workmanclarkco

All flat caps, but for two bowlers.

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyelightfilms] Foremen?

Belfast News-Letter 8th March 1888: BELFAST HARBOUR STEAM FERRY BOAT THE BELFAST HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS are prepared to receive TENDERS for the supply of a STEAM FERRY BOAT, with Steel Hull and Direct Acting Engines , in accordance with a Drawing and Specifications, which may be seen at the Office of the Harbour Engineer, T. R. Salmond, Esq, from whom any further information may be obtained. Sealed Tenders, addressed to the undersigned, and endorsed "Tender for Ferry Boat" to be sent in on or before MONDAY, the 22nd proximo. The Commissioners do no bind themselves to accept the lowest or any Tender. W.A. Curry, Secretary. Harbour Office, Belfast. 7th March 1888 The same edition also has a notice from the Harbour Commissioners inviting "TENDERS for the supply of CLOTHING required for the Harbour Police &c". No specific mention of hats.

The minutes of the Belfast Harbour Board, as published in the Belfast News-Letter, April 3rd, 1889, state: "... it was decided to issue a cheque in favour of Messrs. Workman, Clarke, & Company for £342 16s in payment for No 2 ferry-boat, built by that firm." www.gracesguide.co.uk/Workman,_Clark_and_Co In 1890 No 3 ferry boat was reported to have been fitted with fire-extinguishing appliances, having been placed on station in March 1889. But I can't find any mention of No 5.

Getting there... Jan 29th, 1891: "The outlines and build of the new boat, No4, denote safety and swiftness"

Those cannon look like captured Russian ones from the siege of Sevastopol in the Crimean War (1855). Pairs were sent to every major city in the British Empire - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sevastopol_(1854%E2%80%931855) . Recently did some digging on two in Sydney, Australia - www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2362659579/

beachcomber australia They look exactly the same, especially the wheels and the curvy stand thing at the back! These upended cannons are near where I live in Dublin. Have heard all manner of stories about where they came from - Napoleonic Wars, or from a 19th century British frigate... Found this on 1861 Belfast / Ulster Street Directory: "Two Russian guns, taken during the Crimean war at Sebastopol - both 46 pounders, and bearing inscriptions in Russian characters - presented to the town as trophies, are now mounted in a commanding position, upon the front esplanade of this fine suite of public buildings - for ornament alone, of course", though these two were placed near the Custom House.

Is that a Steamship getting built in the Background?

Dave Colthorpe Anyone better acquainted with steamship shapes field this?

The Pilot Office stood on the north side of the Lagan at the entrance to Spencer Dock. Spencer Dock, Dufferin Dock and York Dock were all enlarged, so where the Pilot Office stood is probably under water now - coordinates are about 54.612026,-5.913563. The Pilot Office had been described as "a collapsed telescope in the Tudor manner". The cannon are from the Crimean War. There are two ships being built in the background at the shipyards of Workman, Clark & Co. This company began in 1879 and pioneered the development of the refrigerated steamer. At their peak Workman, Clark employed over 12,000 employees and was described in Belfast as the "Wee Yard". It occupied 80 acres on the north side of the River Lagan and closed in 1935.

The name on the stern looks as if it ends "... Ireland". Workman Clark built a "Star of England" so I guess this might possibly be a sister ship, built for J P Corry From www.red-duster.co.uk/wp/2016/02/11/james-p-corry-co/ (which shows that most if not all of their ships were Star of ..)

STAR OF IRELAND was built in 1903 by Workman, Clark & Co. at Belfast with a tonnage of 4331grt, a length of 380ft, a beam of 48ft 8in and a service speed of 12 knots. She was built specifically for the South American meat trade and virtually an updated version of the Star of Victoria. Although she was refrigerated and as large as some of the other vessels in the fleet she was not transferred to the Commonwealth & Dominion Line and in 1915 was sold to Nelson Steam Navigation Co. of Belfast with H & W Nelson Ltd as managers for use on a similar trade. She was renamed Highland Star by the new company in 1916. In 1927 she was laid up at Dunston-on-Tyne and broken up in 1930 by Thos. W. Ward at Inverkeithing.

Launched at high water on 29th June 1903 according to the report in the Northern Whig on Tuesday 30 June 1903 with an extensive description, but no mention of a new process or rivetting

as the image proceeds from stern to bow (I have googled me nautical terms me lads) the riveted plates become almost like cladding, this looks unusual to my totally untrained eye

oh oh ! there are no (sea) dogs visible

It's possible that the catalogue person found the ship riveting.