Category Archives: Sailing Trawlers

Sailing Trawlers

sv Alice FD??

Technical

Official Number: 17225
Net Tonnage: 23
Built: 1829
Rig: Smack

History

1829: Completed by Henry Mayor and William Backhouse, Burscough Bridge, Lancashire as ALICE. A flat.
16.12.1851: Appropriated.
16.12.1851: Registered at Fleetwood. Owned by John Calder (Sk. Sam Colley).
7.7.1856: Sailed on the morning tide for the fishing grounds. The wind was variable changing direction and freshening throughout the day. At about 11.30pm it started to blow from the north.
8.7.1856: At 12.30am a furious gale suddenly blew up and the Fleetwood fleet 12 in number, which were lying off Black Combe, north of Duddon Estuary, received considerable damage. Lost one of the jibs. The smacks then laid their vessels under snug canvas and the wind later being favourable for them to reach Fleetwood, left the area.
10.7.1856: Most of the fleet arrived home about 6.00am without further damage.
3.4.1863: The Dumfries sloop JANNETS (37nrt/1837)(Lowrie, master), having put into Ravenglass in heavy weather while on passage Dumfries for Liverpool, cargo timber, continued her voyage. When some ten miles out the forestay parted causing the mast to break about seven feet above deck carrying with it the bowsprit, boom , sails and rigging. Owing to the heavy seas obliged to cut them all adrift. By now in Morecambe Bay and under jury rig attempting to reach Morecambe. Picked up by the Fleetwood paddle tug WYRE (165grt/1862) and brought into Fleetwood. Later the cut away mast, rigging and sails recovered by the ALICE and brought into Fleetwood.
10.8.1863: At Blackpool Petty Sessions, seven fishermen, Peter Leadbetter (ALICE); James Wilson (BRAZEN NOSE); Richard Wright (ELIZABETH); William Ball (EMMA); Nicholas Leadbetter (MARY ELLEN) and Richard Roskell (NIMBLE), had summonses issued against them for illegally landing and having onboard their vessels quantities of oysters, during a prohibited time of the year. Richard Roskell giving evidence maintained that they could not avoid catching these oysters which damaged their nets, and that they were not the type of oysters forbidden in the Act. After legal argument the cases against William Ball, Peter Leadbetter, Richard Roskell and James Wilson were dismissed with costs; Nicholas Leadbetter and Richard Wright were each fined 8s and costs.
1864: Tonnage altered to 24nrt.
20.6.1864: At the County Court before T. H. Ingham, Esq., held at the Temperance Hall, Ulverston, Mrs Valliant brought a case against Peter Leadbetter, skipper of the fishing boat. Mrs Valliant had taken passage in the ALICE from Fleetwood to Barrow along with a tub containing some clothes and paid Leadbetter 1s. On arrival Mrs Valliant asked for the tub to be placed on the quay, but it could not be found and Leadbetter denied all knowledge of it. The empty tub was later found at house in Hindpool, Brarrow. In his defence Leadbetter said that he was not a common carrier and merely engaged to take Mrs Valliant to Barrow. His Honour, however, held that the defendant having taken the goods in question into his possession, was responsible for their safe delivery. Judgement was therefore given for the amount claimed.
1864: Sold to Robert Jones, 7 Eastgate Street, Carnarvon. Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Carnarvon.
18.11.1864: Fishing in Carnarvon Bay (Sk. Daniel). Caught in a gale blowing southward and westward ran into Porthdynllaen for shelter but the wind chopping round to the northward and eastward obliged to run on the beach at Nevin. Received no damage.
About 1869: Fishing the Calf grounds, SW of Calf of Man (Sk. Sam Colley) along with six or seven other boats and landing into Holyhead. Reputed to be the first skipper to place hake on the Manchester Wholesale Market through agent Theophilus Handley.
29.4.1870: Fishing in Carnarvon Bay, took a fine sturgeon, 6’ 10” and weighing 106lbs. The fish was brought ashore and exhibited in the shop of Mrs Robert Jones in Eastgate and afterwards sold for 6d per lb. The head and skin, weighing 24lbs will be retained, cured and stuffed.
By 1887: No longer fishing, possibly employed in coastwise trade.
1890: Not recorded in MNL under this name.

Changelog
16/11/2019: Page published.
05/10/2023: History updated.

s.v. Nimble FD11

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 27317
Gross Tonnage: 33.61
Rig Sloop/Ketch
Built: Robert Wright, Freckleton

History

1860: Launched by Robert Wright, Freckleton for John Noblett, Fleetwood as NIMBLE.
8.1.1861: Registered at Fleetwood.
10.8.1863: At Blackpool Petty Sessions, seven fishermen, Peter Leadbetter (ALICE); James Wilson (BRAZEN NOSE”); Richard Wright (ELIZABETH); William Ball (EMMA); Nicholas Leadbetter (MARY ELLEN) and Richard Roskell (NIMBLE), had summonses issued against them for illegally landing and having onboard their vessels quantities of oysters, during a prohibited time of the year. Richard Roskell giving evidence maintained that they could not avoid catching these oysters which damaged their nets, and that they were not the type of oysters forbidden in the Act. After legal argument the cases against William Ball, Peter Leadbetter, Richard Roskell and James Wilson were dismissed with costs; Nicholas Leadbetter and Richard Wright were each fined 8s and costs.
20.8.1864: Took part in the class for trawl boats under 70tons at the Blackpool Regatta (Sk.Richard Roskelll) finishing in fourth place.
3.11.1864: At night the Fleetwood registered flat BRITON (29 regd tons/1841) (Capt Fairclough) while at anchor on Mort Bank off Walney Island was run down by the Belfast and Morecambe paddle steamer SHELBURNE (484grt/1860) (Capt Sully). The flat immediately filled and capsized but the steamer sustained little damaged and continued passage to Morecambe. The crew of the flat took to their boat and picked up the following morning by the NIMBLE and brought into Fleetwood.
10.11.1864: Fell in with the BRITON drifting about in Morecambe Bay and assisted the Fleetwood paddle tug WYRE (165grt/1862) to connect and deliver to Fleetwood.
7.12.1866: At about 2.30am when about twenty miles from Fleetwood Lighthouse, during severe gales that had raged all week, swept by heavy seas, breaking up the boat, carrying away the sails and washing the fishing gear overboard. Sk. Richard Roskell saw the heavy sea coming and shouted to warn the crew who were manning the winch, but they were unable to escape, William Ball (35) was thrown against the winch handles which came in contact with the lower parts of his body; Richard Rigley and William Wright were also severely injured. The skipper and remaining hand rigged a jury sail and endeavoured to make for Fleetwood, but owing to the heavy seas running and the damaged condition of the vessel they ran on into Piel and immediately sent to Barrow for medical assistant On arrival of the medical man it was determined that all three were in serious condition and should be moved ashore for treatment; William Ball declined to be moved.
8.12.1866: At about 10.00am sailed Piel for Fleetwood, Ball who had been in agony all night passed away on passage and on arrival a Fleetwood about 3.00 pm in tow of the paddle tug WYRE (Capt Swarbrick), he was conveyed to his home in Walmsley Street.
9.12.1866: At the inquest held at the Fleetwood Police Station, a verdict was returned “ That the deceased was accidentally killed on board the fishing smack NIMBLE, in a storm, whilst out at sea.. “
1869: Owned by Frederick W. Rigby, (64/64), Preston. Registered at Fleetwood (FD11).
10.10.1869: During the night on the flood tide. Parted her moorings on the south side of the river and drifted up with the tide and carried through the gap in the old railway embarkment fetching up on the Marsh. The following morning the owner who was prepared to take her to sea on the morning tide, found her missing. Searching about for some time she was discovered and brought back to her mooring on the following tide with only a small portion of her taffrail damaged; she proceed to sea on the same tide.
4.5.1879: The smack had been out for several days. In the evening about 10.05pm, Joseph Price, fisherman, was cutting cork when the knife slipped and entered his high up to the haft. The smack was immediately put about for Fleetwood and at about 4.00am in the morning Price was put in the punt off Danger Patch buoy and towed into Fleetwood. On arrival he was conveyed to his mother’s house in Cross street and Dr Porter attended. Price was very weak from loss of blood as he had severed an important artery. The wound was dressed and he was improving.
15.3.1884: Frederick Rigby died.
7.1884: Sold to Patrick Murphy, Swingpump Lane, Whitehaven. Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Whitehaven (3/1884) (WN7).
1889: Sold to John Preston Peet, Whitehaven & others (John Preston Peet managing owner).
1890: Rebuilt and ketch rigged – 23 regd tons Employed coasting.
1892: Sold to John Wright, 12 Senhouse Street, Whitehaven & others (John Wright managing owner).
19.1.1903: Wrecked on Angus Rock, Strangford Lough, Co Down in approximate position 54 29N 05 37W, while on passage to Belfast, cargo vegetables.
1903: Whitehaven registry closed.

Changelog

01/12/2018: Page published
20/02/2022: Information updated.

sv Wild Rose FD86

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk

Technical

Net Tonnage: 6
Rig: Cutter/seining

History

24.10.1925: first registered at Fleetwood.
Post 1930: Converted to aux. motor.

Click to enlarge images

sv Wild Rose FD86

sv Wild Rose FD86
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

Changelog

05/03/2011: Page published.
12/11/2018: Page re-published. Removed FMHT watermark from image.

sv Schoolgirl FD84

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk

History

Lost in the great storm of October 1895.
Foundered off Crusader Bank
Boat subsequently came ashore at St Annes

Crew Robert Fleming (2nd cox of Fleetwood lifeboat) G. Ball

Changelog
14/12/2017: Page published.

s.v. Ventures FD2

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk

Technical
Gross Tonnage: 8.0

History
24.11.1898: Registered at Fleetwood.
3.9.1918: Sold to ?? Fleetwood.
8.10.1925: Converted to auxiliary motor and re-registered.
12.11.1930 Transferred to Chester (CH37). Based at Great Meols, near Hoylake.

Changelog
03/11/2017: Page published.