Louis Paul Barnett 2019

Jane of Runcorn – the Liverpool lass.  A long life, a mammoth journey from the Mersey to the Severn and a strong will to survive – her history preserved!!  At 138 years young , the Jane of Runcorn, could tell a tale, trading far and wide – Liverpool – Bangor –  Anglesey – Bridgewater  Cardiff – Ilfracombe – Huntspill – Bristol – Uphill and finally Lydney foreshore to sail no more. Or so it would seem until 1996 saw the unearthing and recover of her stern timbers by archaeologists – whisked away to the Midlands as an exhibit alongside the Spry at Blists Hill as a window on our maritime past – not as suggested as a section of a “Wich Barge” – but an evenmore important beast – one of Liverpool’s immensely rare but finest.

Not recorded in 1930 Mercantile List
Seen with George in Bristol Sept 1931 GF photo
Located at Lydney in 13th April 1939 GF photo 
No reference in 1950 Mercantile Navy List
Seen partly broken in GF 1954 photo
Seen in 1957 grid-iron aerial photo

No reference in 1950 Mercantile Navy List
Located showing the keel and ribs in this unique Hamish Fenton aerial image of 2013

Graham Farr Index Cards

Name                          P.O.R                          Description                 Dates

Jane                         Bridgwater 4/05       Wd K (81 87)          1800 – 1938
Bridgwater 4/79         Tw (81)
Bridgwater 9/75         Sp (73 76)
Bridgwater 2/60         Sp
Beaumaris 18/47        Flat
Liverpool 158/42        Flat

Dimensions     (1842) L. 57.9 B. 12.8 D. 5.6  Tonnage – (1842) G      N 41.12 B.D 
(1847) L. 57.9 B. 12.8 D. 5.6  Tonnage – (1847) G      N 41.12 B.D 
(       ) L.         B.         D.        Tonnage – (1865) G      N 33      B.D 
(       ) L.         B.         D.        Tonnage – (1868) G      N 33      B.D 
(       ) L.         B.         D.        Tonnage – (1873) G      N 37      B.D 
(       ) L.         B.         D.        Tonnage – (        ) G      N 40      B.D

Builders          Runcorn, John Crippen

Engines                                   By 
H.P.

Miscellaneous oak
O.N. 26713                 Code P.M.G.T

First Owners  
Changes         10.8.42 (64) John Edwards (George Veevers) George Veevers, Liverpool
3.11.45 (64) William Rigby & Edward Salkeld, commission agents & co partners, Liverpool.
15.7.46 (64) Benjamin Jonathan Nowell, John Hemingway, Joshua Benjamin Hemmingway & Charles Pearson, Bangor & equal shares
28.7.47 R/A Beaumaris
28.7.47 (64) Robert Beedle, Liverpool (Hugh Hughes, Cardiff,17.4.54 John Evans, Cardiff 2.5.56 Thomas Hawkins) Benjamin Jonathan Nowell, John Hemingway, & Charles Pearson, Menai Bridge + Joseph B.H, Manchester 16 each
28.1.50 (48) Benjamin Jonathan Nowell, (6) John Hemingway, (5) Charles Pearson, (5) Joseph B.H, 
10.8.56 (32) John Hemingway (32) Charles Pearson Dewsbury, York
9.2.60 (64) William Smart, Bridgwater (60 65 68 73 75 76)
9.3.60 Tra ns Bridgwater 
Henry G Winslade Bridgwater (81 85 87 92 97)
Peter Hart, Hart, Uphill (06 08 17)
Leonard P Smart, Uphill (18) (1923 Smart took on the Uphill Ferry)
Thomas Silvey & Co., Bristol (as a hulk) (Dec 1925)
R.C. 31.12.25 converted to lighter
Last reg 1926

Fate     
9.6.1938 taken to Lydney to be dumped

Notes 
Lpool 158/10.8.42 (FR) cert 7.7.42 1,1,flat,-bspt,sq,stn,cvl,-,-,(dim)
Bms 18/28.7.47 1,1,Flat,lifting,sq,cvl,-,-, (dim)
BS1.15 oldest vessel
S&SM I.99 do.  do
29 – 30 .9.26 sank in harbour
Smart took stone to Huntspil sea wall for Drainage Commission L. Lott
BS2.35 Obituary notice of Capt Leonard Smart (Sept 1935)
SB 23.368 (Jan 39) own article on passing
MM27 (Jan 41) lt 79 9 own notes

Graham Farr via Robin Craig Archive
Photos 
Jane of Bridgwater (small D stern (nearside)) and George (large D stern (riverside)) at Lydney gridiron

A contrast of sterns – the wide transom of the more orthodox trow George of Bristol and the narrow stern of the Jane at Lydney grid iron

Negs
Jane wd K 1800 – Runcorn
1 & 2 At Uphill, copied from photo lent by Capt Smart, her owner
3 In Ilfracombe Harbour with others (e.g. Honour) Copied by permission of Ilf Museum Committee
4 Outside George’s brewery, Bristol, Sept 1931 (121/31)
5 do  do Beam view 06.06.33 (163/33)
6 do do Stern qr view do (162.330
7 Being towed by MV Nigel at Hamroad. 09.06.38 (87/38)
8 Being pumped out at Avonmouth Old Pier 09.06.38 (88/38)
9 – 10 As dumped at Lydney, 13.08.39 (107-8/39)
11 – 15 Detail views Lydney, 07.08.38 (Sm 181-5)

Gordon Mote

Name Jane  
Official No 26713
Built 1800 Runcorn
Owner Wm Smart, Bridgwater
H J Winslade, Bridgwater
Peter Hart, Uphill
Signal Letters  P.G.M.T
Port of Reg Bridgwater
Net Reg tons 37
Di 61x8x14.5×5.2
Fate Sloop rigged when first built.  Altered to ketch rig in 1881 and reg tonnage increased to 40.  Hulked in 1925 and used for coal storage.  Sank at her moorings 1936.  BU for firewood Lydney c.1939 at which time she was the oldest British merchant vessel afloat.  As a Bristol Channel trow in her earlier years she carried railway material between Wales and the Severn ports