NORWOOD
Shipbuildervessel built by
Hall, Russell & Company, Limited
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)
Date1895
Object NamePASSENGER VESSEL
MediumSTEEL
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 220' 8" x breadth 30' 2" x depth 15' 1"
Gross Tonnage: 798 ton
Gross Tonnage: 798 ton
Object numberABDSHIP001947
Keywords
Yard Number: 286
Official Number: 104509
Fate: Missing on a voyage from Middlesbrough to Aberdeen Left Middlesbrough on 8 February 1917 and last seen 11 February by ST. ROGNVALD. Crew of eighteen were lost.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: Passenger vessel, 2 decks, forecastle 38', bridge deck 71', poop deck 48'. Electric light fitted.
Owners:
19/04/1895: Registered at Aberdeen for the Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Co. with William Skirving appointed as manager. Ralph Cunningham Couper appointed manager 23 December 1910.
Masters:
1895-1901: Master C. Michie
1901-04: Master G. Walker
1904-15: Master J. H. Clark
25/5/1895:
The new steamer NORWOOD built for the coasting and passenger service between Hull and Aberdeen was on view in the Princes dock, Hull, large number of people having been invited by directors of Aberdeen, Newcastle and Hull Steamship Co. Ltd. Her 1st class passenger saloon is richly furnished and at night time will be lit by 6 powerful electric lights. The berths are lofty and airy and promenade space is more extensive than on any other steamer sailing out of Hull. Will accommodate 150 passengers. Contract speed was 13 knots, but on measured mile reached almost 14 knots. So constructed as to carry large cargo on a light draught. Master is Capt. Michie.
(Leeds Mercury)
19/4/1896:
Collision in Aberdeen harbour between Aberdeen, Newcastle and Hull Shipping Co.’s. Steamer NORWOOD and schooner YDEN of Marstal (Denmark). Leaving for Hull, the steamer crashed against the schooner. Cat's head and bulwarks of YDEN were carried away. NORWOOD had no damage and proceeded.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
17/07/1896:
Tradesman's holidays - NORWOOD will leave Regent Quay 7am Monday for trip to Firth of Forth. Excellent band will be in attendance. [21/07/1896: Party of about 50 enjoyed a pleasant voyage.]
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
08/02/1900:
Aberdeen, Newcastle and Hull Co.’s. Steamer NORWOOD, Michie master, left Aberdeen for Hull 7 Feb.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
02/07/1900:
Short sea trips, sea and river passage about 20 hours, Hull to Aberdeen and back. New screw steamer NORWOOD with splendid passenger accommodation is intended to sail on Saturdays from Hull, Tuesdays from Aberdeen. WM Skirving, manager, Regent Quay, Aberdeen.
(Leeds Mercury)
Norwood was launched on 13 March 1895 ‘before a large number of ladies and gentlemen’, the naming being carried out by Mrs James Ogston of Norwood, Aberdeen. In September 1895 a voyage from Hull to Aberdeen was made by a correspondent of the Hull Daily Mail ‘to see if the glowing reports of this new vessel are true’. He reported that the sleeping berths were ‘fitted with every comfort and convenience’. At 6am he was served coffee by the steward and at 8.0 a bell was rung to announce what turned out to be a good breakfast. Dinner followed at 1.0 ‘served in good style’ and tea at 5.0. Captain Michie and his officers lost no opportunity to add to the comfort of the passengers, ‘pointing out everything likely to make the time pass pleasantly’. He reported that the Norwood ‘fully bears out her reputation of being a splendid sea vessel, her owners having spared no expense in fitting her out in a most luxurious style, with every comfort for both steerage and saloon passengers’. Aberdeen was reached after a passage of 19 hours.
In Summer Norwood’s Saturday sailings from Hull offered ‘holiday tours’ of five days via Aberdeen to Ballater, Balmoral and Braemar or Cruden Bay for golfing. By 1911 her sailings were being extended as far South as Great Yarmouth ‘provided sufficient inducement’ (presumably of freight). In that year she also made a sailing from Peterhead to convey passengers, barrels, etc. to the English fishing centres. Cheap passenger fares attracted considerable numbers connected to the fishing trade (presumably many being gutting girls). By 1916 calls were being made at Middlesborough.
That Norwood was a good sea boat is suggested by the infrequency of reports of weather disruptions. However, in February 1914 it arrived in Aberdeen Monday evening instead of Saturday morning after ‘a somewhat adventurous voyage’, during which it sheltered in the Firth of Forth and some anxiety was expressed ashore for its safety. Several horses were injured and had to be put overboard.
Until its tragic disappearance in 1917, Norwood suffered few accidents. Three minor ones occurred in Aberdeen Harbour. One, in 1896, is already recorded in ABS. In 1901 it grounded on the Torry shore when leaving for Hull. The steam tug John Maconnachie pulled it off and after it was found not to be leaking the voyage was resumed. In 1907 on arrival from Hull at about 2.30am Norwood collided with stonework at the harbour gates. This occurred during manoeuvering to await the opening of the gates. A chain which stretched across the gates was broken and the vessel sustained damage to the bow at the water line, one or two plates being dented.
In June 1915 the Hull Daily Mail reported the death at the age of 64 of Capt. John Clark of Norwood in Aberdeen shortly after its arrival from Hull. It commented that he was known to hundreds in Hull who had been tourists on the vessel, that he was of a most hospitable nature and was regarded as a most successful master mariner.
Information supplied by Finlay McKichan
Sources:
Aberdeen Journal, 22/8/1901, 29/10/1907, 14 and 29/9/1911, 23/11/1916;
Banffshire Advertiser,14/3/1895;
Hull Daily Mail,13/9/1895; 14/8/1912, 24/2/1914, 16/6/1915;
Yarmouth Independent, 6/12/1913.
Notes:
One set of triple expansion inverted direct acting Boilers 2 of three.
Pressure when loaded 170lbs. Made by Hall Russell & Co, Aberdeen in 1895.
Diameter of Cylinders 21”, 34.5” and 56”
Length of Stroke 36”, NHP 200 / IHP 1200
January 1837
April 1827
