Propeller from the steam yacht FOX

AssociatedAssociated with Fox (arctic steam yacht, built 1855)

Shipbuildervessel built by Alexander Hall and Company (Ship builders; 1811 - 1958)

Date1857

Object Namepropeller

Mediumcast iron/bronze

ClassificationsShipbuilding

AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Mr Povl Linne.

LocationOn Display - Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Object numberABDMS045594.1

About MeThe propeller is a replacement of the original brass propeller for the Steam Yacht FOX which was built for the landowner Sir Richard Sutton of Nottinghamshire (1798 – 1855), one of the wealthiest people in Britain during his lifetime. Sutton was a ‘gentleman of leisure’ and was addicted to hunting and fishing. He frequently spent six days a week engaged upon such pursuits. He owned large tracts of land in England where he hunted, and, in addition leased large deer and grouse moors in Aberdeenshire which he utilised extensively during the hunting season.

The S Y FOX was commissioned by Sutton (who took a 64% share) and 4 others (who owned 36%) from Alexander Hall (yard number 198) in Aberdeen and was launched in 1855. The yacht had 2 steam engines producing a combined 15 horsepower and was luxuriously appointed as it was a rich man’s pleasure craft and cost some £5000 to construct a colossal sum. However, the ship only made one pleasure voyage in September 1855 with Sutton to Norway and a party of friends before he died in November that year.

The replacement propeller was added at the time the vessel was being strengthened in preperation for the arctic expedition to discover the fate of Sir John Franklin and his entire crew who had vanished 10 years previously.
The work was carried out at Alexander Hall's yard in Aberdeen where the FOX was originally built. It was a novel design allowing for repairs to be carried out whilst at sea.

The propeller and other items were recovered from the site of the beached wreck of FOX on the West coast of Greenland by Povl Linne and gifted to the Maritime Museum in 2004.