Mersey Flats & Flatmen

[Owen Owen]

I'm looking for any photos, documents or illustrations connected to Mersey Flats.
Dave Keenan rescued his boat OAKDALE from the LL canal in 1977 and restored her at the famous BBC (Bootle Barge Company) off Lightbody Street, Bootle.
Most of Dave's old books, pictures and documents sadly got destroyed in a storm in March last year.

The OAKDALE was built by Richard Abel & Sons at Castlerock Runcorn in 1951. Richard Abel also had offices at a couple of the docks in Liverpool. Possibly Clarence & Canning docks.
Mersey Flats though had been around the river and the docks since the 1800's, so any pictures of them, sailing or as dumb barges would be appreciated.
OAKDALE is the last surviving 'composite' Mersey Flat left in the world. (The nearest relative being a boat called MOSSDALE at Ellesmere Port Museum, all timber and converted by Richard Abel)


A Sailing flat on the Mersey


Dave Keenan describing the OAKDALE's construction


Mersey Flat at Hadfield's, Lightbody Street, Bootle (from my Grandfather's collection. He lived in Bootle from 1914 to 1941 and served as an ARP during the war)

[Dan]

I'm looking for any photos, documents or illustrations connected to Mersey Flats.
Dave Keenan rescued his boat OAKDALE from the LL canal in 1977 and restored her at the famous BBC (Bootle Barge Company) off Lightbody Street, Bootle.
Most of Dave's old books, pictures and documents sadly got destroyed in a storm in March last year.

The OAKDALE was built by Richard Abel & Sons at Castlerock Runcorn in 1951. Richard Abel also had offices at a couple of the docks in Liverpool. Possibly Clarence & Canning docks.
Mersey Flats though had been around the river and the docks since the 1800's, so any pictures of them, sailing or as dumb barges would be appreciated.
OAKDALE is the last surviving 'composite' Mersey Flat left in the world. (The nearest relative being a boat called MOSSDALE at Ellesmere Port Museum, all timber and converted by Richard Abel)


A Sailing flat on the Mersey


Dave Keenan describing the OAKDALE's construction


Mersey Flat at Hadfield's, Lightbody Street, Bootle (from my Grandfather's collection. He lived in Bootle from 1914 to 1941 and served as an ARP during the war)

Fantastic photos Martin.

I think that's the first photo of Hadfield's that's been posted on the internet.

It looks like the flat is in the second of the Liverpool Locks rising up out of the Stanley Dock.

Hadfield's was bought out by Fisons in 1935, but I don't know how long it continued for after that.

Although Fisons were still selling "George Hadfield"-branded fertilizers in 1942.

Fisons sold the fertilizer part of the business to Norsk Hydro in 1982.

[Owen Owen]

Thanks Dan,

Good info there. Hopefully more pictures of the boats will emerge along the way

[BOBHAMO]

Good thread
bobhamo

[Dan]

Originally I thought Hadfield's business was based on guano, but now I'm not so sure. It may be a little early for Hadfield's.

A few Liverpool merchants crop up in the guano (dried bird droppings) story.

The peak period for guano imports was 1840 to 1880. The bulk of the material came from the Chincha Islands off Peru.

The Incas had been using it on their maize and potato crops before the Spanish arrived in South America.


In 1836 the first samples arrived in Liverpool for crop trials. The results were encouraging.

The Liverpool merchant and farmer William Myers was an early advocate, along with the Earl of Derby.

Also, Liverpool shipping agent and ship owner William Cliiffe's business specialised in guano.


A Liverpool merchant. Andrew Livingstone disrupted the market, by importing guano from Ichaboe off the coast of Africa.

The African product was cheaper, because of a lower nitrogen content, due to rain washing out the ammoniacal salts form the guano.

[Owen Owen]

Taid (Grandad) often used to joke about the use of guano, saying "They used to have to shovel shite all day!" as kids it always made us laugh.
I do recall him telling us about the tall ships that came into the docks from overseas. I wonder now if it was those that brought the guano?

I see from this extract they used other interesting ingredients like sulphuric acid and bones.

[Dan]

Taid (Grandad) often used to joke about the use of guano, saying "They used to have to shovel shite all day!" as kids it always made us laugh.
I do recall him telling us about the tall ships that came into the docks from overseas. I wonder now if it was those that brought the guano?

I see from this extract they used other interesting ingredients like sulphuric acid and bones.

A Brief History of George Hadfield & Co., Fertilizer Manufacturer, Liverpool from 1860 to 1935.





Owen John Owen (of Groeslon) at Hadfield's in 1936, worked at Hadfield's 1915-1965.

Martin

Fantastic post. I've edited it to make it legible and put in a few keywords so that it's searchable.


William Cliffe, who I mentioned earlier in the thread, had four ships bringing guano into Liverpool.

Boldon - a sailing barque of 689 tons gross.

Guatamala Packet - a sailing barque of 326 tons gross

Nimrod - a sailing barque of 693 tons gross

Quito - a sailing ship of 503 tons gross

These ships would have definitely be amongst those seen by your grandfather.

[Owen Owen]

Many thanks Dan,

I'll need to keep a weather eye on the sizing of uploads by the look of things.

That's amazing you've found the boats he will have seen. He had a rope hammock off one of them that stayed with us until the 1980s. I think it had sadly rotted though and Dad threw it away.

[Dan]

A list of some of the products available from Hadfield's in 1893.

The importance of sulphuric acid (vitriol or oil of vitriol) to the company is shown by its position in the letterhead.

Note superphosphate is the last listed product.






Below is an extract of a paper , explaining the oriigin of superphosphate.

Coprolite (fossilised dinosaur dung) was mined in the UK during the Victorian era as a source of fertiliser.




In Gore's 1853 edition, the dock rate for guano imports was 2d per ton.

[Owen Owen]

Excellent research Dan, hadn't seen any of this before. Thank you!

I've joined the Liverpool Nautical Research Society so may be able to find more about the ships you've mentioned.