE CO LTD.
------------------------------------
KENNETH G
Photo Derek Brown colln
Photyo Derek Brown colln.
Built
1953 by Cochrane Ltd., Poplar. L46'. B11'. D6.8'. 27grt. 3cyl Crossley diesel
engine.
1953
Delivered to W.J.R. Whitehair Ltd., London
named Kenneth G. 196? Sold to Union Lighterage Co Ltd., London.
197? Sold to Cubow Ltd., Woolwich, renamed Cubow. 19?? Sold to Tough &
Henderson Ltd., London.
1983 Sold to Hastings
Bros., Brentford. 1983 Re-engined 190bhp RollsRoyce Eagle diesel. 19??
Renamed KG. 2005 Sold to Murphy Marine Services, renamed Kiera G. 2011 Still in
existence.
-----------------------------------------
PRETORIA
1938 Steam
barge also used for towing. No details known.
------------------------------
REGENT
Photog unknown. B Hunt colln
Built 1891 at
Poplar. L69’. B15’. D7.7’. 47grt. Steam engine. ON99032.
1891
Delivered to William Cory and Son Ltd., London.
1924[by] Owner Alfred Wetherfield, Barking. 1934 [by] Owner W J Whitehair, London.
196? Sold.
-----------------------------------------
SYDNEY G
Photographed
at Brentford in 2011 by Alan Chapman.
Photo Derek Brown colln.
Built 1954 by
J.R. Hepworth Ltd., Paull. 150bhp diesel engine.
1954
Delivered to W.J.R. Whitehair Ltd., London
named Sidney G. 196? Sold to Union Lighterage Co Ltd., London.
1971 Sold to Sutherland Bros., London.
1977 Sold to Darling Bros Ltd., London,
renamed Arthur Darling. 1985 Sold to Crusader Marine Ltd., renamed Lady Leigh.
198? Owners McCann Tugs Ltd., London.
1989 Sold to unknown owner, renamed Malta.
200? Believed owned by Palmers Ltd., Gravesend,
renamed Ben S. 200? Sold to unknown owner, renamed Sydney G. 2011 Still in
existence.
-----------------------------------
WENO
Photog unknown. A Hughes colln
Photo Derek Brown colln
Photo Derek Brown colln
Built 1928 by
T. van Duijvendijk, Lekkerkerk. YN 7. L71.9'. B18.3'. D8.5'. 71grt. 330ihp
steam engine. ON160586.
1928
Delivered to W.J.R. Whitehair Ltd., London.
7-1940 Req by Admiralty for service at Southend-on-Sea.11-8-1945
Returned to owners. 1963 Scrapped.
--------------------------
WILLIAM J
Built 1947 by
Smith & Donovan Ltd, Blackwall. 120bhp Kelvin T4 diesel engine.
1947
Delivered to W J R Whitehair Ltd, London
named William J. 196? Sold to Union Lighterage Co Ltd, London.
1971 Owners Darling Bros Ltd, London
renamed William D. No further trace.
---------------------------
HENRY WILDERS Jnr
RICHVIEW
Built 1902 by A W Robertson, Canning Town 25nhp 215ihp 10kn ON145208
1902 Launched named DOROTHY [unknown owner]. 3-1910 for sale at Avonmouth. by 8-1915 T Millward, Swansea (and in drydock at Swansea). 1915 War Office, Inland Water Transport Directorate as DT 2 (dredging department at Richborough) 1921 The Port of Queenborough Development Co Ltd, London, renamed RICHVIEW. 4-2-1924 Board of Trade, London (PQDC in liquidation). 1925 Pearson & Dorman Long Ltd, London (they took over Richborough port). 1929 Henry Wilders Jr, Plaistow, London. 1937 broken up
-------------------------------------------------------
SAMUEL WILLIAMS AND SONS
LIMITED
Including
Dagenham Lighterage Limited.
Funnel; Black
with broad blue band.
--------------------------------------
On 13th May 1841
Samuel Williams was bound apprentice to Charles Hutton, Lighterman of St Mary’s
Lambeth, for seven years.
By 1855 he
had started his own lighterage business and in 1861 purchased his first tug,
Little Eastern, reputed to be the first screw tug on the Thames, and about the
same time the first of what was to become a fleet of dredgers was purchased.
On 23rd March 1863
Samuel entered into an agreement with the BatterseaPark
Commissioners for a ninety year lease on 120’ of river frontage, just upstream
of AlbertBridge.
This was to become PrincesWharf
and in 1865 another 137 feet of river frontage was added to it. Here were built
the steam engines which were to power some of his early tugs.
During the
1880’s Samuel’s fleet were involved in the construction work of the Thames
Embankments and also opened a bunkering Depot in the Victoria Dock. He had also
built up a fleet of lighters specially adapted to carry Tar, Creosote, and
Ammoniacal Liquor, having entered into a 60 year contract in 1875 to convey
these goods from Beckton Gas Works. July 1886 saw sons Wlliam Varco Williams
and Frank Williams admitted into the business as partners.
A major
acquisition in 1887 was the purchase of a large area of riverside marshland at
Dagenham Essex. Much of the reclamation work here was carried out using soil
excavated from the expanding London
underground railway system, transported to Dagenham in his own fleet of
lighters. Also involved in the project were four steam railway locomotives and
various other equipment purchased from the contractors who were just completing
Tilbury Dock. These were the first of what was to be a large fleet of railway
equipment used on site which eventually had main line connections to the London,
Tilbury and Southend Railway. During 1888 and 1889 two wooden jetties
were constructed and by 1898 55 cottages had been built on site to house
workers.
The closure
of Prince’s Wharf came about on 28th March 1895 and at the same
time Alfred and Arthur Williams were admitted into the partnership.
Samuel
Williams died on 28th August 1899 but during the early 1900’s the jetties were
extended and in 1905 the company acquired a controlling interest in John Hudson
and Company. 1916 saw the cessation of dredging activity and the remaining
dredging plant was sold.
However in
1911 another major event had taken place. HMS Thunderer had been constructed at
Blackwall, but there was not enough room there to complete her fitting out, so
the vessel was towed down river to Dagenham, where a special jetty had been
constructed for the purpose, and is still known to this day as Thunderer Jetty.
The bunkering depot at Victoria Dock was closed in 1912 but at Dagenham there
was expansion into other fields, including storage of coal for the London
power stations. Many of the reinforced concrete piles for the Ford Works next
door were constructed on site, and there was expansion over the coming years
into the distribution of fuel oils and coal by a large fleet of road vehicles.
William Varco
retired in 1927 and died ten years later and Arthur Williams took over the
running of the company but he was to retire in 1939 and the company carried on
under the leadership of Laurence Williams. Dagenham Lighterage Company Ltd
proposed going into voluntary liquidation on 6-10-1970.
In 1971 the
remaining larger tugs Arthur, Baroness, Birchrock, Princess and Varco were sold
to Michael J Batty and Associates, Singapore.
Brought for a total of £46,000 all were shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore
and refitted, repainted and renamed before re-entering service.
-------------------------
My thanks go
to Graham Hardy, who kindly supplied me with much of the above history.
My thanks
also to Jonathan Batty for information regarding the tugs sold to Michael J
Batty and Associates.
---------------------------------------
ARTHUR
Photog unknown
Photo K
Watson colln.
-------
Built 1956 by
T. Mitchison & Co Ltd, Gateshead.
YN75. Designed by Burness Corlett and Partners. L72.1'. B18.5'. D8.7'. 69grt.
460bhp 2x R414M6 National diesel engines. MWD Gearbox. Single screw. BP7.25t.
ON
30-5-1956 Launched. 1957
Delivered to Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., London.
1971 Sold to M J Batty and Associates and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed May B. 197? Owners Wallem,Singapore,
renamed GoldGulf.
198? Owners Maritime PTE, Singapore.
198? Sank.
------------------------------------------
BARON
Built 1902 by
Machine-Fabriek, Delfshaven. L65.6'. B15.7'. D7.5'. 49grt. 140ihp 2cyl compound
steam engine by builder. ON115870
1902
Delivered to Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., London.
15-11-1933 Barge Dart, in tow, laden with coal tar, sank following collision
with SS Hero, off Mill Stairs Tier, Bermondsey.1946 Scrapped by T W Ward Ltd.,
Grays.
-------------------------------
BARONESS
Photog
unknown.
Built 1949 by
Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. YN 750. L71'. B17.6'. D7.5'. 72grt. 118nhp 6cyl
British Polar M461 diesel engine. BP7t. ON183174.
3-1950
Launched. 1950 Delivered to Samuel Williams & Sons Ltd., Dagenham.
1971 Sold to Michael J. Batty and Associates, Singapore,
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed Could B. Later served under contract with US Army in MekongDelta, Vietnam.
--------------------------------
BENBOW [1]
Built 1885 by
Thames Ironworks Ltd., Blackwall. L70'. B15'. D8.4'. 49grt. 40nhp 2cyl Compound
Steam engine by T A Young, Blackwall. ON91881.
1885
Delivered to Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., London.
1913 Reengined 35nhp 3cylTE steam engine. 1924 Sold. 1934 [by] Owner John Buck,
Brentford. 1936 Scrapped.
------------------------------------
BENBOW [2]
Photo B Hunt
colln
Built 1937 by
Richard Dunston Ltd, Thorne. L64'. B14.5'. D4.8'. 38grt. 2x 100bhp Crossley
Diesel engines. Twin screw. ON164998.
1937
Delivered to Medway Oil & Storage Co Ltd., Rochester.
Named Temeritie. 1953 Owners Shell-Mex & BP Ltd., London.
1-1956 Owners Dashwood and Partners Ltd., London.
2-1956 Owner A. E. White & Son Ltd., Erith. 3-1956 Sold to Samuel Williams
& Sons Ltd., London.
Renamed Benbow. 1959 Sold to APCM Ltd., London.
Renamed Impermo. 1972 Owner T.G. Hooper, Wrotham. No further trace.
-------------------------------------
BIRCHROCK
Built 1959 by
P K Harris Ltd., Appledore. YN120. 37grt 560bhp diesel engine.
1959
Delivered to Harrisons [London[ Ltd, named Birchrock. 1968 Sold to Samuel
Williams Ltd., London. 1971 Sold to M J Batty and Associates, Singapore and
shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam to Singapore. Renamed Shall B. 9-12-1971
Sunk by gunfire from Indian Navy vessel INS Beas
whilst engaged in UN relief work in Bangladeshi waters.
-----------------------
DUKE [1]
Photo B Hunt
colln.
Built 1875 by
John Dudgeon, Millwall. Iron. 40grt. L65'. B13.3'. D6.5'. 30nhp 2cyl HP
steam engine by Samuel Williams, Lambeth [Manuf 1869]. ON73557.
1875
Delivered to Samuel Williams, Lambeth, London.
1898 Owners Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., Lambeth. 1907 Scrapped.
--------------------------------------
DUKE [2]
Photo B Hunt
colln.
Built
1927 by John Chalmers, Lowestoft.
250ihp steam engine.
1927
Delivered to Samuel Williams & Sons Ltd., London.
24-7-1928 Assisted LCC fire brigade to extinguish fire on pleasure steamer
Eagle, lying in Deptford Creek. 1940 Took part in Dunkirk
evacuation. Master B Mansfield. Departed 0930 1-6-1940 towing car ferry
Fishbourne. Later parted tow to pick up S/B's Ada
Mary and Haste Away. Returned to Dover
towing 2 small boats and landed 44 troops. 29-5-1941 Req by Admiralty
managers Wiliam Cory & Sons Ltd., London.20-5-1946
Returned to owner. 1952 Scrapped.
A report of this tugs activities during the Dunkirk evacuation appears on the DUNKIRK LOGS page
-----------------------------
EARL [1]
Built 1880
Thames Ironworks Ltd., Blackwall. L63.3'. B13.7'. D7'. 34grt. 30nhp 2cyl
Steam engine by Samuel Williams, Battersea. ON89569.
1880
Delivered to Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., London.
1885 Sold to unknown owner. 1892[by] Owner Frederick Cole, Chelsea,London.
1896 Repurchased by Samuel Williams. 1929 Scrapped.
------------------------------------------
EARL [2]
Built 1929 by
John Chambers, Lowestoft.
60grt. 350ihp steam engine.
1929
Delivered to Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., London.
195? Scrapped.
--------------------------------
EMPEROR
Built 1884 by
Thames Iron Works & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Blackwall. Iron. L65'. B13.7'.
D7'. 34grt. 40nhp 2cyl compound steam engine by Samuel Williams, Battersea. ON91870.
1884
Delivered to Samuel Williams, Lambeth. 1898 Owner Samuel Williams & Sons
Ltd, Lambeth. 1931 Scrapped.
----------------------------------------
EMPRESS
At Barking
Town Quay. Photo D Asprey colln.
Built 1878 by
Dudgeon & Co., Millwall. L65.3'. B14'. D6.5'. 30nhp 2cyl steam engine
by Samuel Williams, Battersea. ON79648.
1878
Delivered to Samuel Williams, Lambeth. 1895 Owners Samuel Williams & Sons
Ltd., Lambeth. 1912 Sold to Henry W. Dove, Limehouse. 1912 Owner George Dove,
Limehouse. 30-8-1915 Off Garrison Pier, Purfleet, collided with and sank
cutter Alert, resulting in the deaths of 16 boys and one officer from the
reformatory training ship Cornwall.
1928 Scrapped.
-------------------------------------
GIPSY
Photo B Hunt
colln
Launch tug.
No details
known.
OwnersJames JonesCanal
Towage on permanent hire to Samuel Williams. 1968 Acquired by Samuel Williams
and Sons Ltd., London.
-----------------------------------
JAYMAR
Photo B. Hunt
colln.
Built 1935
by James Pollock Sons & Co Ltd., Faversham. YN 1527. L41'. B10.5'.
D4.2'. 13grt. 60bhp 2cyl Widdop diesel engine.
9-1935
Launched. 10-1935 Delivered to James Jones Canal
Towage. 19?? On permanent hire to Samuel Williams & Sons Ltd., London.
1968 Acquired by Samuel Williams & Sons Ltd., London.
----------------------------------
LITTLE
EASTERN
Built 1858 atGreenwich.
L62.9'. B11.3'. D6'. 26grt. 10nhp 1cyl steam engine. ON20840.
1858
Delivered to unknown owner. 1860 Owner W R Wagstaff, London.
1861 Sold to Samuel Williams, London.
1864 Sold to W R Wagstaff, London.
1875[by] Owner Robert J Scott, Bankside. 12-2-1875 Skipper William Ardley
fined one pound for towing more than six barges between Vauxhall and victoria
Dock. 1889 Owners Robert Scott & Esther Elmore, Bankside, London.
1889 Sold to William Nandersteen & Edwin Hubble, Limehouse. 1890 Sold to
George Dards, London.
1891 Owner James Watkins, London.
1891 Sold to George Rayner & Albert Hayball, Brentford. 1895 Owners Rayner &
Hayball Ltd, Brentford. 1897 Scrapped.
-----------------------------------
MARQUIS
Photo B Hunt
colln
Built 1902 by
Machine-Fabriek, Delfshaven. L65.5'. B15.6'. D7.5'. 49grt. 220ihp 2cyl compound
steam engine by builder. ON115874.
1902
Delivered to Samuel Williams, and Sons Ltd, London.
1950 Scrapped by G Cohen, Silvertown..
---------------------------------------
PIGMY
Launch tug
Built about
1921. 50bhp Kromhout diesel engine.
19?? Owners
James Jones Canal Towage Co. 19?? Permanently hired to Samuel
Williams & Sons Ltd, Dagenham. 1968 Acquired by Samuel Williams & Sons
Ltd, Dagenham 19?? Sold to C W Beckett & Co, Teddington. 1980 Owners May
Gurney Construction, Norwich.
--------------------------------
PRINCE [1]
Built 1863 by
J & H Dudgeon, Limehouse. L55'. B12'. D6.5'. 25nhp 1cyl steam engine by
builder. ON47356.
1863
Delivered to Samuel Williams, London.
1899 Scrapped.
-------------------------------------
PRINCE [2]
Built 1898 by
Dundee Shipbuilding Company Ltd., Dundee.
YN114. L69'. B16.4'. D9.2'. 54.81grt. 60nhp 2cyl compound steam engine by
Whyte and Mair. ON110060.
30-9-1898 Launched. 1898
Delivered to Samuel Williams Ltd., London,
named Prince. 1916 Acquired by W.H.J. Alexander ltd., renamed Sundial. 3-10-1938
Sold to Silvertown Services Ltd (£1500), renamed Silverdial. 4-7-1940
Bombed and sank in PortlandHarbour.
-----------------------------------------
PRINCE [3]
Built 1925 at
Cremyll, Cornwall.
L68.2'. B16.4'. D8.4'. 51grt. 26hp. ON148686.
1925
Delivered to Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., London.1-6-1940
Crossed to Dunkirk
towing small boats under Skipper J Benson. 1957 Still in service.
A report on this tugs activities during the Dunkirk evacuation appears on the DUNKIRK LOGS page.
-----------------------------------------
PRINCESS
[1]
Built 1904 by
Machine-Fabriek, Rotterdam.
L69'. B17'. D9.1'. 63grt. 70nhp 2cyl compound steam engine by builder. ON120490.
1904
Delivered to Samuel Williams and Sons Ltd., London.12-8-1914
Req for Admiralty service at Sheerness. 12-7-1919 Returned to owners. 1-6-1940
Crossed to Dunkirk
under skipper J Wallis. 1949 Renamed Viscountess-W. 1950 Scrapped.
A report on this tugs activities during the Dunkirk evacuation appears on the DUNKIRK LOGS pages.
------------------------------------
PRINCESS
[2]
Built 1949 by
Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. L71.1'. B17.6'. D7.5'. 72grt. 450bhp 6cyl British
Polar diesel engine. BP7t. ON183169.
12-1949
Delivered to Samuel Williams & Sons Ltd., London.
1971 Sold to Michael J Batty and Associates, Singapore
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed Should B. 9-12-1971
Part of the convoy fired upon by INS Beas.
-----------------------------
QUEEN [1]
Built 1862 at
Millwall. L56.6'. B12.1'. D6.6'. 25nhp 1cyl steam engine. ON44988.
1862
Delivered to Samuel Williams, London.
1875 Sold to Tough and Henderson,London.
1882 Owner Robert Tough, London.
1903 Scrapped.
--------------------------------
QUEEN [2]
Built 1880 by
Thames Ironworks Ltd., Blackwall. L63.3'. B13.7'. D7'. 34grt. 30nhp 2cyl
steam engine by Samuel Williams, Battersea. ON89570.
1880
Delivered to Samuel Williams, Lambeth, London.
1929 Scrapped.
--------------------------------
RODNEY
Photog
unknown.
Photo D
Asprey colln
Built 1887 by
Thames Ironworks Ltd., Blackwall. L70'. B15.2'. D8.3'. 48grt. 50nhp 2cyl
compound steam engine by T A Young, Blackwall. ON94355.
1887
Delivered to Samuel Williams. Lambeth. 1898 Owners Samuel Williams and Sons
Ltd., London.
1917 Req for Admiralty service. 1918 returned to owner. 1926 Sold to S Wheeler,
Twickenham. 1932 Scrapped.
-----------------------------
SAMADEN
Photog
unknown
Launch tug
Built 1938 by
James Pollock Ltd., Faversham. YN1709. L41'. B10.5'. D5.4'. 60bhp Widdop diesel
engine.
7-1939
Completed by Pollock's for stock. 7-1940 Acquired by James Jones Canal
Towage and placed on permanent hire to Samuel Williams. 1968 Acquired by Samuel
Williams and Sons Ltd., London.
1971 Believed scrapped at Dagenham Dock.
-----------------------------------
SULLIVAN
Launch tug.
OwnersJames Jones Canal
Towage on permanent hire to Samuel Williams. 1968 Acquired by Samuel Williams
and Sons Ltd., London.
-------------------------------
VARCO
Photographer
unknown
Built 1957 by
T. Mitchison & Co Ltd, Gateshead.
YN 77. L72.1'. B18.5'. D8.7'. 69grt. 460bhp National diesel engine. BP9t.
ON
1957
Delivered to Samuel Williams & Sons Ltd., London.
1971 Sold to Michael J. Batty and Associates, Singapore,
and shipped as deck cargo from Rotterdam
to Singapore.
Renamed Might B. and served at Chittagong.
1972 Loaned to Maritime Pte Ltd., Singapore
between contracts. 1976 Sold to Wallem Towage & Salvage Pte Ltd.,
Singapore, renamed Jade Gulf.
197? Owners Maritime Pte Ltd., Singapore.
--------------------------------------------
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WOODS LIGHTERAGE
SEA
KING
Built 1878 by S Hodge and Sons,
Millwall. Iron. L59.5'. B11.8'. D5.6'. 26grt 30nhp. ON94318.
1878
Delivered to George, Charles and George Edward Wood, Coal Exchange,London.
1892 Reengined C2cy 12"&24"x16" 24nhp 144ihp by Plenty
& Son. 5-2-1895
Owners Alfred and Ernest Wood, London.5-4-1904
Owners Woods Lighterage Co Ltd., ,London.3-11-1913
Sold to Hope Lighterage Ltd., London.
30-9-1918 Sank off Southwold, Suffolk.
------------------------
STORM
QUEEN
Built
1876 by S Hodge and
Sons, Millwall. Iron. L59'7". B11'9". D6'. 33grt 25nhp
1cyl 18"x24" steam engine. ON73677
24-6-1876 Delivered to
George, Charles and George Edward Wood, Coal Exchange, London.
1890 Reengined C2cy 11"&20"x16" 20nhp 120ihp by Plenty
& Son. 5-2-1895
Owners Alfred & Ernest Wood, London.5-4-1904
Owners Woods Lighterage., London.3-11-1913
Sold to Hope Lighterage Ltd., London.24-8-1920
Sold to Clements Knowling Ltd., London.
1-1930 Register closed 'broken up'.
--------------------------
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