Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - The Lloyd's Register at Penarth Dock . . .

s.s. 'Fairwater'

The s.s. 'Fairwater' was a general cargo, single screw steamer built at the yard of Schlesinger, David & Company, (Yard No. 4) at Wallsend on the Tyne, and was launched during December 1865. She was of 384 gross and 261 net register tons being 148.8 ft. long x 24.6 ft. breath x 14.6 ft. depth. Her owners were H. J. Vellacott & Company of Cardiff and on 6th (or 7th) of January 1870 she sailed from Penarth bound for Cork with a cargo of coal. She was subsequently reported missing, presumed sunk. [102]

Foundering of the Steamer 'Fairwater' — 'A telegram was received in Penarth on Monday, conveying the intelligence that the steamer Fairwater had been run down, but that happily all on board were saved, and, at the time the telegram was despatched, were in Dublin. The Fairwater was a screw collier belonging to the port of Cardiff, and sailed from Penarth on the 7th instant for Cork, laden with coal. A severe gale set in on the night the ill-fated vessel sailed. As time wore on and no tidings were heard of her arrival at Cork it was conjectured that she had foundered. It appears that the apprehensions for her safety were well founded, for it is now known that she was run down in the course of her passage, though under what circumstances we have not yet been able to ascertain. Happily the whole of the crew were saved.' - The Western Mail [164] [361] 17th January 1870.