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British shipping companies (W)

Last modified: 2021-05-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: shipping lines |
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See also:

Weardale Steam Shipping Co.

[Weardale Steam Shipping Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 9 April 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Weardale Steam Shipping Co., Ltd." (#217, p. 47), a company based in Sunderland, as white with two red rings surrounding a blue cross.

Weardale is a valley located in County Durham, once famous for lead mining. The Weardale Lead Mining Company existed until 1931. Whether it was linked to the Weardale Steam Shipping Co. is unknown to me.
Ivan Sache, 9 April 2008 

Wear Steam Fishing Co., Ltd.

[Wear Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 24 April 2021

In partnership with Sanderson and Wayman James Hall (1861-1944) formed the Wear Steam Fishing Co. Limited in 1898 and by the summer of 1899 the company had three new steam trawlers fishing from Sunderland.
https://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/story/13170/
Durham at War

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Wear Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. (#475, p. 59), as horizontally divided black-white-black.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#24
Ivan Sache, 24 April 2021

Webster & Barraclough

[Webster & Barraclough houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 28 April 2021

The West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company (WHSNC), was founded in 1856 by Ralph Ward Jackson through the West Hartlepool Harbour & Railway Company. The company was primarily engaged in the North-East coal trade, but also operated a twice weekly service to Hamburg, and a fortnightly service to St. Petersburg.
In 1862, a power struggle between “Railway King” George Hudson and Ralph Ward Jackson, effectively resulted in the company being taken over by local shipbuilders Pile, Spence & Co.
When they went bankrupt in 1866, the WHSNC was taken over by Christopher Maling Webster (of Pallion Hall, Sunderland), with Management of the fleet being given to his son-in-law, Captain W.J. Young, who subsequently became a partner. When Captain Young died in 1886, Thomas Barraclough (1847-1916) became the company's Manager. Christopher Webster died in 1893, and was succeeded by his son Ernest Alfred (1855-1924).

In 1895, the partners began to register ships in their own name, the first being the "Wolviston" (completed in November, 1895), followed by the "Panther" in 1896, although at this time they were still part of the WHSNC fleet. In 1899, the Company merged with that of J.E. Guthe under the amended name of West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company Limited, (though still referred to as the WHSNC), with Sir Christopher Furness as Chairman, and J.E. Guthe as Managing Director.
Ernest Webster and Thomas Barraclough now formed their own company as Webster & Barraclough.
Just prior to this merger, the WHSNC had placed an order with Ropners at Stockton, for a trunk-deck steamer, the "Barton", which was then transferred to Webster & Barraclough. Three other steamers were also transferred in 1899, the "Burdon", "Maling" and "Webster".
Over the next five years, a further four ships were added to the fleet, the "Alston", "Dalton", "Clifton" and "Euston".

The company’s ships continued world-wide tramping until the outbreak of the First World War, by which time Thomas Barraclough’s health was giving cause for concern. Around 1915 he moved to Harrogate, for this reason, but died on May 27th, 1916, aged 68. In addition to being the leading partner in Webster & Barraclough, he was a Director of the Prince of Wales Drydock Co., Swansea, a former Chairman of the local Port & Harbour Commissioners, and a member of the Pilotage Board.
Unfortunately, his sons were not ready take over from their father, and as Mr. Webster had left the running of the company to Thomas Barraclough, the company was left in a difficult position. In 1917 the "Alston", "Clifton" and "Barton" were sold to Watts, Watts & Co., of London, while the "Dalton" was a war casualty when she was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean.
The company’s last ship, the "Barton", was sold to Watts, Watts & Co. in 1918, bringing an end to nineteen years of ship-owning.

https://www.hhtandn.org/venues/3808/webster-and-barraclough
Hartlepool History Then and Now

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Webster & Barraclough (#979, p. 83) as white with a blue border and the blue letters "W & B." in the center.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/48/
Ivan Sache, 28 April 2021

Andrew Weir & Co.

[Andrew Weir & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

Andrew Weir entered the shipowning business in 1885 in Glasgow when he purchased the barque "Willowbank" and eventually controlled one of the largest fleets of sailing ships under the British flag. In 1896 the company purchased their first steamship, but it was 1912 before the last sailing ship was sold. In 1905 the company was registered as Bank Line and the head office was moved to London, although the ships continued to be registered in Glasgow.
In 1917 the United Baltic Corporation was formed with 50% of the shares held by Andrew Weir & Co. and 50% by East Asiatic Co., Copenhagen. However, this was managed as a separate company and is the subject of another fleet list.

The tanker trade was entered in 1920 with the establishment of the British-Mexican Petroleum Co. and this passed into the control of Andrew Weir & Co. in 1930 and subsequently became part of the Anglo-American Oil Co. Motorships were built from 1923 for the service between Rangoon and South Africa with accommodation for 12-1st, 20-2nd and 400-emigrant class passengers. In 1925 a French subsidiary was formed and named Cie. Venture-Weir S.A, Paris and operated services between Antwerp, Dunkirk, Havre, Bordeaux and West African ports. However, by 1928 this company returned to the oil distribution trade. In 1925 the Lago Shipping Co. was established to ship crude oil from Lake Maracaibo to the refineries at Aruba, but control of this company passed to F. J. Wolfe in 1936. The service between Calcutta, Rangoon, Colombo and South Africa was taken over from Bullard, King & Co. in 1933 and became known as the India Natal Line. Ships on this service had accommodation for 50-1st, 20-2nd and facilities for 500 native passengers. In 1935 MacAndrews & Co. were taken over by United Baltic Corporation, which allowed access to the Spanish trade. Many of the company's ships were lost in WWII but were rapidly replaced after the war and the company continued to expand.

https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bank.shtml
The Ships Lists

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of
Andrew Weir & Co. (#1390, p. 103), as diagonally divided red-blue from the lower hoist to upper fly, charged with a white diagonal stripe running from the upper hoist of the lower fly.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#68 
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

See also:

Well Line, Ltd.

(Tyzack & Branfoot)

[Well Line, Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 28 April 2021

The Tyzack and Branfoot Steam Shipping Company's Well Line of Newcastle upon Tyne, England operated from 1894 to 1928. During World War I, it contributed to the British Empire's merchant marine, and lost the 5600-ton cargo ship SS Springwell to a German submarine when it was torpedoed near Greece in February 1916. Fortunately, all the crew survived and made it back to land.

https://www.deviantart.com/rlkitterman/art/Tyzack-Branfoot-Well-Line-SS-Springwell-670654061
Deviant Art

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of the Well Line, Ltd. (Tyzack & Branfoot) (#866, p. 78) as blue with the white letters "T & B".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/43/
Ivan Sache, 28 April 2021

J.H. Welsford & Company

(Gulf Transport Line and Leyland Shipping Co., Ltd.)
(Union Steamship Company)

[J.H. Welsford & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 22 April 2021

Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels [Wedge 1926]

J.H. Welsford & Company, Limited, Liverpool - white flag - red Maltese Cross.
Jarig Bakker, 31 January 2005

The Union Steamship Company of British Columbia was originally formed in Vancouver on July 1, 1899 by Captain William Webster and John Darling, a former director and General Superintendent of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. After raising enough capital, the Union company was officially incorporated on November 16, 1899, when it absorbed the Burrard Inlet Towing Company of Vancouver. Initially, the company's primary function was to deliver cargo to remote communities along the British Columbia's coastline.
In 1911, the J.H. Welsford and Company, a cargo line based out of Liverpool, England, purchased controlling interests in the Union company. Under this new management, the Union company entered the day excursion and resort business by offering passenger services and then building and operating several company-owned resorts on Bowen Island, the Sechelt Peninsula and at Whytecliff.

https://www.vmmcollections.com/Detail/collections/158
Vancouver Maritime Museum

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the same house flag for J.H. Welsford & Co., Ltd. (Gulf Transport Line and Leyland Shipping Co., Ltd.) (#211, p. 47).
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#12
Ivan Sache, 22 April 2021

Welsh Trawling Co., Ltd.

[Welsh Trawling Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021

George Hogarth Douglas Birt (1862-1951) appears to have managed several fishing companies in Milford Haven, all of them using a red flag with a white cross and distinctive white letters in the quarters.
On 3 October 1895, Birt applied (No. 189518499) for the patent of "Improvements in Boards or Spreaders used in connection with Trawling Nets"; this was published on 11 January 1896.

The "Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph", 1 March 1905, reports:

The steam trawler "Gwalia", belonging to the recently formed Welsh Steam Trawling Co. (Manager, Mr. G. H. D. Birt), made her first appearance at the market on Thursday morning, her maiden voyage realising over £200.

The "Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph", 14 November 1906, reports:

The fleet of trawlers belonging to Mr. G. H. D. Birt was further augmented on Monday by the arrival of the S.S. "Persia" (Captain J. H. Dove). The vessel is of the same class as the "India", which arrived a fortnight ago. The initial trip realised £140. Next week the sister ship "Arabia" is expected, and this line of vessels will be brought up to six, in addition to the Phoenix and Welsh Trawling Co. ships also under the management of Mr. G. H. Birt.

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Welsh Trawling Co., Ltd. (#1617, p. 113), a Milford Haven-based fishing company, as red with a white cross, in the respective quarters the white letters "W", "T", "C" and "L".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#78
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021

West Coast Steam Fishing Co., Ltd.

[West Coast Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of West Coast Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. (#1882, p. 126), a Grimsby-based fishing company, as white with a blue border, charged in the center, with a red lozenge inscribing a green "W".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#91
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

Westcott and Lawrence Line Ltd.

[Westcott and Lawrence Line Ltd. houseflag] image by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum. 

From the website of the National Maritime Museum, the house flag of the Westcott and Lawrence Line Ltd., London. A blue rectangular flag with the yellow initials 'W & L' (Westcott and Lawrence) and a blue pennant above bearing the white initials 'JRE' (Ellerman lines). The pennant and flag are made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. They have cotton hoists and are machine sewn. The Ellerman's initials are printed. The pennant and flag are on a single rope with a toggle attached."
Jarig Bakker, 3 September 2004

The Westcott and Laurence Line was founded in London in 1864 as Westcott and Houseden by a former captain of the Greek & Oriental Shipping Line, W.G. Westcott, and Robert Houseden. In 1867, their first steamer, the Harriet Agnes, was launched. Westcott and Laurence ran trade routes to various ports in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as ports in the Black Sea and the River Danube. In 1901 the company was acquired by Ellerman Lines, Ltd. of Glasgow. [...]. At this time of the acquisition the company owned nine ships. During World War I most of the ships in the Ellerman Group were requisitioned, but the company restored both its passenger and cargo services after the war. At the beginning of World War II, the group operated a total of 105 vessels. However during the conflict it lost a total of 60 ships. Again the company restored its building of cargo and passenger ships and by 1953 was back up to 94 ships. In 1973 the company was restructured and a new shipping division called Ellerman City Lines took over the operation of the Westcott and Laurence Line, as well as many other lines of the Ellerman Group. Finally, in 1987, control of the Ellerman Group was handed to Cunard, which is still in operation today.

http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/406.html

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the same house flag (#1495, p. 108).
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#73
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021

Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd.

[Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd. houseflag] by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum. 

From the website of the National Maritime Museum, the house flag of Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd., Glasgow. A blue rectangular flag with a white disc in the centre. The disc bears a red logo on two arrows pointing in opposite directions attached to a circle. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. The central motif is made of polyester cotton fabric. A rope and toggle is attached."
Jarig Bakker, 3 September 2004

Western Steam Trawling Co., Ltd.

[Western Steam Trawling Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Western Steam Trawling Co., Ltd. (#1822, p. 123), a Milford Haven-based fishing company, as blue with a white disk charged with a smaller, concentric red disc.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#88
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

West Hartlepool Steam Nav. Co., Ltd.

[West Hartlepool Steam Nav. Co., Ltd. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

The West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company (WHSNC), was founded in 1856 by Ralph Ward Jackson and Robinson Watson and was controlled by the West Hartlepool Harbour & Railway Company. The company was primarily engaged in the North-East coal trade, but also operated a twice weekly service to Hamburg, and a fortnightly service to St. Petersburg.

In 1862, a power struggle between “Railway King” George Hudson and Ralph Ward Jackson, effectively resulted in the company being taken over by local shipbuilders Pile, Spence & Co.
When they went bankrupt in 1866, the WHSNC was taken over by Christopher Maling Webster (of Pallion Hall, Sunderland), with Management of the fleet being given to his son-in-law, Captain W.J. Young, who subsequently became a partner. When Captain Young died in 1886, Thomas Barraclough became the company's Manager. Christopher Webster died in 1893, and was succeeded by his son Ernest Alfred.

In 1899, the Company merged with that of J.E. Guthe under the amended name of West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company Limited, (though still referred to as the WHSNC), with Sir Christopher Furness as Chairman, and J.E. Guthe as Managing Director.
Ernest Webster and Thomas Barraclough now formed their own company as Webster & Barraclough.
Over subsequent years, the WHSNC owned or managed more than a hundred different vessels, and although still in existence today, the Company no longer operates ships.

Hartlepool History Then & Now
http://www.hhtandn.org/venues/475/west-hartlepool-steam-navigation-company

In 1906 Mr. J.E. Guthe Jnr. joined the Board of Directors and the Dinsdalehall Steam Ship Company Limited was formed. The various tramp steamers were regularly employed in the coal trade to the Danube and Black Sea ports bringing back grain to the UK. At the outbreak of WW1, the company steamer Federation was in Hamburg but managed to avoid internment by leaving port in total darkness.
In 1914 the Wiltonhall Steam Ship Company Limited was formed and Boltonhall, which is included in the Allen Collection, was owned by this company. With the loss of services to Hamburg and Gothenburg, the ships serving these routes were sold. J.E. Guthe died in 1916. He had brought his three sons into the company. One of these was killed in action and another died shortly after his father leaving his remaining son Mr. J.E. Guthe.
In the early 1920s the company acquired some second-hand ships and took delivery of Grantleyhall in 1927. Despite the recession of the 1930s five more ships were ordered and built.

There were a number of losses in WW2 and the company provided accommodation for the Dutch firm Vinke and Company of Amsterdam until Holland was liberated.
In 1947 the company ventured into the fishing industry and had several deep-sea trawlers. In 1975 J.E. Guthe died and was succeeded by his son Digby Guthe. In its latter years the company operated ships suitable for time charter to liner companies.
A check of Companies House shows the company to be dormant with the last documents filed in 2018.

Benjidog Historical Research Resources: The Allen Collection
https://www.benjidog.co.uk/allen/West%20Hartlepool%20Line.html

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of West Hartlepool Steam Nav. Co., Ltd. (#1444, p. 105), as red, charged in the center with a yellow cross with three-pointed ending arms.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#70
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

West India & Pacific Line

[West India & Pacific Line houseflag] image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 17 May 2010

From a postcard collection: 12.3.4: West India & Pacific Line
Postcard #12, 3rd row, 4th flag of the collection reads "West India & Pacific Line" and shows a ~2:3 plain red flag.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 17 May 2010

Westminster Shipping Co., Ltd.

[Westminster Shipping Co., Ltd. houseflag] imagwese by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Westminster Shipping Co., Ltd. (#1409, p. 104), as white with a red horse galloping over a white scroll with red text.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#69 
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

James Westoll

[James Westoll houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

James Westoll Line, of Sunderland, then owned by three families, the Westoll's, the Adamson's & the Short's, with James Westoll being the managing owner. Specialised in coal freighting on the E. coast of the U.K. and also in the Black Sea grain trade.

Wreck Site
http://www.wrecksite.eu/ownerbuilderview.aspx?6611

The line was founded in 1869 by James Westoll (1829-1895). Their steamers were once famous, being nicknamed "Swans of the Orient" or "Black Sea yachts". Many master mariners were also company's shareholders and became men of affluence; it was often said in Sunderland that Westoll skippers bought a street of homes at the end of every voyage.
The company never recovered from the First World War, having lost 20 ships. The Westwick Stamship Co., formed in 1916 under Westoll management, controlled the last of the ships. The very last one, the "Veburn" (1929), was taken by the Vedra Shipping Co., Ltd., formed out James Westoll Co.; the ship was sold in 1959 as "Eldra" to a Greek shipowner.

The Sunderland Site
http://www.searlecanada.org/sunderland/sunderland161.html

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of James Westoll (#1797, p. 122) as white with a blue "W" in the center and a blue anchor placed per bend in canton.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#87
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021

John H. Wetherall & Co.

[John H. Wetherall & Co. houseflag] image by Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of John H. Wetherall & Co. (#1243, p. 96), a Goole-based company, as blue with a thin white saltire charged in the center with a white rectangle inscribing a red "W".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#61
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021

British Shipping lines: continued