Guernsey in the shipbuilding days

From The Star of 6 February 1913. 'A writer connected with the shipping interests of the island has written the following brief history of Guernsey's shipbuilding days which will be read with interest by many readers.'

The beach where the South Esplanade now extends its length was once a stirring scene of commercial activity. Shipbuilding, when the principal business of the Island, had one of its most important centres at this spot. The work was carried on under somewhat trying conditions at times, for the sea surrounded the vessels under construction every spring tide.

Many vessels were built here in the three yards owned respectively by Messrs. Marquand and De La Mare, Messrs. Wm. Perrot and Wm. Jones, and Mr. T. de la Mare. Among those built by Messrs. Marquand and De La Mare were the Swift brig, the Queen Victoria, ship, Lady of the Lake, schooner, the schooner Jessie (fruiter), and in the yard where now the Guernsey Waterworks Office and other houses stand the Lady Collings, schooner. In this same yard Mr. Vaudin built the brig Adelaide, schooner Aurora, brig Cossack and brig Lily. In another South Beach yard Mr. W. Perrot built the cutter Fairy, schooner br. Brilliant and schooner br. John Wesley, and schooner Lady Robilliard, which went to Australia. Among those built by Mr. William Jones were the brig Hebe, sunk on her anchors in a gale, off foreign port, the crew having been fetched by the shoremen; the barque Herald, brig Siren, lost off Rio; schooner Apollo, schooner Charles, schooner Ellen, schooner br. George IV, and brig Julia.

From Havelet to Castle Vaudin was beach and from Castle Vaudin to the Guard House was a narrow road. Then came the Old Harbour, with its narrow quays and the celebrated Cow Lane, which led from Church Square to the harbour, and where the cow barge landed or embarked her cows; the remains of this lane are now enclosed with wooden gates at either end. It is situated between Alexandra Hotel and Albion Hotel. Where the Albert Statue now stands, the schooner br. Mellona was built by Mr. T. De La Mare, as also several others.

From the present Crown Hotel to the Esplanade was all beach, and where Mr H. Marks’ fruit shop stands, between Mr. J. G. Piprell and the Tourgande, several vessels were built by Mr. Machon. The Diolinda, and Minerva, which was taken directly to Mr. J. Sebire’s shipyard to be lengthened. At this time and for years afterwards many vessels were lengthened.

In a gale of wind the Quo’s sternpost and fashion timber were washed down and away and deposited under Marine Terrace, and were brought back and replaced. The Lightning, William and Maria, Maria Londer, Sir William Collings (lost at Alderney), and Vibilia were sold to Jersey and repurchased to Guernsey. Other vessels were the Victoria Regina, Clara, British Queen, and‘ Joseph.

On the north side of the White Rock Hotel, behind Mr. C. Newbury's, Mr. Spurway built a cutter, and in his large yard in what is now St. Julian's Avenue he built the Neptune and Acorn. The Neptune remained some time across the road. In this same St. Julian’s yard Mr. Matthew De Putron built some large and fine vessels, the Result, Anglo Saxon, Ocean Bride, Emerald and Agenora, all large brigs, followed by the Hope and Selina Jane (ketches). He also built the Echo on the White Rock, or rather St. Julian’s Emplacement, where Messrs. Turnbull’s and the London boat stores are now erected. Mr. Henry Grace also built a small steam yacht for Mr. St. John Gore, which was afterwards sold to England.

At the emplacement Mr. A. Thom built a schooner, the Sirrie, near what is now Messrs. Parsons’ yard; she was lost in the Bristol Channel. Returning to St. Julian’s and proceeding along the Esplanade, there would have been nothing of note to attract our attention, unless it were the houses and blacksmith’s shop on the seaside, and the extreme narrowness of the road between the houses at the Salerie; which name is no doubt derived from its being the fishermen’s fish-curing depot in the early centuries.

We pass on to Mr. Dredge’s yard. At this spot there were built several by Mr. A. Thom, senr., Julia, Susan, Santiago, Clugas, Wave, Prince Albert and a cutter for England. These were followed by some of the largest and smartest of our fleet, built by Messrs. Marquand and De La Mare and De La Mare Bros., the Dispatch, followed by the Jem, which was only three months under construction; the Wave, afterwards lengthened, Mischief (F.), Conqueror, Two Friends, Princess Victoria, Whisper (F.), Alfred (F.), and Surprise and Wild Wave, built for Australian coasters. The Surprise, when she reached the Caskets, was dismasted, and returned to Guernsey, when some of her passengers refused to make another start. We may also mention the Daring, Tryphena (F.), Gleaner (F), Little Jem, Canadian Chief, Morning Star, Flying Cloud, Martha Brader, Matchless, Channel Queen, in whose hold the men were regaled on the occasion of King Edward VlI's marriage, Secret, Progress, Reaper, General Slade, Jessie (F), Victory, Eclipse (F), Eureka, Harvest Queen, Morning Star, Fearless (F), Gleaner (F). (F. means fruiter, or St. Michael trader).

About 500 yards further on we come to Henley, a small house, flat top, behind which were built the Douglas, Adolphus Yates and a schooner. At the Longstore there were house on both sides, near where these vessels were built. The Longstore was the storing place of the Militia Field Artillery. A little further on, at the junction of the old and new sea wall, was Fort Pirouin. Where Marine Terrace is built, and the vacant space south of it, constituted Mr. Jas. Sebire’s shipyard in which were built a number of large vessels for the Costa Rica trade. Among them were the Costa Rica, Costa Rica packet, Wm. Le Lacheur (sold to Australia many years after), Esperomria, Monarch, Lady Mansell, Sir Thomas Mansell, Times, Lady of the Isles, London Packet, Sorcière, Wizard, Alarm, Restless, America, Adolphus, Monarch (No. 2), Watch.

Proceeding past Hougue-ia-la-Perre battery on a hill where part of the tram sheds are now built, we come to Belgrave battery and at or near Camp another gun, while another was placed on Spur Point. Taking the Grandes Maison road we reach St. Sampson’s Bridge and proceed along the South Quay and immediately behind Mr. E. A. Brehaut’s and "Dulce Domum" there were built by Mr. R. Stonelake the Edissa, Veritas, Concordia (when, on being launched it stuck in the road for 31 days, which was attributed to witchcraft, a bird being observed to fly continually over the vessel, till one day a man went on deck and scattered salt on it, and the vessel, so it is said, immediately glided into the harbour). Here also were built the Alice, Falcon, Star, Comet, Speculator, Sertem, Rhoda (blown up in London river) the Albion, and Lydia. This vessel went to Australia taking many passengers and remained there.

Fifty yards further on between the shop of Mr. Johns, butcher, and the Old Bank, Mr. G. Rankilor the barque Brothers. Where Messrs. A. and F. Manuelle's office is situated Mr. Ledstone built the Eleanore, Elizabeth Ann, and Little Wender, while in this same yard Mr. A. Thom, junr., built the Contest, Anglo-Norman, Kate, Bertha, Excelsior, all brigs, the Renown, schooner brig, and last of all, the brig E. A. Carrington, which was burnt at sea. Between Mr. Carrington’s saddler’s shop and the Victoria Hotel was a dock for small vessels where Mr. Isemonger loaded them with stone. Further down came Mr. P. Ogier's shipyard which still remains, and where, after building the brig Quickstep and schooner Sagitta (some of the finest vessels owned in the Island), he built in Mr. Stonelake’s yard the brig Agilis, schooner brig Sarnian Gem, which was twice dismantled in one voyage. The ship Golden Spur, the largest vessel built and owned in Guernsey, the Rescue and Trial, brigantine and brig, schooner brigs Alexandra and Rifleman; brigs Island Belle, Undaunted, Antagonist; cutter Courier, schooner Silver Eagle, Dispatch; fore and after I.C.U.; SS. Commerce; cutter Triton ; yacht Papilio, and ketch Sarnia, the last vessel built in the Island and wrecked on the Grosse Ferrière, refloated, and finally lost on the English coast. We now cross over to the North Side and find two shipyards now used as stone yards; one is opposite the house making the corner of Messrs. Mowlem's yard and owned by Mr. J. J. Sauvary, where his father built several vessels, among them the schooner John Mowlem, schooner Maid of Alicant and Lavinia. Where Messrs. Bird Bros. have their coal stores, were built by Messrs. Domaille and Brache the barque Crested Wave, brig Ocean Monarch (I suppose the only Guernsey built vessel existing today at Birkenhead), the Star of the West, and the cutter Reindeer, a St. Malo trader lost with all hands off the Corbière.

Now we proceed to the Amarreurs at Grand harbour where Mr. N. Domaille built the Lady of Sark. ~ In my next I shall give more detail of the vessels mentioned here in their proper place. From 1840 to 1897 a hundred vessels were built in Guernsey, while 70 were lengthened and rebuilt in the same period. We had at one time 90 in the foreign trade, including many traders to St. Michael’s and the Mediterranean for dried fruit.