Lunell & Co of Bristol
See also G. Lunell and Co
- Originally shipowners, they started to build their own vessels, taking over the Hotwells (Merchant Dock) yard vacated by Hillhouse. Their first vessel, City of Bristol, was launched in 1827. In 1831 George Lunell and Co were the proprietors. Their early steam packets had engines made by John Winwood, but in about 1838 they established their own engine works under the guidance of Thomas Clements. The yard was taken over by Stotherts in 1852 [1]
- 1840 The City of Bristol was wrecked in a storm. 'The engines of this paddle steamer can still be seen at low water of spring tides just to the north of Diles Lake on Rhossili beach. Some time after the ship was wrecked, George Lunell wrote "With gratitude I bear testimony to the honesty and high moral integrity of all the inhabitants of the neighbourhood; though every part of the bay was strewn with broken fragments, and continued so for six days and nights, though many of the people were poor, and fuel was scarce and dear, not the smallest particle was taken; but on Wednesday last, after disposing in small lots of all the timbers and planks that had come on shore, I told them that they were welcome to what remained, and nothing could show more strongly that it had not been previously taken up because not valued, than that after thanking me, they immediately set about gathering it up, and in less than two hours scarcely a vestige was seen. From everyone I received sympathy and kindness".' [2]
- Made the engine for the scraper dredger based at Bridgwater Docks, Built 1844, probably designed by I K Brunel. [3]
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