New Borough Gallery

Christopher Furness was born at New Stranton, West Hartlepool, in 1852, the youngest of seven children. He became a very astute businessman, and by the age of eighteen was playing a major role in his older brother Thomas’ wholesale grocery business, being made partner in 1872.

In 1882 the two brothers decided to go their separate ways, allowing Thomas to concentrate on the grocery business, while Christopher took over the ownership and management of the four steamships their company was then operating.

This was the beginning of what would eventually become the huge Furness Withy & Co. Ltd. empire. As many books have been written detailing the history of this company, its ships and its many subsidiaries, this section will only feature those ships with direct Hartlepool connections.

Some of the ships that were not built at Hartlepool but owned by Furness are listed below as 'a general history'

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

Masters: 1890-94 MP Lund: 1895 D Jenkins: 1898-1900 JW Simmons: 1903 J Leech: 1907-09 JH O’Leary: 1911 GC Benner.

On a voyage from Tampa for Stettin with a cargo of phosphate on 17 April 1895 New Borough went ashore of Washwood, North Carolina & was declared a total loss. She was sold & repaired.

On a voyage from Florida for Stettin with a crew of 17 & a cargo of phosphate rock Wilhelmina went ashore broadside to the beach during fog on the North Carolina coast in April 1895. The crew were rescued using rocket apparatus. Shewas refloated in May 1895 & towed to Newport.

Crew May 1895: Chattele, Henry, Swansea; Davies, Swansea; Gibson, George, Swansea; Fender, Swansea; Lennard, Arthur, Swansea; Meredeth, Joseph, Swansea; Moore, Jeremiah, Swansea.

New York Times 14 July 1916:

“Viscount Mersey, arbitrator in the case of the cargo of the American steamship Wilhelmina, which was seized & placed in the Prize Court on 11 February 1915, today awarded £72,400 to the WL Green Commission Company of St Louis, owners of the cargo. This virtually covers the entire amount claimed from the British Government by the Green Company, which asked for £86,161, while the British Government only offered £33,142.12s as compensation. Interest at the rate of 5% will also be paid from 13 September 1915 to the date of payment of the award. The cargo consisted of foodstuffs destined to Hamburg by her consignors. When the seizure occurred it was decided to make the cargo a test case to stop foodstuffs proceeding to Germany, but the issue of the Order in Council of 11 March 1915 made the case an academic one & the case was settled by the Government taking upon itself to compensate the claimants by paying for the cargo. The vessel was released on 21 April 1915. ”