Shotton Gallery

In 1866, Thomas Appleby and Robert Ropner founded the shipping company of Appleby, Ropner & Co. This partnership was dissolved in 1874, with each partner establishing their own companies: T. Appleby & Co., and R. Ropner & Co.

The vessels listed below under ship are those that were built at West Hartlepool and those that were built elsewhere are listed under a general history.

Family History:

Thomas Appleby was born at Garmondsway, Durham in 1839 to parents John (farmer) and Elizabeth Davison (nee Richardson) Appleby. He married Harriet Wearmouth at Pittington on 9^th December 1868. In 1871 the family were living at Seaton Carew. By 1881 the couple were living at Ashfield House, Greatham with their five children. Harriet died in December 1904.

Thomas was chairman of the Hartlepool Gas Company, president of the South East Durham Conservative Association and a J.P.

Thomas died at Greatham aged 69 on 24^th November 1909 leaving effects of £116,954.

Founded in 1874 by Robert Ropner, the company owned, managed & built ships.

Completed November 1870;  Official No. 65034: Code Letters WQKG.

Owners: 1870 Thomas Appleby, Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool: 1875 R Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool: 1877 Thomas Appleby & Co, West Hartlepool: 1887 JA Waller, Gothenburg–renamed Apollo.

Masters: 1871-73 C. Bowden (C.N. 16757): 1875-76 T Morris: 1877 G Palmer: 1878-82 Spink: 1882-85 George Walton.

27 November 1870 Chief Engineer W.J. Southwell.

On 18 July 1885 Shotton left Hartlepool bound for Flemsburg with a cargo of 1,100 tons of coal & a crew of 17 all told.  On 21 July she arrived off Scioro Island & the master altered the course informing the mate, Frederick Wells, this would take them direct to Reefness. He added that the next point was a reef with a beacon. The master then went below & fell asleep. He was awoken about 2 hours later & informed they had grounded. The cargo was jettisoned & local tugs managed to pull Shotton off. She was patched up by divers at Conenburg Bay & then sailed to Copenhagen to be properly repaired before returning to Hartlepool. The inquiry found the mate guilty of careless navigation & suspended his certificate for 3 months. The master was reprimanded.

Sailed on a voyage from Glasgow on 8 November 1888 for Gothenburg & disappeared.

Crew 1885:

Wells, Frederick-, mate