Ransom and Ridley's Shipyard
This shipyard at one time built ships for use in all parts of the world. The partners both lived in houses in York Buildings. The site was on the beach where Wellington Place is now situated[1].
Founding
It is believed that the partnership was founded circa 1790[1]. Both proprietors, William Ransom and William Ridley were born in 1770 and were known to be in partnership and sending a petition to the Commissioners of Customs for the release of The Lion, one of their vessels on the 20th of May 1801.[2]
They were acclaimed as having built some of the finest vessels ever launched from Hastings and left two rows of houses constructed by them as a permanent memorial; Ransom constructed York Buildings and Ridley Wellington Place[2]
At the time, the Priory Stream provided an easy launch site for their yard.
Suspected Witchcraft
"A new vessel was, on a certain occasion, ready for launching. The jacks were under her, and the men were in the rigging to shake her and give her the initial motion, but she would not stir. Presently, a black retriever was discovered on board. This poor creature was well tarred and chivvied away. The vessel slipped gallantly into the water at once. That afternoon Widow ____________, a reputed witch living in a house I knew well, reached her home covered in tar.". This tale was told by Arthur Ransom who claims he heard it from the son of the woman who washed the tar from the widow.[3][2]
Known Vessels
The following is a partial list of vessels constructed at this yard[4]
| Unknown | The Jane | This was a smuggling cutter, believed to have been scuttled off Ireland while on a 'run' [5] |
| 1811 | The Badger | A revenue cutter, which later captured a local smuggling craft, the Three Brothers, in 1823 after a running fight of over 6 hours. |
| 1814 | The Defence | Cutter, 137 tons, which was badly damaged in getting off the shore in 1825. |
| 1815 | The Four Sisters | Trading sloop belonging to Messrs. Breeds & Co. eventually lost in 1833. |
| 1822 | The Tartar | Revenue cutter, 80 tons, built for the Weymouth station. |
| The Seaflower | Revenue cutter, 40 tons. | |
| 1824 | The Nancy | A yacht belonging to Sir Godfrey Webster, was renovated and re-launched. |
| The Jack a Lanthorn | A yawl-rigged yacht, 140 tons.: | |
| 1826 | The Menai | A cutter yacht, 140 tons. |
| 1827 | The Mark Breeds | A brig of 150 tons. |
| The British Fair | A for Mr. (later Sir) Joseph Planta. | |
| 1828 | The Atlanta | A , 29 ft. long. This plied from Hastings for many years and was once detained as a smuggling suspect. But as only “two bottles of pickles and a flying fish preserved in spirit” could be found, she was released. |
| The Diligence | Revenue cutter, 172 tons. | |
| The Bee | Revenue cutter. | |
| 1829 | A cutter-yacht was built for Lord Chesterfield, who came down to witness the launch. | |
| 1831 | The Isabel | A schooner with raking masts.[6] |
| 1832 | The Queen Adelaide | Revenue cutter. |
| 1833 | The Prince George | A cutter of 72 tons, mounting 6 guns, launched by Prince George of Cumberland himself on April 8th. He was staying with the Duke and Duchess at 5 & 6 Breeds Place[7]. |
| 1834 | The Teazer | A brig, 130 tons, for the fruit trade. |
| 1837 | The Queen Victoria | A collier brig. |
| The Black Cat | A schooner, | |
| 1838 | The Phoenix | A sloop, for Charles Burfield & Co. |
| The Griffin | A sloop, about 67 tons, for the coasting trade. | |
| 1839 | The Victoria | A brig, 121 tons, for the coasting trade. |
| The William Thornborough | Schooner, which worked for Burfield & Co. until 1841. | |
| The Isabella | Fishing lugger, 12 tons, 26 ft. | |
| 1840 | The Mary Ann Bilton | A schooner. |
| The Torch | A schooner. | |
| The Wanderer | A schooner, 100 tons.[8] | |
| The Fane | A fishing lugger, 13 tons, 28 ft. | |
| 1842 | The Lion | A revenue cutter for the Weymouth station. |
| 1845 | The Menai | A cutter rigged yacht of 140 tons built for Sir Godfrey Webster[9] |
Images
- Images
Ransom and Ridleys Shipyard circa 1822
References & Notes
- ↑ a b "The America Ground" (Steve Peak 2021) ISBN: 9780750997317
- ↑ a b c Historic Hastings, J. Manwaring Baines pg. 236 ISBN: 0948869003 ISBN: 9780948869006 Amazon
- ↑ Arthur Ransom - Reminiscences of Old Hastings Pg. 3
- ↑ Historic Hastings, J. Manwaring Baines ISBN: 0948869003 ISBN: 9780948869006 Amazon
- ↑ "Reminiscences of Smugglers and Smuggling" pg. 48 John Banks
- ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 1 Chap. 6 Pg. 54
- ↑ Brett's Manuscript Histories Vol. 1 Chap. 10
- ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 3 Chap. 24
- ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 3 Chap. 34
