KENDAL CASTLE lost off St Anns Head 25-26 Oct 1859

Description

The schooner KENDAL CASTLE was one of the shipping losses during the Royal Charter Gale, 25-26 October 1859. It was built at Frodsham by William Hughes & Co in 1839.

The KENDAL CASTLE was registered at Lancaster during the early part of its service life, owned by a consortium of Kendal merchants. Its port of Beaumaris Shipping Register entry provides a technical description:

Official number 9279. 85 61/100 tons burthen (corrected to 77 tons). 1 deck, 2 masts; length from the inner part of the main stem to the stern post of the Stern Post aloft 62ft; her breadth in midships is 17.4ft; her depth in hold at midships is 9.5ft, that she is a schooner rigged with a standing bowsprit, round stern, carvel built, framework and planking are wood.

If you move your mouse over this image, you'll find more information about the schooners working life and people who were associated with it.

Two names amongst the owners have a special significance to Amlwch - John Henry Treweek replaced his father, James, as the Mona mine agent in 1847. His brother Nicholas Treweek began a ship building venture at Amlwch in 1825. Through the influence of this family, Amlwch became a bustling port.

The other name of special significance is William Thomas who superseded Nicholas Treweek as the principal shipbuilder at Amlwch by purchasing Treweek's yard in 1872.

The KENDAL CASTLE was carrying coal when it was in collision and foundered some 7 miles southeast of St Ann's Head. The accident was probably caused by poor visibility and the worsening sea conditions.

The confirmation of the loss is written vertically in red on the left hand page and the whole page has been crossed through - once in red and again in blue.

Sources include:
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1859 Table 19 pg25 (259)
Lloyds Register of British and Foreign Shipping, 1 July 1859 - 30 June 1860, number 46 in K
Mercantile Navy List 1858, pg60 (Google books online)
Port of Beaumaris Shipping Register 1845 - 1855, Gwynedd Archive Service Caernarfvon XSR 9, 10 in 1851
Port of Beaumaris Shipping Register Transactions Register 1855-1901, Gwynedd Archive Service Caernarfvon XSR 13, folio 97


Follow these links to find out more about the
Treweek family and William Thomas:

http://www.amlwchhistory.co.uk/ships.html

Where is Frodsham? Use the historic maps provided by the People's Collection Wales to see where the KENDAL CASTLE was built. Click on the MENU tab to see which editions of Ordnance Survey mapping are available.

What number do you need to multiply the old imperial feet and inches measurements for the length and breadth to metres? How many people of your height would be able to lie head to toe on the deck?

What can the census records tell us about the people who worked in shipbuilding at Amlwch? Or 19th century trade directories, such as Slater's?
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/b1.asp