Staff of A. Hall Shipbuilders, in front Of Coulnakyle and Natal Star, under construction

Photograph of Workforce of Alexander Halls Shipyard with COULNAKYLE and NATAL STAR During Construction

AssociatedAssociated with Alexander Hall and Company (Ship builders; 1811 - 1958)

AssociatedAssociated with Natal Star (built 1862)

AssociatedAssociated with Coulnakyle (built 1862)

Date1862

Object NamePhotograph

Mediumpaper

ClassificationsShipbuilding

DimensionsOverall: Height: 26.5 cm, Width: 18.8 cm
Frame: Height: 40 cm, Width: 29.5 cm

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS018985

About MeThis photograph, taken in 1862, shows vessels under construction at the Hall shipyard. This yard was established in 1790 by Alexander Hall. Construction is taking place outdoors on wooden stocks of two clippers COULNAKYLE and NATAL STAR.

The earliest ships built by the firm were wooden sailing vessels. The Scottish Maid, a schooner of 1839, was the first to have the forward curving Aberdeen bow. This improved speed and sailing performance.

The two vessels visible in this photograph are Natal Star and Coulnakyle. Both were sailing ships built for Aberdeen owners. In later years, the yard built steamships including trawlers, coasters, tugs and dredgers. One of its most unusual vessels was a wooden warship Jho Sho Maru built in 1869 for Japanese owners.

Of the personnel in the photograph most of their family details have been identified by George Wood.

Starting from Back row Left:
William Ligertwood from Aberdeen, boatbuilder, aged 42, who lived with his wife Mary at 34 York St. Aberdeen
George Sim from Aberdeen, carpenter, aged 34, who lived with his wife Margaret and their 2 children Elizabeth and Jane at 34 York St., Aberdeen
John Hadden from Aberdeen, block maker, aged 48, who was unmarried and lived with his sister at 41 York St., Aberdeen
James Morrison, blacksmith
William Shearer, cashier
Peter Anderson from Abernethy Invernesshire, foreman joiner, aged 42, who lived with his wife Margaret and their 8 children at 28 Wellington St., Aberdeen
Alexander Hall jnr, son of William Hall, joint owner of business
James Hall, joint owner of yard
William Goodbrand, from Banff, shipwright, aged 61, who lived with his wife Helen and 3 daughters at Waterside, Aberdeen Harbour

Middle row Left:
Alexander H Wilson from Aberdeen, shipbuilder, aged 28, unmarried and lived with his sister at Waterside, York St., Aberdeen (was grandson of Alexander Hall)
James Carnie from Aberdeen, foreman carpenter, aged 38, who lived with his wife Isabella and 4 children at 36 York St., Aberdeen
Alex Guyan, gatekeeper
Robert Robertson, from Aberdeen, blacksmith, aged 42, who lived with his wife Margaret and 4 children at 8 York St., Aberdeen
William Hall jnr, son of William Hall, joint owner of business
John Gunn from Aberdeen, foreman carpenter, who lived with his wife Susan and 2 daughters at 20 Prince Regent Street, Aberdeen

Front row Left:
James Shand from Speymouth, Moray, foreman carpenter, aged 40, who lived with his wife Jane and 5 children at 9 Sugarhouse Lane, Aberdeen
Walter Dunnet from Wick, shipwright, aged 38, who lived with his wife Charlotte and their 4 sons at 7 Canal St., Aberdeen
James Mitchell from Aberdeen, foreman carpenter, aged 35, who lived with his wife Julia and 3 children at 34 York St., Aberdeen
James Anderson jnr from Aberdeen, ship carpenter aged 17, who lived with his parents James and Elizabeth Anderson at 36 York St., Aberdeen
John Cruickshank from Aberdeen, office boy aged 11, who lived with his mother at 19 Prince Regent St., Aberdeen
Robert Croll, office worker