Wooden paddle steamer Abbey, built Grayson & Leadley, 1822
89 nrt, 76 x 17 x 7.5 ft, 60hp engines by Dove & Co.
First owner: Tranmere Ferry (Mersey)
By 1825 described as used solely for towing at Liverpool.
Was reported as making an excursion with passengers in August 1826.
Subsequently owned at Wexford from 1834 and then at Newcastle from
1837, re-engined.
Voyage Newcastle to Liverpool with general cargo, Captain Pugh
On 30 March 1839 was leaky and run on shore near Kilchoman in Machir Bay, Islay
Broke up - some wreckage still visible, below the high tide line,
at 55°46.89N, 6°27.49W.
Local information is that this wreckage is of a paddle steamer with
square boiler, lost 1840s - so a close fit.
See here
[from Chester Courant - Tuesday 20 November 1821]:
Yesterday week, the six bells in the tower of the new gothic church,
Birkenhead, rung a peal for the first time; and on the same day the keel
of a new steam packet, for passengers only, which will be the largest
plying of the ferries on the river, was laid at the building-yard of Mr.
C. Grayson, that place, and intended to ply between Liverpool and
Birkenhead.
[from Liverpool Mercury - Friday 03 May 1822]:
CHESTER RACES. MESSRS. FRENCH and Co. respectfully inform
the Public, that the Etna Slip is now in complete order, being
built of Stone, and is decidedly the most convenient landing-place
on the Liverpool side of the river (where a person is in
constant attendance to give every information) and is equal to the
Birkenhead Slip on the other shore. The ETNA and MERSEY Steam-boats
will be in constant attendance for the Conveyance of Passengers,
Horses, and Carriages during the Race week. The ABBEY, a beautiful new
Steam-boat, also plies daily between the Parade Slip and Birkenhead.
The ROYAL MAIL COACH, together with other conveyances at
Birkenhead, will proceed with the Passengers forward to Chester.
[from Liverpool Mercury - Friday 28 January 1825]:
NEW STEAM-BOAT FOR BAGILLT. The Public are respectfully informed that
the Proprietors of the well-known, substantial and elegant Steam-packet,
The ABBEY, have determined to run her between BAGILLT and LIVERPOOL all
the year round: and, in order to make her in every way worthy of the
public support, they are now giving the machinery and the vessel the
most complete repair. Due notice will be given of the sailing of this
Boat; and further particulars may be known by applying to G. DANEY, Dry
Dock. [no newspaper evidence that she was ever put on this station]
[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 08 September
1831]:
On Sale. The Steam Packet ABBEY: Built at Tranmere, Cheshire, of
the best materials, with Engine of 28 horse power. For further
particulars apply George Daney, or EDW. MELLING, Broker, No. 9,
Tabley-street.
[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 24 July 1834]:
For WEXFORD, The Steam-packet ABBEY; burthen 200 tons, 70-horse power,
with new boilers, engines, etc, and excellent accommodation for
passengers, sails regularly from the Clarence Dock Basin every Tuesday,
[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 02 June 1836]:
For Wexford with goods and passengers. The Steam-packet ABBEY, Andrew
Jones, Master. This vessel is now completed, having had a thorough
repair; will leave the Clarence Dock basin on Tuesday next, the 7th
instant, at Five o'Clock in the Afternoon. Apply at the Wexford
Steam-packet Offire. Waterloo road.
[from Liverpool Albion - Monday 20 June 1836]:
ON SALE, The fine Liverpool-built Steam-packet ABBEY, 60 horse
power, 89 tons register; admeasures from stem to stern post 99 feet;
over all 112 feet; beam 18 feet; depth 11 feet; between deck 6.5 feet;
lower hold 4.5 feet; of a very light draft of water, well adapted for
carrying cattle or any other general purpose; both Vessel and Machinery
having undergone a thorough repair, she is in the most complete order,
and fit for either foreign or coasting trade, without further expense.
Apply WM. HASKAYNE, 19, Salthouse Dock.
[from Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 11 April 1839]:
Islay, 30 March, The Abbey, (steamer) Pugh, from Newcastle for Liverpool,
was run on shore in Kilchoman Bay yesterday, making a quantity of water, and it is feared
will not be got off.
BOT report of 1839 states the following about the poor state of
Abbey, as reported by her crew:
In the Abbey, leaks of the boilers were attempted to be
stopped by mixtures
of horse dung, old ropes, and hemp, and she went to sea with
numerous defects of hull, machinery, and equipment. Four months
previous to her wreck, which occurred on the 29th March last, she
had been a passenger vessel between Leith and Newcastle, and it will
be seen in how dangerous a predicament she had been placed before she
was laid up. She was an old vessel, having been built in 1822.