Beatson (Shipbreaking)
of Surrey Canal Wharf, Rotherhithe
c.1795 John and William Beatson retired from the sea and set up as timber merchants and shipbreakers at the Bull Head Dock (which included Surrey Canal Wharf).
By 1820 a cousin of theirs, David Beatson, was running the shipbreaking business.
David had four children:
- 1802 John, who later took over the family ship breaking business
- 1807 William trained as an architect and took his large family to Nelson, New Zealand in 1851
- 1811 Harriet
- 1819 Helen.
David passed the shipbreaking business to John
1838 Acquired the hulk of HMS Temeraire; she was towed by 2 steam tugs to Beatson's yard at Rotherhithe. John donated some of her timbers to a relative who was building an extension to Rotherhithe parish church nearby[1].
1843 Ship breaker and timber merchant, Rotherhithe[2]
1856 Beatson was still tendering for ships in 1856
1858 John died in Rotherhithe[3]
1859 The Surrey Canal Wharf was occupied by the business of William Philip Beech
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] History of Castle's Shipbreaking