G.K. Stothert & Co

The Bristol offshoot of the Bath-based company which later became Stothert & Pitt had been set up in St Phillips in 1837 by Henry Stothert with the hope of gaining orders from the Great Western Railway.{{Cite journal |last=Cattell |first=John |date=1997 |title=Avonside Ironworks, Bristol |url=https://b-i-a-s.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BIAS_Journal_30_AVONSIDE_IRONWORKS.pdf |journal=BIAS Journal |issue=30 |pages=13}} By 1844 they had diversified into shipbuilding, producing two 105 ton iron screw steamers named Avon and Severn which were built for running between Newport and Bristol.{{cite book |last1=Farr |first1=Grahame |title=Shipbuilding in the Port of Bristol |date=1977 |publisher=National Maritime Museum |location=Greenwich |isbn=0-905555-05-8 |page=13}}{{Cite journal |last=Torrens |first=Hugh |date=1976 |title=The Early Years of Stothert & Pitt |url=https://b-i-a-s.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BIAS_Journal9_EARLY_YEARS_OF_STOTHERT.pdf |journal=BIAS Journal |issue=9 |pages=27}} The railway works part of the company eventually became Avonside Engine Company, and the shipbuilding part moved to Hotwells in 1852. It was officially known as the Clifton Marine Engineering and Iron Shipbuilding Works. Under the control of George Kelson Stothert it separated from the parent company in 1855, and partnerships were formed with Ernest Theophilus Fripp (between 1855 and 1859){{Cite news |date=26 August 1856 |title=The London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21916/page/2926/data.pdf |pages=2926}} and George Priestly Marten (1859–1862);{{Cite news |date=21 July 1863 |title=The London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22755/page/3634/data.pdf |pages=3634}} after that, G. K. Stothert held sole control until 1899.{{Cite journal |last=King |first=A |date=1983 |title=Bristol's other Iron Ship Steam Tug 'Mayflower' |url=https://b-i-a-s.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BIAS_Journal_16_STEAM_TUG_MAYFLOWER.pdf |journal=BIAS Journal |issue=16 |pages=10–14}} When he died in 1908, the business was established as a limited company carrying his name.{{Cite web |date=1932 |title=BT 34/3426/101574 - Company number: 101574; G K Stothert and Company Ltd. Incorporated 1909. Liquidator's Accounts on the dissolution of the company at some point between 1909 and 1932 |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7100390 |website=The National Archives}}{{Cite news |date=4 May 1909 |title=The London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28247/data.pdf |pages=3428}} The business remained in operation under his name until 1933, although shipbuilding stopped in 1904.{{Cite book |last=Torrens |first=Hugh |title=The Evolution of a Family Firm - Stothert and Pitt of Bath |publisher=Stothert & Pitt Ltd |year=1978 |isbn=0950602507 |pages=44–47}}

A fire occurred at the yard in 1893; later correspondence states that this destroyed the company's records to that date.{{Cite web |title=Notes and papers relating to an article on Bristol industries by Miss R F Butler for Gloucester Victoria County History: Letter from C K Stothert and Company on shipbuilding |url=https://archives.bristol.gov.uk/records/14760/6 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Bristol Archives online catalogue |language=en-gb}}

After G. K. Stothert passed away, the obituary written by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers noted that he "...was one of the pioneers of iron shipbuilding in this country".{{Cite web |title=George Kelson Stothert - Graces Guide |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/George_Kelson_Stothert |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.gracesguide.co.uk}}

In 1852, the company started leasing an existing shipyard adjacent to the Cumberland Basin that was owned by the Society of Merchant Venturers. The premises had been used by George Lunnell between 1834 and 1851.{{Cite book |last=Farr |first=Grahame |url=https://bristolha.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bha027.pdf |title=Bristol Shipbuilding in the Nineteenth Century |date=1971 |publisher=Bristol Branch of the Historical Association |pages=14a}} The site consisted of slipways, Hotwells Dry Dock (now Pooles Wharf Marina) and Merchant's Dock{{Cite web |title=Stotherts Dock |url=https://archives.bristol.gov.uk/records/SMV/7/1/3/29 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Bristol Archives online catalogue |language=en-gb}} (now filled in, although the old entrance is still visible).

In 1897, part of the site was sold to the Great Western Railway to allow a line to be built to Canon's Marsh;{{Cite web |title=Canons Marsh Railways, Great Western Railway Bristol Lines Act, 1897 |url=https://archives.bristol.gov.uk/records/BristolPlans/numbered/13 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Bristol Archives online catalogue |language=en-gb}} these works restricted access to the shipyard from Hotwell Road and reduced the size of Merchant's Dock.

Several large vessels were built within the first few years of operation, including the Scamander,{{Cite news |title=Launch of a Fine Iron Steamer |newspaper=Morning Chronicle |location=London |date=29 August 1854 |issue=27357 }} Meander{{Cite news |title=Ship Launch |newspaper=Bristol Mercury |location=Bristol |date=30 December 1854 |issue=3380 }} and Araxes,{{Cite news |title=Launch of a Fine Iron Steamer |newspaper=Bristol Mercury |location=Bristol |date=14 July 1855 |issue=3408 }} ranging between 780 and 1156 tons and being built in 1854 and 1855 for the Moss Line of Liverpool.

The company became known for producing river and canal tugs. They built thirteen used by or on behalf of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal Company and it successors. This commenced with an initial order for three for their haulage contractor in 1860 (Moss Rose, 1860, Mayflower, 1861{{Cite web |title=Mayflower {{!}} National Historic Ships |url=https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/45/mayflower |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk}} and Violet, 1862) and ended with a final order for two for the Severn & Canal Carrying Company in 1904 (Active and Victor){{Cite web |title="General Arrangement S.T. "Active" & "Victor"" |url=https://catalogue.gloucestershire.gov.uk/records/D2460/19/2/73 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=catalogue.gloucestershire.gov.uk |language=en-gb}} which are believed to be the final vessels launched by G.K. Stothert.{{Cite web |title=G. K. Stothert and Co - Graces Guide |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/G._K._Stothert_and_Co |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=www.gracesguide.co.uk}} In addition to the thirteen, the Danks, Venn and Sanders tug Pioneer was used by its owners on the Canal from 1858 onwards and may have passed into the hands of the Canal Company at a later date.

The yard numbers the company used seem to have covered all works undertaken, rather than just vessels; Mayflower's current boiler (dating from 1909) is yard No. 303.{{Cite web |title=Eagle Star insurance report for Mayflower boiler, 20th February 1959 |url=https://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/bw167.26.46.1 |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Canal and River Trust Archive, ref BW167/26/46/1}}

class="wikitable" ! Year !! Name !! Yard No. !! ON !! GRT !! Type !! Propulsion !! Client
1843	AVON		3944	105	Passenger	Screw	Bristol New Steam Packet Company
1844	SEVERN		3947	104	Passenger	Screw	Bristol New Steam Packet Company
1851	JENNY JONES/BALMORAL		3953	166	Passenger / Cargo	Screw	Cardiff Steam Navigation Co
1852	QUEEN		3950	342	Passenger	Paddle	Hayle Brilliant Steam Navigation Company
1853	JUNO/DAKOTAH		3818	298	Cargo	Steam	T. Fyson, Bristol
1854	SCAMANDER		25998		Cargo	Steam	William M. Moss & others, Liverpool
1855	ARAXES		10550		Cargo	Screw	William M. Moss & others, Liverpool
1856	MEANDER	8	3907	985	Cargo	Screw	Ross & Co., Liverpool
1856	THOMAS POWELL		26800	401	Cargo	Screw	Thomas Powell & others, Newport
1856	TAFF		14351	148	Passenger	Paddle	Bristol General Steam Navigation Company
1856	PROSPERO
1856	GLEANER
1857	ARTIZAN		20481	454	Cargo	Screw	G. K. Stothert, Bristol
1857	CAMILLA			447	Cargo	Screw
<1858	PIONEER				Tug	Screw	Danks, Venn and Sanders
1858	TRINCULO
1860	ENTERPRIZE		29213	97	Coaster	Screw	Stephen Steed & William Osborn, Bristol
1860	MOSS ROSE		N/A	33	Tug	Screw	T. Hadley, Purton
1860	EDMUND IRONSIDES
1861	AJAX		29215	124	Cargo	Screw	Bristol General Steam Navigation Company
1861	DOLPHIN		44110	32	Tug	Screw	Bristol General Steam Navigation Company
1861	MAYFLOWER		105412	32	Tug	Screw	T. Hadley, Purton
1861	PIONEER{{Cite news |date=26 September 1861 |title=Steamship Launch |work=Western Daily Press |pages=2}}					Screw	Weaver Navigation Trustees
1862	ALARM		44109	21	Tug	Screw	Bristol General Steam Navigation Company
1862	VIOLET		N/A		Tug	Screw	T. Hadley, Purton
1862 |SEVERN{{Cite news |date=29 June 1866 |title=Important Case - Alleged Breach of Contract. Martin V. Stothert |work=Daily Bristol Times and Mirror |pages=4}} | |44257 |98 |Tug |Paddle |Bristol Channel Steam Towing Co., Cardiff (although launched for W.H. Martin & Co.)
1863	(SMALL YACHT FOR WEAVER NAVIGATION ENGINEER)					Screw	Weaver Navigation Trustees
1864	RELIEF		50266	104	Tug	Paddle	The New Steam Tug Co. Ltd., Liverpool
1865	RESOLUTE		51410	271	Tug	Paddle	New Steam Tug Company Ltd., Liverpool
1865	CLIFTON			777		Screw	General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., London
1865	ORION		52779	777	Passenger / Cargo	Paddle	General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., London
1865	MAHA LUKSHMI
1866	NIGER		53182	128	Tug	Paddle	Anthony Hutton, Bristol
1867	MYRTLE		105414	32	Tug	Screw	T. Hadley, Purton
1868	PRINCESS OF WALES	41	53195	104	Tug	Paddle	Frank Mulleny, Bristol
1868	NEWPORT		53191	153	Cargo	Screw	John Stothert, Bristol
1869	STAR		63394	79	Tug	Paddle	Joseph Hazell & others, Cardiff
1869	ALERT		106257	31	Tug	Screw	C. J. King & Sons, Bristol{{Cite web |title=46579/5/1 - Photographs of tugs beginning with A |url=https://archives.bristol.gov.uk/records/46579/5/1 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Bristol Archives online catalogue |language=en-gb}}
1871	IXIA	49	65302	227	Coaster	Screw	Turner, Edwards and Co., Bristol{{Cite news |date=24 January 1871 |title=Launch of a Steamer |work=Western Daily Press |pages=3}}
1871	WELSH PRINCE	50	65304	154	Coaster	Screw	Richard Charles Ring, Bristol
1871	HAZEL		184871		Tug	Screw	T. Hadley, Purton
1875	VOLUNTEER		85820	24	Tug	Screw	C. J. King & Sons, Bristol
1875	SEA KING		91051	45	Tug	Screw	C. J. King & Sons, Bristol
1876	SPEEDWELL		105413	40	Tug	Screw	Sharpness New Docks and Gloucester & Birmingham Navigation Company
1876 |WORCESTER{{Cite web |title=Model, builder’s half block, & steam screw canal tug |url=https://collections.bristolmuseums.org.uk/collections/640bbabd-2a30-3e95-89fc-d1225123700b/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Bristol Museums Collections |language=en}} | | | |Tug |Screw |Sharpness New Docks and Gloucester & Birmingham Navigation Company
1876 |BIRMINGHAM | | | |Tug |Screw |Sharpness New Docks and Gloucester & Birmingham Navigation Company
1877 |GLOUCESTER | | | |Tug |Screw |Sharpness New Docks and Gloucester & Birmingham Navigation Company
1876	REBECCA MARY		74861	96	Cargo	Sailing Vessel	George Farren, Caernarvon
1878	NETHAM		78453	113	Coaster	Screw	Richard C. Ring, Bristol
1879	DOURO	51	78459	430	Cargo	Screw	G. K. Stothert & Co.
1880	SEA QUEEN		91052	53	Tug	Screw	C. J. King & Sons, Bristol
1881	LORD TREDEGAR/ WILLIAM PARFITT		106255	179	Dredger	Screw	Alexandra (Newport) Dock Company
1882	GALLOPER		86493	67	Tug	Screw	Young & Christie, Cardiff
1883	CLIFTON GROVE	89	85810	249	Coaster	Screw	William Butler & Co. Ltd., Bristol
1883	TEL-EL-KEBIR	90	89165	163	Coaster	Screw	L. J. Bowen, Cardiff
1884	ATALANTA	92	85813	143	Barge	Screw	Severn & Canal Carrying Co
1885	SEA PRINCE	114	91053	97	Tug	Screw	C. J. King & Sons, Bristol
1888	CONHAM{{Cite book |last=Carter |first=Stephen |title=T.R.Brown of Bristol - A remarkable tale of a family's maritime enterprise |date=2006 |publisher=Twelveheads Press |year=2006 |isbn=090629460-6 |pages=98}}		91069	77	Barge	Screw	Henry R. Brown (T.R. Brown & Sons)
1889	PENMON
1890	FLAGSTAFF		97233	113	Coaster	Screw	William E. Davies, London
1892	TREDEGAR	167	98828	115	Coaster	Screw	William Galbraith, Bristol
1892	CARBON	170	98829	126	Barge	Screw	Alfred J. Smith Ltd., Bristol
1892	STOKE LEIGH
1893	MERTHYR	184	102483	143	Coaster	Screw
1897	RESOLUTE		105415	62	Tug	Screw	Severn & Canal Carrying Co
1897	RELIANCE		117716	62	Tug	Screw	Severn & Canal Carrying Co
1901	RECRUIT		112850	59	Tug	Screw	William Cory and Son Ltd., London
1901	MAESTEG	243	111318	156	Barge	Screw	Bristol Lighterage Co. Ltd.
1901	GARTH	244	114861	156	Barge	Screw	Bristol Lighterage Co. Ltd.
1903	SALAMANDER				Fire Float		Bristol Fire Brigade
1904	VICTOR/SEVERN VICTOR	278	147385	44	Tug	Screw	Severn & Canal Carrying Co
1904	ACTIVE/SEVERN ACTIVE	280	147381	53	Tug	Screw	Severn & Canal Carrying Co

{{reflist}}

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Category:Defunct shipbuilding companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Defunct companies based in Bristol

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Bristol

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1852

Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1933