Flambro

Black & white image of a colour painting of the steamship Flambro.

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

The following short history has been compiled by Bert Spaldin.

The firm of W.A. Smith was begun by William Abbey Smith and his elder brother Charles Edward, and as Smith Brothers & Co. worked for the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company. In 1898 the brothers acquired two ships from their old firm, the Flambro and the Goldsbro, and in the following year a further ship, the Webster, which they renamed Knaresbro to match the nomclemature of their other two vessels. All three ships had been built in the town by William Gray, and indeed William Cresswell Gray held shares in the ships.

Goldsbro had been named at her launch on May 24^th, 1887, by the triplet daughters of the late Captain Young who had run the company until his death in 1885. The vessel was an improved ‘welldeck’ type whose C.M.E.W. engine gave her a loaded speed of 9 knots.

Flambro was launched on October 4^th, 1887, the naming ceremony being performed by Miss Amy Barraclough, whose father was the manager of the company. The Webster was launched on March 18^th, 1893, also being named by Miss Barraclough. The ship had large hatchways to facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo, was fitted with steam winches, and had iron shifting boards for the carriage of grain. She achieved a speed of 11.5 knots on her trials, before proceeding to Cardiff to load her first cargo on April 28^th.

During their time with the brothers, all three ships traded world-wide. For example, the Goldsbro loaded coal at Barry for Tenerife, then went on to Philadelphia and from there to Granton and Cardiff where she loaded a cargo of coal for Colombo. She then sailed to the rice ports to load for Europe.
In 1905 she was sold to Spanish owners and after passing the the hands of a number of other owners, was eventually torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay in 1918.

The following year the Knaresbro was lost on the coast of Jutland. She had sailed from Baltimore on February 13^th, with a cargo of 3,966 tons of maize bound for Svenborg in Denmark. On March 5^th she went aground near Lemvig. A report was received from Lloyd’s that she was on a sandy bottom with a moderate swell running but that she was bumping heavily. A further report on the 9^th stated that she was full of water and the crew had left her. A later report from the Mate, David Dickenson, said that an unusually strong current and thick fog caused the ship to go ashore on the Jutland coast. When the crew left the ship they had to get through the breakers and there were hundreds of people on shore to assist them. They lost all their belongings and were taken first to the town of Ferring and then to Copenhagen from whence they were sent home by the Shipwrecked Mariners Society.

Neither of these ships were replaced and with the sale of the Flambro in 1907 to the same Spanish owners who had purchased the Goldsbro, the brothers’ shipowning days were over. The Flambro was lost in 1916, Under Norwegian ownership, when on a voyage to Sunderland.

Family History:

Charles Edward Smith was born at Cowesby, Yorkshire on 5 March 1855 to parents Charles and Sarah (nee Gowland). Charles was married at Hartlepool to Elizabeth Leng in 1881. On the 1891 census the couple were living at Scarborough Street with their son and daughter and Charles was listed as a superintendent marine engineer. By 1901 the couple were living at 'Cowesby' 48 Clifton Avenue with their two children.

Charles died aged at Hartlepool on 25 February 1930 leaving effects of £16,943. His widow, Elizabeth, died in 1959.

William Abbey Smith was born on 26 April 1863 at Bradford to parents Charles and Sarah (nee Gowland). William was married at Knaresborough to Mary Hilda Swale in 1891. By 1911 the couple were living at 'Roseberry Villa' Clifton Avenue.

William died at Hartlepool on 18 March 1850 leaving effects of £4,523.

Obituary in Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail – Monday 20 March 1950.

WILLIAM ABBEY SMITH, J.P., one of the best known personalities in the business world of the Hartlepools for more than 50 years, and a magistrate for 26 years, died at his home, 32 Hutton Avenue, West Hartlepool, on Saturday. He would have been 87 next month. Born at Low Moor, near Bradford, in 1863, Mr. Smith came to West Hartlepool in 1869 and entered the service of the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company at the age of 14, eventually becoming the company’s manager. At the turn of the century, he became a ship-owner himself with a fleet of three, which he operated in partnership with his brother, Mr. C. E. Smith. Later he turned his attentions to insurance and personally conducted business as a broker in Stockton Street, West Hartlepool, until within four weeks of his death. In 1926 Mr. Smith was elected to the Town Council as a representative of the North-East Ward, and served until 1932 when he was defeated at the poll by Mr. W. T. Potter. J.P., the present president of the National Union of Railwaymen. Mr. Smith took his seat on the Magisterial Bench in 1920 on the same day as Mr. Chas. A. Sage, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Friday, was appointed. Mr. Smith sat on West Hartlepool’s Youth Committee as the representative of the Hartlepools Chamber of Commerce, of which he was a member for many years, and he was also a manager of St. Joseph's Convent and St. Cuthberts School.

He was a founder member of the West Hartlepool circle of the Catenian Association - the Roman Catholic association of business and professional men - and was the circle’s first president. Mr. Smith also took a keen interest in local badminton and was vice-president of the Hartlepools and District Badminton Association. He leaves widow and one son and there are two grandchildren. Requiem Mass will be sung at St. Joseph's Church, West Hartlepool, to-morrow.

The West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company (WHSNC), was founded in 1856 by Ralph Ward Jackson and Robinson Watson and was controlled by the West Hartlepool Harbour & Railway Company. The company was primarily engaged in the North-East coal trade, but also operated a twice weekly service to Hamburg, and a fortnightly service to St. Petersburg.

In 1862, a power struggle between “Railway King” George Hudson and Ralph Ward Jackson, effectively resulted in the company being taken over by local shipbuilders Pile, Spence & Co.

When they went bankrupt in 1866, the WHSNC was taken over by Christopher Maling Webster (of Pallion Hall, Sunderland), with Management of the fleet being given to his son-in-law, Captain W.J. Young, who subsequently became a partner. When Captain Young died in 1886, Thomas Barraclough became the company's Manager. Christopher Webster died in 1893, and was succeeded by his son Ernest Alfred.

In 1899, the Company merged with that of J.E. Guthe under the amended name of West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company Limited, (though still referred to as the WHSNC), with Sir Christopher Furness as Chairman, and J.E. Guthe as Managing Director.
Ernest Webster and Thomas Barraclough now formed their own company as Webster & Barraclough.

Over subsequent years, the WHSNC owned or managed more than a hundred different vessels, and although still in existence today, the Company no longer operates ships.
For a more detailed history of the WHSNC, see 'The West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company Limited', by B.G. Spaldin and H.S. Appleyard, published by the World Ship Society in 1980.

Family Histories:

Captain William Joseph Young was born on 2nd September 1828 at Tynemouth, Northumberland to parents Joseph and Phillis Young. He became an attorney in the firm of Young, Harrison & Young of which his father was head. He eventually became Clerk to the Borough Bench of Justices before steering his interests to shipping. William married Mary Frances Webster (daughter of Christopher Maling Webster) at Bishopwearmouth on 24 May 1864. The couple had five children in their ten years of marriage. Mary died in July 1876.

Amongst other achievements William was one of the earliest commanders of the Fourth Durham Artillery Volunteers, a chairman of the Hartlepool Port and Harbour Commissioners and a director of the North Eastern Railway Company from 1882 until his death in 1885.

William died aged 58 on 3 November 1885 at ‘Roseville’ Wolviston leaving effects of £41,423.

Obituary in the Yorkshire Gazette – Saturday 7 November 1885.

We regret to have to announce the death, on Tuesday, at his residence, Wolviston, near Stockton, of W. J. Young, after a lingering illness. The deceased gentleman, who was born in 1826, was a lawyer profession, and succeeded his father, the late Mr Joseph Young, who retired from legal practice at Sunderland, to live at Hartford House, Northumberland, as a country gentleman. Mr William Joseph Young entered early into the firm of which his father was the head—that of Young, Harrison, and Young—and in due time became clerk to the Sunderland magistrates. He married the daughter of C. M. Webster, of Pallion. On the failure of Pile, 'Spence, and Co., Limited, the fleet of steamer's owned by the firm and engaged in the Hamburg, Gothenburg, and other trades, were sold to Messrs. Webster and Young, and Mr Young left Sunderland for the West Hartlepool district, settling at Wolviston. For nearly twenty years Mr Young has been connected with the commerce of West Hartlepool, and has given largely of his time and ability to promote its interests. He was appointed chairman of the Port and Harbour Commission, a magistrate for the county, and representative of the West Hartlepool section at the board of directors of the North-Eastern Railway and only one honour that the Hartlepools could give was denied to him. On the retirement of Mr Thomas Richardson from the representation of the borough, Mr Young became the Conservative candidate, his opponents being (now Sir) Isaac Lothian Bell aud A. Kenealev ; and after an exciting contest Bell was elected.

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Christopher Maling Webster was born at Bishopwearmouth on 17^th May 1812 to parents Rowland and Mary (nee Maling) Webster. He was married at Bishopwearmouth on 14^th August 1839 to Mary Laing. (Daughter of James Laing, Sunderland shipbuilder)  They had ten children during their 22 years of marriage.

Christopher died aged 82 at Sunderland on 7 August 1894 leaving effects of £258,019.

Obituary in the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette  - Wednesday 8 August 1894.

We regret to announce the death of Mr Christopher Maling Webster, J.P., of Pallion Hall, which took place at a quarter seven o'clock last night at the advanced age of 82. Deceased enjoyed remarkably good health up to the last two or three years, and never became seriously ill until about three weeks ago, when the natural decay consequent  on old age manifested itself, and resulted in his death. During his illness was constantly attended by Dr Maling and Dr Robinson, and everything that medical skill could suggest to prolong life was taken advantage of.  The deceased, who was the son of the late Rowland Webster, and, on his mother's side, descended from the same family as the Burdons of Castle Eden, was formerly in business in Sunderland as a wire rope manufacturer at Deptford, when he amassed a considerable fortune.  He retired many years ago and the business is now conducted by his two nephews, Mr Webster, J.P., and Mr Herbert Webster who are the sons of the deceased’s late brother, Mr Henry Robert Webster.  He married a sister of Mr James Laing, J.P., D.L., and had a family of ten children, of whom three sons and four daughters survive him.  His eldest daughter married the late Mr W.J. Young, formerly a solicitor in Sunderland and borough justices' clerk. Both of them died some years ago. The late Mr Webster was one of the oldest J.P.’s for the county of Durham, having been appointed on the 3^rd of February 1855, and we believe that only one other county magistrate now living (Mr Pemberton) was appointed prior to that date. His chief activity in public affairs was centred on the operations of the River Wear 'Commission, to which body he was elected as a representative of the landowners on the 16th November, 1842. He took a conspicuous part in the amalgamation of the docks in 1859, and on the 14^th March1866, was elected chairman of the Commission. This important position he continued to occupy position he continued to occupy till the 11^th March 1868, when he was succeeded by the present chairman, Mr James Laing. Mr Webster still remained a member of that body, and was in periodical attendance at the meetings up till a little over a year ago, when he practically ceased to attend.  For several years he was the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commission, and during an honourable connection with that body he brought to bear upon its deliberations the excellent business ability which had always distinguished him in his own undertakings. Deceased also had not fulfilled any magisterial duties for some years, and, apart from his connection with the River Wear Commission and the magisterial bench, took no active part in public affairs. Though leading the life of a retired gentleman he was much interested in shipping, and was the sole owner of the shipping firm known as the known the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company, All his vessels being registered at Hartlepool. Some years ago he purchased the Pallion estate from the representatives of the late Mr John Goodchild, the well-known Sunderland banker, and has resided there ever since.  He was one of the old-fashioned Whigs, but in the political cleavage of recent years embraced the Unionist creed, though he always called himself a Liberal. However, he at no time took a prominent part in party politics. In religion he was a staunch son of the Church of England. He was well-known throughout the town and district, more especially among the old standards, and was widely respected. His son is Mr C.M. Webster.