SS Tynwald (1846) | |
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Tynwald pictured berthed at Douglas. | |
Career | ![]() |
Name: | Tynwald |
Namesake: | Tynwald |
Owner: | 1846-1886: Isle of Man Steam Packet Company |
Operator: | 1846-1886: Isle of Man Steam Packet Company |
Port of registry: | Douglas, Isle of Man |
Route: | Isle of Man to Liverpool |
Builder: | Robert Napier & Son, Glasgow. |
Cost: | £21,500[1] (£1,859,490 as of 2025).[2] |
Yard number: | 19 |
Way number: | 21921 |
Launched: | 28 April 1846[1] |
Completed: | 1846 |
Out of service: | 1886 |
Identification: |
Official Number 21921 Code Letters N J H K ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fate: | Scrapped 1888 |
Status: | Scrapped |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Paddle Steamer |
Tonnage: | 700 gross register tons (GRT) |
Length: | 188 ft (57 m) |
Beam: | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
Draught: | 13.5 ft (4.1 m) |
Installed power: | 280 horsepower (210 kW) |
Propulsion: | Oscillating steam engine |
Speed: | 16 knots (18 mph)[3] |
Capacity: | 781 passengers |
PS (RMS) Tynwald (I) No. 21921, was an iron paddle-steamer which served with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and was the first vessel in the Company to bear the name.
History[]
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's first Tynwald was built by the Robert Napier & Son Ship Building Company of Glasgow, in 1846. She has the dubious distinction of being the first Steam Packet vessel whose launch was delayed by a strike in the shipbuilding yard[4] - as reported by the directors in 1846. The first, but by no means the last.
Tynwald was a reliable ship. A local newspaper described her as being 'as sure as a mountain goat'.[5]
The fastest ship of her day,[6] Tynwald recorded 16 knots (18 mph) on her sea trials.[6]
In December 1846, when on charter to the Liverpool and Belfast Company, she collided with the mail steamer Urgent and damaged a paddle box. Captain Gill was exonerated by the directors: the accident occurred in dense fog. It is noted in the Company minutes, that a provision of £386 (£33,384 as of 2025)[2] was to be set aside to meet repairs to the damage suffered by the vessel. This did not prevent the directors from later claiming £2,004 (£173,322 as of 2025)[2] in compensation for damage and loss of earnings, and then, on legal advice, settling for £1,489. In December 1863, she was in collision with the Naval brig Wild Wave, the settlement after a long wrangle costing the Steam Packet £1,128 (£97,558 as of 2025).[2]
Layout[]
Tynwald was rigged as a barquentine, with a clipper bow.[7] She had three masts, with the funnel abaft of the paddle boxes. A conspicuous feature was a full length figurehead of a Manx Scandinavian king in armour.
Painting of Tynwald (artist unknown).
Service[]
Tynwald operated the passenger and cargo service between Liverpool and the Island of Man. After 1863, she was only used as cargo vessel.[7]
During the winter season in 1850, she was chartered to go to the Mediterranean and called at Gibraltar, Genoa and Leghorn, making the round trip in 30 days.
Disposal[]
After an eventful career of 40 years, she was sold to Caird & Company for £5,000 (£486,449 as of 2025)[2] in part payment for her successor, Tynwald (II).
Footnotes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "PS Tynwald". Shipping Times. http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=8201. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 UK CPI inflation numbers based on data available from Gregory Clark (2013), "What Were the British Earnings and Prices Then? (New Series)" MeasuringWorth.
- ↑ "Ships of Mann: The Fleet". http://www.shipsofmann.org.uk/The%20Fleet.htm. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ↑ Connery Chappell - Island Lifeline, (1980) p18
- ↑ Connery Chappell - Island Lifeline (1980) p18.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (Fred Henry) p.64
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Tynwald". Ship Stamps. http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6045. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
References[]
- Bibliography
- Chappell, Connery (1980). Island Lifeline T.Stephenson & Sons Ltd ISBN 0-901314-20-X
The original article can be found at SS Tynwald (1846) and the edit history here.