Maritime History Bibliography

  

This page contains details of books which have information on the merchant sailing ships of the North West of England, Isle of Man, the Irish Sea. There are also some general maritime history books which cover merchant sailing ships, and schooners in particular.

Title Author Published by ISBN Comments
The Merchant Schooners Basil Greenhill Conway Maritime Press, 4th edition (1988) 0 85177 475 X The definitive history of British merchant schooners, written by an ex-Director of the National Maritime Museum. Covers all aspects of their history, with much detail on their trades, economics, builders etc. Although Greenhill's origins and interest in the West Country schooners is clear, the book covers the whole of the UK and Chapter 11 is specifically about the Irish Sea.
Schooner Sunset - The Last British Sailing Coasters Douglas Bennet Chatham Publishing, London (2001). ISBN 1 86176 176 7 Written by a former schoonerman, this book covers the last years of working schooners in the British Isles, in the 1930's and 1940's. Augmented by many sketches by the author, the book presents great detail on the structure and rigging of the schooners, whilst retaining much of the sense of livelihood, community and practicality found in Greenhill's book, and absent from MacGregor's. This would be an essential book for modelmakers, and also those interested in the techniques of sailing.

Many plans and sketches of NW schooners are included eg. Mary Sinclair, Fanny Crossfield, Mary Miller, James Postlethwaite, North Barrule, Useful, Emily Barratt, Mary Barrow.
Schooners Basil Greenhill B.T.Batsford, London (1980) 0 7134 3380 9 Good book covering the general history of schooners, with 141 illustrations, many large size. Includes photos of the Furness schooners George B.Balfour and Mary Ann Mandall.
The Schooner - its design and development from 1600 to the present David R.McGregor Chatham Publishing, London (1997) 1 86176 020 5 Detailed history of the design and development of the schooner from 1600 onwards, with much technical detail on hulls and rigging, and covering naval as well as merchant schooners. But with less detail than Greenhill's books on the schooner trades and their relevance to social and economic history.
Schooner Captain ed. Norah Ayland D.Bradford Barton Ltd., Truro (1972) None The autobiography of Capt. Hugh Shaw, "for half a century a master in sail in British waters". Capt. Shaw operated from Connah's Quay, and served aboard the Isabella and Kate. His story gives a good account of the life of Irish Sea schoonermen in the first half of the 20th Century.
Schoonerman Capt. Richard England Hollis & Carter (1981) 0 370 30377 6 Capt. England commanded the Nellie Bywater until her loss in 1951. Much detail and many illustrations of this Duddon schooner.
West Coast Shipping M.K.Stammers Shire Publications Ltd. (1976) 0 85263 361 0 Small book with many photos, largely showing NW vessels and ports in the early 20th Century, including Creek Fisher and J.&M. Garratt. Written by the director of Merseyside Maritime Museum.
From Cumberland to Cape Horn - the sailing fleet of Thomas & John Brocklebank of Whitehaven & Liverpool 1770-1900 D.Hollett Fairplay Publications (1984) 0 905045 62 9 Detailed history of the sailing ships of the Brocklebank line, and of the ships of Jefferson's, a Whitehaven trading company. Full fleet lists and much information on 18th and 19th Century trade to the Caribbean and India in particular.
Brocklebanks 1770-1950, Volume 1. John Frederic Gibson Henry Young & Sons, Liverpool (1953). None First volume of a detailed history of the Brocklebank Line, compiled from company archives and including details of all their sailing ships. More detail than the book by Hollett.
Shipwreck Index of the British Isles, Volume 5 Richard & Bridget Larn Lloyds Register, London (2000) 1 900839 61 X An extensive listing of shipwrecks on the West coast of England, the Isle of Man and the Welsh coast. An incredible amount of information, well referenced, mostly from Lloyds and Board of Trade sources. A fantastic book ! 
The Ashburner Schooners - the story of the first shipbuilders of Barrow-in-Furness Tim Latham Ready Rhino Publications (1991) 0 9516792 0 1 The history of the Ashburner shipyard and the 24 schooners built there, but also giving some general coverage of the other schooners and shipyards of Barrow, Ulverston and the Duddon.
Schooner Port - Two Centuries of Upper Mersey Sail H.F.Starkey 1st edition, G.W.& A.Hesketh, Ormskirk (1981) 0 905777 34 4 A comprehensive history of the port of Runcorn, with coverage of its shipyards, owners and schooners. Includes a listing of all Runcorn registered vessels, 1862 to 1893. A 2nd edition is now available from Avid Publications.
Northwestern Ships and Seamen Alan Lockett Lakeland Publishing Co. (1982) 0 946133 00 X Maritime stories from Fleetwood to Maryport, covering both sail and steam. Alan wrote regularly on maritime subjects for the Barrow News.
North Western Sail Alan Lockett Countryside Publications, Chorley (1978) 0 86157 002 2 Another collection of facts and stories about the sailing ships of the NW, mostly concentrating on Morecambe Bay.  Particularly well illustrated with photos, especially of early 20th Century yachts and fishing boats.
A List Of The Cumberland Shipping, Corrected To February 1840 William Sawyers, Comptroller Of Her Majesty's Customs at the Port of Whitehaven Republished by Michael Moon in 1975 (currently available from Michael Moon's Bookshop, Whitehaven).  0 904131 09 2 Lists vessels registered at Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Harrington, Carlisle in 1840, with details of rig, builder, owner and master. Also has details of harbour dues at these ports.
Dear Daughter - The Messenger Letters - Voyages of a Sailing Ship Captain 1890-98 Graham Hindle (editor) John Gray Books, Blackburn (1998) 0 9534609 0 8 Letters from Capt. Tom Messenger to his daughter at Maryport, as he voyaged to Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, first as mate of the Dunboyne, then as master of the Maryport ships Ladas and Midas.
Master of Cape Horn - The Story of a Squarerigger Captain and his World Hugh Falkus Victor Gollancz Ltd., London (1982) 0 575 03089 5 The story, part autobiography, of Capt. W.A.Nelson (1839 to 1929) of Maryport, and his career on the vessels Auchencairn, Acamas, Ladas, James Jardine, Mary Moore, Empress Eugenie and others
Captain Fraser's Voyages Marjory Gee (editor) Stanford Maritime , London (1979) 0 540 07180 3 Autobiography of Capt. Thomas Garry Fraser, a Harrington seaman who started his career in the tea clippers Corea and Carricks, before taking command of the Doriga in 1873, then Larnaca and Maxwell.
The History of the Barrow Lifeboats

The History of the Southport Lifeboats

The History of the New Brighton Lifeboats

The History of the Hoylake & West Kirby Lifeboats
 

 Jeff Morris The Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society

c/o Jeff Morris,
14 Medina Road,
Foleshill,
Coventry,
CV6 5JB,
United Kingdom.

 None Booklets detailing the history and details of some of the rescues of Welsh and North West English lifeboats.

Apart from those listed, there are also histories available for Rhyl, Llandudno, Penmon & Beaumaris, Holyhead, and Porthdinllaen.

Booklets cost between £2.00 and £3.50 (prices from Nov., 2000) and are available by post from Jeff Morris - send SAE for full list and current prices.