The Lydia, 1853
17th September 2025
The 173-ton brig Lydia was built at Stonelake's Yard in St Sampson, to specialise in carrying passengers to Adelaide and Melbourne. It eventually found a home in Australia. From The Age, 1934. In 1853 it sailed from St Sampson's harbour for Australia in front of a cheering crowd of 2,000 people. It was a most unusual place of departure from Guernsey, but it was the home of the ship and of Stonelake's yard. Sixty berths were available, of which 42 were taken up at £24 per passenger. 'The majority were tradesmen' (Coysh, 1985).
