J. Crichton and Co

J. Crichton & Co. Ltd was a shipbuilding company, based in Saltney, Flintshire, and Connah's Quay, Deeside, North Wales. Steam hauling slip at Connah's Quay.

The yard built stern-wheelers, coasters, tugs, barges and yachts. It closed during the Depression of the 1930s.

It was established in 1913 by James Crichton (1885-1932), on the banks of the River Dee, on the outskirts of the city of Chester. Initially it operated as a subsidiary of C. and H. Crichton, the ship repair business owned by Charles Crichton, the father of James Crichton.

From 1915, J. Crichton & Company Limited was registered as a separate company.

In 1918, the company acquired another shipyard, at Connah's Quay, Flintshire, which increased its shipbuilding capacity. The company built many kinds of vessel, including tugs, barges, ferries, lightships and launches.

1922 Had offices in the Tower Building, Liverpool, where C. and H. Crichton also had offices; J. Crichton was a director of both companies.

1924 'STEAMER FOR WEST AFRICAN TRADE. BUILT AND ENGINED BY J. CRICHTON AND CO. There has recently left the Mersey for service on River Niger the small riversteamer Inde, which has been constructed by Messrs. J. Crichton and Co., at their Saltney shipyard, Chester, to the order of one of Messrs. Elder Dempster and Co.'s subsidiary comapnies. She has been built to the design of Mr. J. B. Wilkie, Messrs. Elder Dempster's superintendent engineer. Her dimensions are 105ft. b.p. by 20ft. moulded by 7ft. moulded. She carries more than 100 tons of cargo spacious hold, and is fitted with accommodation for cabin and deck passengers, as well as her own crew. She is propelled by atwin set of Bolinder engines, developing 100 b.b.p. on each shaft, and fitted with their usual type ot reverse gear and driving two Gill patent propellers, which have been specially fitted with a view to avoiding damage in the difficult waters in which she will have to negotiate. A Vickers Petter lighting set isn installed, and the ship is electrically wired throughout. ...'

1925 'J. CRICHTON & CO., LTD. Messrs. J. Crichton and Co., Ltd., successfully launched from their Saltney Shipyard, Chester, on Monday last, a special pontoon for a floating pneumatic grain elevator, the order of Messrs. Spencer (Melksham) Ltd., for the Port of Liverpool Stevedoring Co., Ltd. The dimensions are: Length b.p. 86ft.; breadth moulded, 36ft.; depth moulded, 10ft. 10in. When completed, this elevator will make a notable addition to the facilities for handling grain at the port of Liverpool by the pneumatic process.'

1925 'J. CRICHTON & CO., LTD. LURGURENA.— Successful trials were carried out recently by the steamer Lurgurena. This vehicular ferry steamer, of 248 tons net, has been built to the order of the Tasmanian Government, for service at Hobart, on the Derwent River, and has been constructed by Messrs. J. Crichton and Co., Ltd., Saltney, to Lloyd's special survey, under the supervision of Captain Anderson, of Sydney, who will deliver the vessel to her destination. The Lurgurena proceeded down the river in fine but hazy weather, and after returning from the bar a series of speed trials were run on the measured mile in the Crosby Channel. A mean speed of about 13 knots was obtained, which was in excess of the contract speed. Theowners expressed themselves well satisfied with the performance and construction of the vessel. This is the third Government-owned vessel, Messrs. J. Crichton and Co., Ltd., have, delivered during the past twelve months. The Lurgurena's measurements are 199 ft. by 35ft. 6in. by lift. Triple-expansion steam, engines, made by Messrs. Plenty, Newbury, of 1,160 i.h.p., work simultaneously a propeller at, each end of the vessel. The two Navy-type boilers, supplied by Riley Bros., Stockton-on- Tees, are constructed of plates rolled the full length of the boiler, which can thus have new plates installed at the minimum of trouble. The vessel is fitted, both at bow and stern, with steering gear and gangways for vehicular traffic. On the trials there were present Mr. Ely, representing the Agent-General of Tasmania; Mr. Dykes, senior Lloyd's surveyor for the port; Mr. Lyle; Mr. Oxford and Mr. Keith, of Lloyd's Registry (who had supervised the vessel through her various stages of construction) and the builders.'

1925 'J. CRICHTON & CO., LTD. RADSTOCK.— J. Crichton and Co., Ltd.. successfully launched from Saltney yard last week the steam coaster Radstock for the joint service of the Southern and London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Companies in the Bristol Channel. ....'.

1928 'J. CRICHTON AND CO., LTD. The motor tug Carlos Lumb, built and engined by Messrs. J. Crichton and Co., Ltd., shipbuilders and engineers, of Saltney, Connah's Quay, and Liverpool, ran her official speed trials on the Mersey measured mile recently. They proved eminently successful in every way, and gave satisfaction to the builders' and owners' representatives who were on board. Her dimensions are 100ft. by by 10ft., and she is fitted with twin "Plenty" 500-b.h.p. motors. Her auxiliaries are supplied by Messrs. Gardner, and the compressed air deck machinery by Messrs. Revell.'

1928 'LAUNCHES AND TRIAL TRIPS. J. CRICHTON AND CO. SLOYNE.—The steam tug Sloyne, built to the order of the Alexandra Towing Co., Liverpool, by Messrs. J. Crichton and Co, Ltd., was launched from the firm's Saltney shipyard on August 15th. The tug's dimesions are as follow :-105ft. by 27ft. by 13th. 6in.'

1928 'LAUNCHES AND TRIAL TRIPS. J. CRICHTON AND CO. KWAIBO.- Successful trials of the twin screw motor passenger and cargo vessel Kwaibo, built by Messrs. J. Crichton and Co., Ltd., Saltney, Chester, for Messrs. Elder Dempster and Co., Ltd., were carried out on Sept. 5th. The veessel is of the following dimensions:- Length 162ft., overall 157ft. b.p., breadth depth 23ft., depth 10ft., and is driven by twin Bolinder engines. After her trials the vessel left under her own power for West Africa.'

1930 Launched the following vessels in 1930: Tugs Ruth, Tartar, Thrush, W.A.7; passenger/cargo vessel Sir Charles Orr; thirteen dumb barges, one motor barge, and one small ferry. Total 1614 gross tons.

1935 'SALTHOUSE.-The steel single-screw Salthouse, built by Messrs. J. Crichton and Co.. Ltd., Saltney, near Chester, to the order of the Alexandra Towing Co., Ltd., of Liverpool. left the Prince's Landing-stage, Liverpool, on March 7 to undergo trials. The Salthouse is the last of four tugs Messrs. Crichton and Co. have constructed for the company, and although, on account of fog the speed trials on the measured mile could not be carried out, the tug underwent her power trials, which proved as satisfactory as those of the three other tugs, which have since operated satisfactorilly in continuous service. The Salthouse is of 1,000 i.h.p., and has been built fur handling ocean-going passenger vessels. Her length overall is 103ft., beam 25ft., depth 12ft. 6ins. and draft 12ft. The machinery is of the tripl-eexpansion type, built by Messrs. Plenty and Sons, of Newbury, and her boiler has been constructed by Messrs. Barclay, Curle and Co. Her electrical generating sets were fitted and supplied by Messrs. E. Reader and Sons, Ltd., of Nottingham, whose Liverpool agents are Messrs. Esplen and Sons, Ltd. She has been built to Lloyd's Register's highest class for seagoing purposes.'

1935 Built the 'D. B. Crane', a small motor coaster, at the Saltney yard, for the Island Trading Co of London. Length 100ft. Launched within 2 1/2 months of laying the keel. It was lifted on board the MV Belmoira for export to British North Borneo. As an experiment to discourage rot of wood and canvas, those materials were experimentally treated with Cuprinol. 180 HP Polar diesel engine.

The Saltney Yard closed in 1935, due to economic problems and overcapacity in shipyards.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• L. A. Ritchie, The Shipbuilding Industry: A Guide to Historical Records (1992)
• British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss
• [1] www.archivesnetworkwales.info