Shadwell and Prestons Rd., Poplar.
The Caledonian Steam Towing Company came into existence about 1841 for 'the purpose of navigating and employing vessels 'impelled by steam in the towing of ships and vessels'. and by 1848 owned 9 tugs. The office address in 1842 is given as 11, Milk Yard, Shadwell.The company seems to have expanded rapidly as in the 1850's they are noted as owning 17 tugs. The 1861 Post Office Directory gives their address as 6 Wapping Wall, Shadwell, with Thomas Forsyth Watson as manager. This was in fact the residence of Watson and his family. Watson had been born in Rotherhithe about 1823 and in 1851 was living in Paradise Street, Rotherhithe and was a sea captain. in 1861 whilst living in Wapping Wall he was shown as a shipowner. By March 24th 1865 the companies address was given as Prestons Road, Poplar, on the Isle of Dogs. In 1871 Watson was shown as living in Richmond Street, Plaistow, E. London and his occupation is given as "manager, Caledonian Steam Boat Company".
On 15th November 1865 ground to the North of the East side of Orchard Place, Leamouth Road was being used as a repairing yard by the Caledonian Steam Towing Company. The yard had a river frontage of 130ft, and included a small shipbuilding slip, as well as a brick-and tile machine shop, a timber built office, store and shed, and an old ship's deckhouse used as an office.
The company went into voluntary liquidation on August 26th 1873.
Watson appears at one time to have gone into partnership with Henry Retallick Gribble and they were Engineers, Boilermakers and Brassfounders, operating at Caledonian Wharf, Blackwall. This partnership was formally dissolved in July 1876. It is believed Watson died in 1882.
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MATTHEW BROWNFIELD
Doctor Matthew Brownfield was born about 1833, the son of a pilot, James Brownfield and his wife Jane. The family address in 1841 is recorded as Ballast Quay, Greenwich. Matthew apparently took up tug owning as a hobby whilst serving as Head Surgeon at Poplar Hospital in East India Dock Road. The Hospital opened about 1855. Whilst carrying out his medical duties at this location it was inevitable that he would come into contact with workers from the nearby shipyards at Blackwall and on the Isle of Dogs, and he was to treat workers injured whilst building the Great Eastern and the Leviathan, amongst many other ships. As he was also the District Police surgeon he was to appear in court many times, once giving evidence in a case where Isambard Brunel was also a witness, and was also prominent during the 'Jack the Ripper' investigations. He had been in partnership at one time with Ronald Robertson at Newby Place, Poplar, carrying on the business of Surgeons and Apothecaries. This parnership was formally dissolved by mutual consent on 22nd August 1862. At this time Matthew Brownfield resided at 3, Eastcot Place, Poplar. Matthew Brownfield appears to have never married and his address is shown repeatedly as Poplar Hospital. After his death ownership of some of his tugs is shown as either Edith Brownfield or Matthew Brownfield of Gravesend. These were his nephew and niece, children of his brother James, who became a Gravesend pilot. Edith was living with him at 171 East India Dock Road in 1901 after he had retired. He died in September 1908, the death recorded at Poplar. How closely the Doctor was involved in the day to day running of the tugs is unclear, and it was generally acknowledged that he ran some fine vessels, but he was to enter into partnership with John Mitchell, at a date as yet unknown, but probably in the late 1860's, to carry on business as "Steam Tug proprietors and floating coal stores", the business address in 1890 being given as 49, Milton Road, Gravesend.
John Mitchell had been born in Newcastle about 1827. In 1851 he was living in Hartlepool and described as a steam Tug Master. Interestingly in 1861 there appears to be a double entry for him in the census. One return shows him at 39 Brunswick Road, Gravesend, occupation engine driver steamboat. Another entry shows him aboard the tug Ranger, as Engineer, lying in Dover Roads!!! In 1871, living at 36 Albion Road Gravesend, he is described as a steam tug owner, employing 17 men and 7 boys. Both the 1881 and 1891 census returns show him resident with family and wife Isabella at 49, Milton Road, Gravesend and in the occupation of Steam Tug owner. Again this was a partnership to be dissolved by mutual consent on 11th December 1891. All debts due and owing were to be paid by John Mitchell. It is believed John Mitchell died about 1893.
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J. F. GIBB TUGS
"The Ben Line"
James Foote Gibb was a shipwright who carried out his trade at Ratcliff Dry Dock, Shadwell. It would appear that Aberdeen based shipowners had an interest in the company, and the tugs hulls were painted green, as were the Aberdeen clippers. Not a lot is known about James Gibb, although it is thought he was born in Scotland. He would appear to have entered into several partnerships over the years. Trading as W and J F Gibb, presumably with another family member, this partnership was dissolved 31st December 1867, and trading was continued at Ratcliff Dry Dock as Gibb and Hutchison. Allan Hutchison retired from the company in June 1871, this partnership being dissolved 24-6-1871, trading to continue as J F Gibb. At some stage James Glen Williamson was also a partner. He was a marine engineer, born in Scotland in 1855 and residing in Hampstead in 1881. Again this partnership was dissolved on 23rd December 1881. Gibb also had an office in City Chambers, Railway Place, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London. Gibb also owned sailing vessels including the barques Talavera Chile and Willowbank. The company finally ceased trading in May 1886.
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LONDON STEAM TOWING COMPANY
A company which existed for 27 years and seems never to have owned or operated a tug! A prospectus was published in March 1856 inviting applications for shares. The company was formed to "meet the demand for steam towing vessels between London and the Downs" and proposed to have on station three tugs as speedily as possible. A capital of £32,000 was quoted and manager was Charles James Bastard, with temporary office at 3, Royal Exchange Buildings, London. In December 1865 a revised prospectus was published, quoting a captal of £200,000, a huge sum then. The directors here stated that a provisional agreement had been made to purchase the sixteen tug fleet of William Watkins for £55,000. Included was the entire goodwill of the business, with William Watkins to become a Director following purchase and remain Manager for at least five years. None of this ever appears to have happened and the company was struck off the register in 1883.
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RICHARD D. ROSS
[Lloyds Steam Tug Co., Blackwall]
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THE SHIPOWNERS TOWING COMPANY
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DANIEL BARKER
Horsleydown, Southwark.
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SPICERS
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J. MARTIN
Gravesend.
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W. SANDFORD
Gravesend.
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ALFRED TOLHURST
Gravesend.
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