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Draft:G.K. Stothert & Co

Coordinates: 51°26′56″N 2°36′56″W / 51.44884°N 2.615590°W / 51.44884; -2.615590
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51°26′56″N 2°36′56″W / 51.44884°N 2.615590°W / 51.44884; -2.615590

G.K. Stothert & Co was a British engineering company primarily known for shipbuilding and repair founded in 1852 in Bristol, England.

History[edit]

Mayflower was built by Stothert & Marten in 1861. She is the oldest Bristol-built ship afloat, and is believed to be the oldest surviving tug in the world.

The Bristol offshoot of Stothert and Pitt (which was at that time named Stothert, Slaughter & Co.) had been set up in St Phillips in 1837 with the hope of gaining orders from the Great Western Railway[1]. By 1844 they had diversified into shipbuilding, producing two 105 ton iron screw steamers named Avon and Severn which were built for running between Newport and Bristol[2][3][4]. The railway works part of the company eventually became Avonside Engine Company, and the shipbuilding part moved to Hotwells and became a separate company in 1852 under the control of George Kelson Stothert. It was officially known as the Clifton Marine Engineering and Iron Shipbuilding Works.[2] Subsequent partnerships were formed with E.T. Fripp (1855-1859)[5] and R.H. Marten (1859-1862)[6]; after that, G. K. Stothert held sole control until 1899.[7]. When he died in 1908, the business was established as a limited company carrying his name[8][9]. The business remained in operation under his name until 1933[4], although shipbuilding stopped in 1904[2][3].

After G. K. Stothert passed away, the obituary written by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers noted that he "...was one of the pioneers of iron shipbuilding in this country"[10].

Location[edit]

In 1852, the company took over an existing shipyard adjacent to the Cumberland Basin that had been used by George Lunnell between 1834 and 1851[11]. Their site consisted of slipways, Hotwells Dry Dock (now Pooles Wharf Marina) and Merchant's Dock[12] (now filled in, although the old entrance is still visible).

Vessels[edit]

Several large vessels were built within the first few years of operation, including the Scamander[13], Meander[14] and Araxes[15], ranging between 780 and 1156 tons and being built in 1854 and 1855 for the Moss Line of Liverpool.[2][3]

The company became known for producing river and canal tugs, including a significant number for use on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. This commenced with an initial order for three in 1860 (Moss Rose, 1860[7], Mayflower, 1861[16] and Violet, 1862[7]) and ended with a final order for two in 1904 (Active and Victor)[2][17] which are believed to be the final vessels launched by the company[10].

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cattell, John (1997). "Avonside Ironworks, Bristol" (PDF). BIAS Journal (30): 13.
  2. ^ a b c d e Farr, Grahame (1977). Shipbuilding in the Port of Bristol. Greenwich: National Maritime Museum. p. 13. ISBN 0-905555-05-8.
  3. ^ a b c Torrens, Hugh (1978). The Evolution of a Family Firm - Stothert and Pitt of Bath. Stothert & Pitt Ltd. pp. 44–47. ISBN 0950602507.
  4. ^ a b Torrens, Hugh (1976). "The Early Years of Stothert & Pitt" (PDF). BIAS Journal (9): 27.
  5. ^ "The London Gazette" (PDF). 26 August 1856. p. 2926.
  6. ^ "The London Gazette" (PDF). 21 July 1863. p. 3634.
  7. ^ a b c King, A (1983). "Bristol's other Iron Ship Steam Tug 'Mayflower'" (PDF). BIAS Journal (16): 10–14.
  8. ^ "BT 34/3426/101574 - Company number: 101574; G K Stothert and Company Ltd. Incorporated 1909. Liquidator's Accounts on the dissolution of the company at some point between 1909 and 1932". The National Archives. 1932.
  9. ^ "The London Gazette" (PDF). 4 May 1909. p. 3428.
  10. ^ a b "G. K. Stothert and Co - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  11. ^ Farr, Grahame (1971). Bristol Shipbuilding in the Nineteenth Century (PDF). Bristol Branch of the Historical Association. pp. 14a.
  12. ^ "Stotherts Dock". Bristol Archives online catalogue. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  13. ^ "Launch of a Fine Iron Steamer". Morning Chronicle. No. 27357. London. 29 August 1854.
  14. ^ "Ship Launch". Bristol Mercury. No. 3380. Bristol. 30 December 1854.
  15. ^ "Launch of a Fine Iron Steamer". Bristol Mercury. No. 3408. Bristol. 14 July 1855.
  16. ^ "Mayflower | National Historic Ships". www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  17. ^ ""General Arrangement S.T. "Active" & "Victor""". catalogue.gloucestershire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-06.


Category:Defunct shipbuilding companies of the United Kingdom Category:Defunct companies based in Bristol Category:Manufacturing companies based in Bristol Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1852 Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1933

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