Remains of steam drifter on River Tyne at Ryton. Photo A Curtis (2013)
In 2013 I wrote an article on this blog about the wreck of a wooden-hulled steam drifter (fishing boat) on the bed of the River Tyne close to the Ryton shore.
Together with an archaeologist who had examined the wreck a few years earlier, we had tried to find out more details. The best information we had was that from a correspondent who told us the vessel had been called Reflect. The vessel had been purchased from Clayton & Davis, ship breakers at Dunston, in the early 1950's. It was to have been a house boat at Ryton for the Sea Scouts but sank before it was converted.
Together with an archaeologist who had examined the wreck a few years earlier, we had tried to find out more details. The best information we had was that from a correspondent who told us the vessel had been called Reflect. The vessel had been purchased from Clayton & Davis, ship breakers at Dunston, in the early 1950's. It was to have been a house boat at Ryton for the Sea Scouts but sank before it was converted.
In June of this year, completely out of the blue, another correspondent, ex deep-sea fisherman and researcher of fishing boats, Andrew Hall, sent us a full history of the vessel.
She had started life in 1902, launched by S. Richards & Co. Ltd, of Lowestoft for Robert S. Gouldby, Kessingland, Suffolk as 'Kessingland'. Completed in 1908 and registered at Lowestoft as LT 210.
Steam Drifter "Kessingland" LT210 Lowestoft, watercolour on paper by Perry Broad 30-08-1982.
In 1915, the Kessingland was requisitioned as a Net Laying Vessel (Ad No.1056) based at Dover, being returned to her owners in 1919. In 1920 she was in Scarborough, registered as SH 210, with several different owners up to 1926.
In this year she was back in Lowestoft, registered as LT 294 and renamed 'Reflect'.
In this year she was back in Lowestoft, registered as LT 294 and renamed 'Reflect'.
Steam drifter LT294 'Reflect'. Photo courtesy of the Port of Lowestoft Research Society.
In the Second World War, Reflect was requisitioned as an Examination Vessel, returned to her owners in 1945. Two years later she was sold as scrap to Clayton & Davies of Dunston on Tyne. Here she was purchased by the 1st Tyne Sea Scouts, sailed to Ryton, but sank before refitting as a houseboat.
UPDATE - 13/08/2022
Photos and information below provided recently by Arthur Newton.
He tells me that the loss of the boat was caused by vandalism when rocks loaded to keep the vessel upright at low tide were moved onto her downslope side.
He tells me that the loss of the boat was caused by vandalism when rocks loaded to keep the vessel upright at low tide were moved onto her downslope side.
Reflect - en route from Clayton & Davies yard in Dunston to Ryton showing Arthur Newton's father & brother in law (c.1950), Photo courtesy A Newton (2022).
Name plate from Reflect. Photo courtesy A Newton (2022).
Name plate & anchors from Reflect. Photo courtesy A Newton (2022).
Other boats on the River Tyne and houseboats at Ryton Willows.
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