The Fleets
Founded in 1856, initially to operate the coal trade but also ran a weekly service to Hamburg and a fortnightly service to St. Petersburg in the Baltic (ice free) season. A service to Gothenburg was later instituted, but the bulk of the services consisted of world wide tramping. In 1899, the firm of J. E. Guthe & Co was amalgamated and a weekly route between Stockton, Middlesbrough and Hamburg was operated with the chartered ship HERMIA. In 1902 joint services commenced with Bucknall Line and Strick Line between Manchester, Cardiff and London to the Persian Gulf. The Great War caused the cessation of the Hamburg and Gothenburg services in 1914 after which the company confined it's activities to cargo services.
Many thanks to Henk Jungerius and Ted Finch for their assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Routes
- 1856-1914 Hartlepool - Hamburg
- Hartlepool - St. Petersburg.
- Hartlepool - Gothenburg
- 1899-1914 Stockton / Middlesbrough - Hamburg
- 1902- Manchester / Cardiff / Lond on - Persian Gulf (joint service)
- 1856- Worldwide cargo services.
Company Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral Cator | 1857 | 1866 sold to Wood & Barker, Newcastle. | 311 |
| Annie | 1897 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1915 sold to Maindy Shipping Co, Cardiff renamed Maindy Abbey. | 3,777 |
| Antelope | 1846 | 1864 purchased from Atlantic Royal Mail S.N. Co, Liverpool, 1864 sold to A. Ludders, Germany renamed Coral Queen, 1864 repurchased, 1890 sunk in collision with Dutch s/s BRINIO off Hartlepool. | 855 |
| Ardenhall (1) | 1912 | ex- Withernsea, 1918 purchased from Sea SS Co, Hull renamed Ardenhall, 1920 sold to Christie & Co, Cardiff renamed Bathampton. | 3,282 |
| Ardenhall (2) | 1920 | ex- Silverbirch, 1924 purchased from S & J. Thompson, London renamed Ardenhall, 1936 sold to Kilvey Shipping Co, Swansea renamed Cefnbryn. | 5,073 |
| Ardenhall (3) | 1971 | ex- Dunelmia, 1976 purchased from Metcalfe Shipping Co, Hartlepool renamed Ardenhall, 1981 sold to Panama renamed Moolchand. | 9,177 |
| Ashlands | 1890 | 1898 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1900 wrecked Bird Island, Cape Colony. | 2,303 |
| Askehall | 1900 | 1915 sold to Brys & Gylsen, London renamed Taxandrier. | 4,231 |
| Aspleyhall (1) | 1911 | ex- Lissa, 1915 purchased from Glen & Co, Glasgow renamed Aspleyhall, 1916 torpedoed and sunk off Malta. | 3,882 |
| Aspleyhall (2) | 1912 | ex- Newfield, 1918 purchased from Newcastle SS Co renamed Aspleyhall, 1920 sold to Anglo-Belgique Shipping Co, Cardiff renamed Cymric Queen. | 3,846 |
| Aspleyhall (3) | 1918 | ex- Silverash, 1925 purchased from S & J. Thompson, London renamed Aspleyhall, 1932 sold to Continental Indies Shipping Co, Nova Scotia renamed Ezra. | 5,334 |
| Aspleyhall (4) | 1963 | 1969 sold to Wenduyne Shipping Co, Gibraltar renamed Wenduyne. | 7,466 |
| Barbara | 1897 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1915 sold to J. Esplen, Liverpool. | 3,739 |
| Barraclough | 1889 | 1896 sold to Russia renamed Helios, transferred to Finnish flag. | 1,784 |
| Belair | 1879 | 1898 purchased from Jugo & Co, Carfiff, 1900 sold to Holland renamed Sophia Annet. | 1,369 |
| Birkhall | 1900 | 1915 sold to Houlder, Middleton & Co, London. | 4,218 |
| Boltonhall (1) | 1900 | 1918 torpedoed and sunk off Bardsey Island. | 3,595 |
| Boltonhall (2) | 1935 | 1948 sold to Drake Shipping Co renamed Merchant Knight (photo at http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/ShipsIndex.html ) | 4,788 |
| British Queen | 1865 | 1894 abandoned on fire off Hirtshals. | 676 |
| Burdon | 1893 | 1899 sold to Webster & Barraclough, Hartlepool. | 3,019 |
| Cliftonhall (1) | 1907 | 1920 sold to Trowbridge S.N. Co, Cardiff. | 3,900 |
| Cliftonhall (2) | 1938 | 1942 torpedoed and sunk by Japanse submarine off Madagascar. | 5,062 |
| Clumberhall (1) | 1899 | 1924 sold to Spain renamed Ereno (Costa Rican flag). | 3,599 |
| Clumberhall (2) | 1930 | 1946 sold to Goulandris, London renamed Ormos. | 5,197 |
| Coral Queen | see Antelope. | ||
| Daltonhall (1) | 1899 | 1899 sold to Furness, Withy & Co, Hartlepool. | 3,534 |
| Daltonhall (2) | 1941 | 1958 sold to Liberia renamed Altis. | 5,175 |
| Danish Queen | see Sheldrake. | ||
| Derwenthall (1) | 1907 | 1915 sold to Brys & Gylsen, London renamed Cimbrier. | 3,906 |
| Derwenthall (2) | 1940 | 1952 sold to Headlam & Son, Whitby renamed K Ildale. | 4,934 |
| Dinsdalehall | 1906 | 1915 sold to Brys & Gylsen, London renamed Brabandier. | 3,897 |
| Dresden | 1884 | 1907 purchased from Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Co, Goole, 1916 sold to Mann, Macneal & Co, Glasgow. | 877 |
| Edenhall | 1898 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1914 sold to Greece renamed Zermen. | 2,573 |
| Empress | 1889 | 1899 sold to Chinese Eastern Railway Co, Russia renamed Ningoote. | 990 |
| Fairy Queen | 1860 | 1866 sold to Scott Bros., Newcastle. | 344 |
| Federation | 1886 | 1906 purchased from Cooperative Wholesale Society, Manchester, 1916 sold to Bede Metal & Chemical Co, Newcastle. | 820 |
| Fire Queen | 1864 | 1866 sold to T & J. Harrison, Liverpool. | 1,164 |
| Flambro | 1887 | 1898 sold to Smith Bros, Hartlepool. | 2,224 |
| German Empire | 1872 | 1902 wrecked at Spiekeroog on voyage Hartlepool to Hamburg. | 714 |
| Gipsy Queen | 1856 | 1906 sold to Turkey renamed Anadolou. | 548 |
| Gitana | 1855 | 1875 wrecked near Winga, Sweden. | 490 |
| Goldsbro | 1887 | 1898 sold to Smith Bros, Hartlepool. | 2,247 |
| Grantleyhall (1) | 1902 | 1917 mined and sunk off Orfordness. | 4,008 |
| Grantleyhall (2) | 1927 | 1931 sold to Russia renamed Angarstroi. | 4,760 |
| Grantleyhall (3) | 1962 | ex- Skycrest, 1968 purchased from Cove Shipping Co, Bahamas renamed Grantleyhall, 1976 sold to Greece renamed Areti S. | 9,139 |
| Guildhall | 1898 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1915 sold to Letricheux Lines, Swansea. | 2,609 |
| Haddonhall | 1898 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1914 sold to Japan after stranding near Nagasaki, renamed Haru Maru. | 2,676 |
| Harlyn | 1891 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1906 wrecked Cape Negro, Nova Scotia. | 1,432 |
| Harvest Queen | 1860 | ex- Petro Beys, 1863 purchased from B. Cobb. London renamed Harvest Queen, 1865 sank in River Tay after collision with s/s LONDON, salvaged and sold to Yeaman & Co, Dundee. | 562 |
| Heighington | 1891 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co, 1916 torpedoed and sunk off Cape Serrat on voyage Naples to Oran. | 2,800 |
| Hendonhall (1) | 1901 | 1916 mined and sunk off Inner Gabbard Buoy on voyage Portland, Maine to Rotterdam. | 3,994 |
| Hendonhall (2) | 1920 | ex- Montes, 1927 purchased from Belgium renamed Hendonhall, 1932 sold to Italy renamed Dino. | 5,626 |
| Hendonhall (3) | 1944 | ex- Empire General, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed Hendonhall, 1958 sold to Lebanon renamed Taxiarhis. | 5,244 |
| Huntwick | 1852 | 1854 purchased from Cummings, Harris & Dixon, London, 1858 lost near Yarmouth. | 333 |
| Island Queen | 1864 | 1868 sold to Brown & Son, Glasgow renamed Thetis. | 318 |
| Jalasiltonhall | 1958 | 1963 sold to Scindia S.N. Co., India renamed Jalagomati. | 6,487 |
| Kaiser | 1880 | 1904 wrecked at Ravenscar on voyage Hamburg to Hartlepool. | 816 |
| Kepwickhall (1) | 1916 | 1920 sold to Town Line, London, 1921 renamed Marnetown. | 4,129 |
| Kepwickhall (2) | 1919 | ex- Ballygally Head, 1924 purchased from Ulster SS Co renamed Kepwickhall, 1930 sold to Cie. Marseillaise de Nav. a Vapeur, France (C. Fraissinet) renamed Timbouctou. | 5,179 |
| Kepwickhall (3) | 1932 | 1938 sold to Billmeir & Co., London renamed Stanhall. | 4,830 |
| Kepwickhall (4) | 1956 | 1966 sold to Metcalfe Shipping Co., Hartlepool renamed Fidentia. | 5,568 |
| Kirkstall | 1895 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co., 1908 sold to H. Hogarth, Glasgow renamed Baron Garioch. | 1,831 |
| Leipzig | 1849 | 1866 purchased from North Europe S.N. Co., London, 1869 wrecked at Kalundborg, Denmark. | 591 |
| Lindenhall (1) | 1900 | 1908 sold to Constantine & Pickering, Middlesbrough, 1912 repurchased by West Hartlepool S.N. Co., 1924 sold to Italy renamed Humilitas. | 4,003 |
| Lindenhall (2) | 1937 | 1942 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic on voyage Rio de Janeiro to UK. | 5,247 |
| Lindenhall (3) | 1975 | no further info. | 9,065 |
| Maling | 1895 | 1899 sold to Webster & Barraclough, Hartlepool. | 3,067 |
| May Queen | see Ward Jackson. | ||
| Murton | 1866 | 1870 sold to D. Bannerman, Liverpool. | 415 |
| Normanby | 1859 | 1863 sold to A. Ludders, Germany renamed Venezuelan. | 457 |
| Norway | 1870 | 1892 sold to R. Jobson & Co, Hartlepool. | 803 |
| Osprey | 1855 | 1863 sold to J. Lencke, Germany. | 564 |
| Pallion | 1879 | 1897 sold to P. Rowe & Sons, Cardiff. | 1,723 |
| Panther | 1861 | 1896 purchased from Webster & Barraclough, Hartlepool, 1902 scrapped. | 906 |
| Polamhall (1) | 1901 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk 80 miles off Bishops Rock on voyage Alexandria to Hull. | 4,010 |
| Polamhall (2) | 1918 | ex- Rhode Island, 1927 purchased from Warren Line, Liverpool renamed Polamhall, 1928 sold to Greece renamed Eleni. | 5,655 |
| Polamhall (3) | 1950 | 1962 sold to Liberia renamed Sokorri. | 5,507 |
| Prompt | 1853 | 1863 purchased from London & Edinburgh Shipping Co., Leith, 1867 sold to R. Irvine, Hartlepool. | 417 |
| Rytonhall | 1905 | ex- Saint Helena, 1915 purchased from A. Mackay & Co., Glasgow renamed Rytonhall, 1917 torpedoed and sunk off Ushant. | 4,203 |
| Sea Queen | 1862 | 1864 sold to E. T. Gourlay, Sunderland. | 938 |
| Sheldrake | 1855 | ex- Falcon, 1855 purchased from Hartley & Co., Hartlepool renamed Sheldrake, 1862 sold to A. Ludders, Germany renamed Island Queen, 1864 repurchased renamed Danish Queen, 1866 sold to McKinnon & Frew, Liverpool. | 568 |
| Siltonhall (1) | 1912 | ex- Nurtureton, 1922 purchased from Walton Shipping Co., London renamed Siltonhall, 1929 sank following fire in Indian Ocean on voyage Immingham to Adelaide. | 6,055 |
| Siltonhall (2) | 1932 | 1938 sold to Germany renamed Luise Leonhardt. | 4,831 |
| Siltonhall (3) | 1958 | launched as Siltonhall, completed as Jalasiltonhall and chartered to Scindia S.N. Co., 1963 sold to Scindia renamed Jalagomati. | 6,487 |
| Sprite | 1870 | 1899 purchased from Shaw & Furness, 1905 abandoned off Flamborough Head on voyage Hartlepool to Hamburg. | 826 |
| Star Queen | 1864 | 1865 lost off Winterton, Norfolk. | 318 |
| Storm Queen | 1864 | 1866 sold to J. Edgar, London. | 338 |
| Stranton | 1880 | 1896 sold to Stranton SS Co, Dundee. | 1,754 |
| Sweden | 1869 | 1893 sold to Sweden after stranding off Wasa, renamed Otto. | 614 |
| Vauxhall | 1900 | 1915 aold to Lewis Trading Co., Cardiff. | 3,629 |
| Ward Jackson | 1854 | 1863 sold to J. Lencke, Germany renamed Herman, 1863 repurchased renamed May Queen, 1868 sold to J. Park, London. | 763 |
| Webster | 1893 | 1899 sold to Webster & Barraclough, Hartlepool renamed Knaresbro. | 3,101 |
| Whitehall | 1897 | 1899 purchased from J. E. Guthe & Co., 1908 sold to Italy renamed Margaritone. | 2,068 |
| Wiltonhall | 1901 | ex- Knockwell, 1914 purchased from Roth Bros, London renamed Wiltonhall, 1916 captured and sunk by U-Boat off Algiers. | 3,387 |
| Winston | 1876 | 1862 sold to R. Jobson, Hartlepool. | 1,400 |
| Woldingham | 1905 | 1922 purchased from G. E. Kite, London, 1924 sold to Greece renamed Stylianos Coutsodontis. | 3,044 |
| Wolviston (1) | 1876 | 1879 wrecked Tarifa, Spain. | 1,357 |
| Wolviston (2) | 1879 | 1891 sank in North Atlantic on voyage Bristol to New York. | 1,758 |
| Wolviston (3) | 1895 | 1899 sold to Spain renamed Orinon. | 2,564 |
| Zingari | 1854 | 1868 sold to Clark & Co, Great Yarmouth. | 342 |
Ships Managed for the Government
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brynhild | 1907 | (ex- Danish), 1940 managed for MOWT, 1941 management transferred to Gibson & Co. | 2,195 |
| Empire Raleigh | 1941 | 1941 managed for MOWT, 1942 transferred to Netherlands Government renamed Vermeer. | 7,240 |
| Empire Spray | 1941 | 1941 managed for MOWT, 1943 transferred to Netherlands Government renamed Gerard Dou. | 7,242 |
| Florenz | 1905 | ex- German (R. Sloman), war reparations, 1919 managed for The Shipping Controller, 1920 sold to Brock SS Co, Guernsey renamed Brocklane. | 1,533 |
| Frieda Fahrenheim | 1906 | ex- German (A. Fahrenheim), 1919 managed for The Shipping Controller, 1920 sold to Pennard SS Co, London. | 2,144 |
| Laurentide Park | 1943 | 1943 managed for MOWT, 1945 management transferred to P. D. Hendry, London. | 7,136 |
| War Celt | 1919 | managed for The Shipping Controller, 1919 transferred to Anglo-Mexican Petroleum Co. | 5,231 |
| War Crocus | 1918 | managed for The Shipping Controller, 1918 torpedoed and sunk off Flamborough Head. | 5,296 |
| War Tulip | 1918 | managed for The Shipping Controller, 1919 sold to J. Harrowing, Whitby. | 5,283 |