OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY (1830-1908)

When Mr James Willoughby (1828-1882) died on Sunday September 10th 1882 the role of senior partner in Messrs Willoughby Brothers, founded by his father, Mr William Willoughby (1805-1879), passed to his younger brother Mr William Willoughby (1829-1908).

Mr William Willoughby married Miss Betsy Sara at Falmouth, Cornwall, in 1857.  He was at that time living with his parents in Plymouth but the newly married couple soon set up their home at number 22 Wyndham Place, Plymouth.  As the family started to grow so they moved, first, to Berkeley Place, North Road, Plymouth, close to the his parents' home at Clarendon Terrace, North Road; and then to number 17 Ilbert Street, just around the corner so to speak.  Frederick William Willoughby was their first-born, in 1863; followed by William Willoughby in 1865; Herbert Willoughby in 1866; and Gertrude Emily Willoughby in 1868.

In 1890 Willoughby Brothers became a registered limited liability company, with its office in Rendle Street.  Capital was £30,000 in £10 shares.  At this time they took over the Phoenix Foundry in Phoenix Street, which previously belonged to James Moir junior.  This was closed around 1900 to 1904.

Also in 1890 Mr William Willoughby married a Miss/Mrs Alice Maud Jane Ritchie, in Plymouth, although no death of Mrs Betsy Willoughby has so far been traced.  At the time of the census on April 5th 1891 Willoughby and Alice were living at number 5 Saint George's Terrace, North Road, Plymouth, along with his sons Mr Frederick William Willoughby, now a professor of music, and Mr Herbert Willoughby, a private secretary.

It was around this time that they purchased the extensive building shed of Messrs Watson and Fox at the Plymouth Great Western Docks, which came with the Graving Dock or Dry Dock.  Until then they had cast the steel parts of boats at the works and move them to Richmond Walk at Devonport for piecing them together.  This was not very convenient.  From 1891 onwards they were able to construct steel ships in the former Graving Dock. 

The first vessel to be so built was the "Conqueror", for Mr G Etheridge, of London.  She was to run as a tug on the River Thames.  Built of steel, but with an iron deck and teak bridge, she was 69 feet long, 14 feet in breadth and 8 feet 6 inches deep.  At 3pm on the afternoon of Thursday July 9th 1891 she made her first trail trip, first out and around the Sound and then, after picking up some more passengers, up the river to Calstock and back.  Those on board included Mr S Willoughby, the managing director; Mr G F Youlton, the chairman of the Company; Mr T Harris, the secretary; Mr A Groser; and Mr W Willoughby. Mr George F Watson, the surveyor and ship builder who previously owned the yard, also travelled with the party and was later retained by the Messrs Willoughby Brothers to superintend the construction of vessels at Millbay Docks.  Mr Blowey, the optician, of Southside Street, supplied the ship's compass.  All were well pleased with the ship and on Tuesday July 14th 1891 she left for London.  Messrs Willoughby Brothers Limited looked forward to more orders for such vessels, which they could now construct up to a length of about 250 feet in their new facilities.

Willoughby's went on to build vessels for the Royal Mail Steamship Company; the Suez Canal Company; the Hythe Ferry across Southampton Water; Messrs Beckett, Hill and Company, of Liverpool; floating bridges for the Torpoint Ferry; another one for Saltash Corporation to be used on the Saltash Ferry; and the Tamar steamers "Princess Royal", "Albert", "Lady Ernestine", "Prince Edward", and "Prince", owned by the Saltash and Devonport Steamboat Company; and innumerable manhole covers for the drainage system in the Three Towns.

What was at the time the largest steel-built vessel constructed outside of the Royal Dockyard was launched on Wednesday March 30th 1892.  Built for the Llandudno and Carnarvon Steamship Company (sic), she was christened the Paddle Steamer "Belle of Llandudno" by Miss Madeleine Sophia Mason Willoughby, the twelve-years-old daughter of Mr Joseph Willoughby, the managing director of Messrs Willoughby Brothers Limited.  The ship's measurements were: length overall 157 feet 6 inches; length between perpendiculars, 145 feet; breadth moulded, 12 feet; depth moulded 3 feet 6 inches.  The vessel will be fitted with two 100 lbs per square inch engines.  The building slip now vacated will be taken up with two tugs for London firms.  Meanwhile the yard is engaged on making alterations to the Royal Mail Steamer "Aquila".

A steel screw steamer fort the Port of London Sanitary Authority was launched in early July 1893 and on Wednesday July 19th 1893 it was taken for a trial run to the Breakwater, Cawsand Bay and up the river Tamar to Pentillie, where tea was served to the guests.  Named "Lachesic", she is to become a temporary sick hospital;, and the after cabin is fitted for the reception of patients.  There are also a Captain's cabin and the fore cabin is fitted with mirrors and sideboards on the bulkhead and has seats upholstered in old gold velvet.  The vessel is 73 feet in length, 13 feet6 inches in breadth and 7 feet 6 inches in depth.  #She has two composite surface-condensing engines with an 18 inch stroke and the boiler has a working pressure of 100 lbs per square inch.  The deck comprises teak fittings.  Among the passengers who joined the trial trip at the Promenade Pier were Doctor Collingbridge, of the Port of London Sanitary Authority, to whose specification the boat was built; Doctor Williams, Medical Officer of Health for the Plymouth Sanitary Authority; Doctor William George Willoughby, Medical Officer of Health for the Plympton Sanitary Authority (and member of the builders' family, of course); Messrs Harris, company secretary, E S Lancaster, A R Debnam, contractor, and Kelly, the Port Sanitary Inspector; and some more members of the family, names Messrs William Willoughby senior, Mr James Willoughby senior, Mr William Willoughby junior, Mr James Willoughby junior.  On the journey back down the Tamar they met up with the Saltash, Three Towns and District Steamboat Company's "Prince", once of several of theirs built by the Willoughby Brothers, and had a friendly race, which was won by the "Lachesic" doing 13 knots.  On Thursday July 20th the compass was adjusted by Mr Blowey, of Southside Street, Plymouth, and on Thursday July 21st she set sail for the river Thames.

At the time of the census on Sunday March 31st 1901 the managing director of the business was the founder's fourth son, Mr Joseph Willoughby, who was living at Erme House, 5 Ermington Terrace, Mutley, Plymouth.

On Thursday January 30th 1908 Mr William Willoughby, the second son of the founder, passed away at his home in Saint George's Terrace, Saltash Road, North Road, Plymouth.  For some reason as yet unclear, the Company went in to receivership on January 31st 1908.

The business was to be auctioned by Messrs Elliott, Elias and Company, at Plymouth, on Thursday December 9th 1909 but it was sold the previous day to a syndicate who proposed to continue the business.