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Oakhurst | Official Number
79122 |
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Oakhurst | Official Number
79122 |
The Oakhurst was an iron barque built by Thomas Williamson at Harrington in 1879, launched on the 21st January 1879.
Cutting from a Whitehaven newspaper, undated;
" SHIP LAUNCH AT HARRINGTON - Messrs T.Williamson
and Son launched a fine iron barque, of 1070 tons (gross) register, from
their yard at Harrington on Tuesday morning. The barque was christened
the Oakhurst by Mr Williamson’s daughter, Miss Williamson. The vessel
is registered in the highest class at Lloyd’s 100 A1: and her dimensions
are as follows: Extreme length, 220 feet, breadth of beam, 34 feet: depth
of hold, 21 feet. The Oakhurst has been built by Messrs.Williamson
for their own use, and is intended for the Australian and West Coast trade.
After the launch which was successfully accomplished by the Whitehaven
tug the Prince of Wales............ She will lie there till fitted
out for sea, when she will proceed to Workington and take in a cargo of
steel rails from the Mossbay Iron and Steel Works to Port Lyttleton, New
Zealand. The Oakhurst, it may be added, will be the largest vessel
that has ever loaded at Workington, or indeed, that has ever been in that
port. She is the 33rd iron vessel Messrs.Willliamson have built: and the
firm has turned out 71 of all classes at their Harrington yard. "
The Cumberland Pacquet, 19th August 1879, page 1;
" ARRIVAL OF NEW BARQUE OAKHURST IN NEW ZEALAND. The following
is an extract from a New Zealand paper. The barque Oakhurst arrived
yesterday afternoon, with a cargo of 1,500 tons of steel, from Workington,
after a pasage of 100 days. The Oakhurst is a very handsome specimen
of the modern iron clipper, and is on her maiden voyage, having only been
launched in January last. She was built by Mr.Thomas Williamson, of Oakhurst,
Cockermouth, Cumberland, at his yards, Harrington. She is 1,032 tons register,
240 feet in length, 35 feet beam, and 22 feet depth of hold. Her lower
masts are iron, as are bowsprit and jibboom, which are both in one, thus
doing away with the necessity for the usual amount of head gear, martingale,
&c. The whole of her rigging is wire, together with the lanyards, while
the sheaves of the blocks are all iron. The vessel has splendid lines,
her bow is very fine, and her run beautifully clean; and, taken altogether,
she presents every indication of strength and speed. The Oakhurst
is fitted with all the latest improvements, with the exception of steam,
and has a very fine, clear deck. The cabin is extremely comfortable, though
not built for passengers. The whole of the work is substantial and well
finished, decoration having given place to thorough usefulness. The wood
work is teak, maple, and red pine, the different woods forming a very pleasant
contrast. The various offices in the ship are well appointed, and plenty
of room is afforded the officers, etc. Captain Jones, who is in command,
informs us that the departure of the vessel caused quite an excitement
in Workington, as she was the largest vessel that has left there belonging
to the port. Captain Jones speaks of her as being a fine vessel in all
weathers, and possessing excellent sailing qualities. The Oakhurst
left Workington on March 10th; met with stormy weather in the Channel,
taking departure from Tuskar on March 12th. Experienced some heavy north-west
weather in the Bay, previous to meeting with the trades, which were fair.
The Equator was crossed on April 2nd, 23 days. The south-east trades were
light, and Trinidad was passed on April 12th. Passed Gough's Island on
May 24th, Prince Edward's Island May 25th, and the meridian of the Cape
on May 1st. The westerlies were moderate and well northerly; passed the
meridian of Cape Leuwin on May 25th, and that of Tasmania on May 31st;
the westerlies held as far as 150 east and 48 south (81 days out) when
easterly weather set in with heavy sea. Went as far south as 50 degrees,
when three days almost calm and beautifully fine weather were met with.
On coming north again met with easterly winds to passing the Snares on
June 14th. Experienced south-west and southerly winds up the coast, passed
Otago on June 17th, and made the Peninsula next day. Made the Heads yesterday
morning, and beat up to an anchorage in the afternoon, 100 days from port
to port, and 93 days from land to land. "
The Oakhurst was registered at Liverpool. She was sold to Norwegian owners in 1904 and was then registered at Grimstad. Unlike many vessels sold to the Norwegians at this time, she retained her original name. She survived the First World War and by 1920 was owned in Denmark, under the name Germaine. She probably ended her days at the breaker's yard.
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