When sea-going ships were built in Lewes
IN MARCH, 1839, an interesting event took place in Lewes when the first sea-going vessel built there was launched from the yard of Messrs Rickman and Godlee, near today's Strickland's Warehouse.
The day was fine and the ceremony was watched by hundreds of spectators.
The vessel, a brig of 61 tons, was named the Lewes Castle, the christening being performed by Mrs Johnson, wife of one of the owners (Johnson, Farnes, Mink and Lidbetter).
At a party afterwards at the Star Inn – according to the Sussex County Magazine – the toast was proposed: 'May she make prosperous voyages and profitable freights.'
Wrote author Michael Bouquet: 'During the 19th century there were various other craft built at the Lewes shipyard. Many of them were barges for work on the river, but others were sea-going ships like the Lewes Castle. In 1848 the Castle was trading to Cork.
'Another vessel launched at Lewes was the brigantine Harriett, 182 tons, built by J. Berry in 1848. She was for many years owned by Captain T. Fieldgate of Newhaven. She was a constant trader to the north of England.
In March, 1850, she was driven ashore in a gale near Sunderland and had her bottom partly stove in but, being laden with oak timber at the time, she did not become a total loss.
'The Harriett survived until 1893 when, on November 18, under the command of Captain T. Hill, she was lost on Coatham Sands, Yorkshire, while on passage from Newhaven to Sunderland in ballast.
'Another Lewes-owned vessel was the brig Olato, 188 tons, built in 1863. She was owned by W. H. Tanner, Cliffe. At the end of February, 1883, she left Shields with coal for Newhaven.
She met with bad weather in the North Sea and put into Cuxhaven for shelter and repairs. She sailed from there on March 4 and was never afterwards heard of.'
Very sad.
Added Mr Bouquet: 'Quite apart from the sentimental aspect, it seems a pity that vessels no longer trade to Lewes.
'The ancient medieval port of Norwich has increased its sea-going trade from nothing to quite a respectable figure; and Norwich is a long way from the sea, a good deal further than Lewes.
'It seems strange that a place which once built ships, and sent them to sea to carry cargoes and earn money, should lose all connection with the sea and shipping.'
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Lewes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
