Scawfell

Official Number 21490

The Scawfell was a wooden full-rigged ship built by Charles Lamport at Workington in 1858. She was strongly built, with teak beams, strengthened with iron braces, and with oak planking and an oak deck. She could carry a cargo of just over 1 million pounds of tea (approx. 500 tonnes in modern measurement). The Scawfell was a true tea clipper, and under Capt. Robert Thomson achieved one of the fastest ever voyages from China to England, leaving the Canton River on the 14th January 1861 and arriving off Point Lynas, bound for Liverpool, on the 11th April (85 days pilot to pilot).

From the Morning Chronicle newspaper, Friday, 12th April 1861:

" RAPID PASSAGE FROM CHINA TO LIVERPOOL - The ship Scawfell, Captain Thompson, of this port, arrived on Thursday morning from Whampoa, China, with a cargo of tea and silk, after a capital passage, having left her anchorage at Whampoa, on the 13th, discharged her pilot on the 14th and arrived at Liverpool yesterday, making the passage from port to port in 88 days - one of the fastest recorded."

From the Liverpool Mercury newspaper, Saturday, 13th April, 1861:

" QUICK PASSAGE - The Scawfell, of Liverpool, Captain Robert Thomson, left Whampoa anchorage on the 13th and the Canton river on the 14th January. She took her pilot on board at Point Lynas at daylight on the 11th April, and reached her anchorage at Liverpool the same day at noon., being 86 and a half days from port to port, or 88 days from anchorage to anchorage. This is the shortest passage ever made, and is the more creditable to Captain Thompon and to the builder (Mr.Charles Lamport, of Workington) because the Scawfell is a very strong Cumberland-built ship, and from her strength much heavier than most ships that are built. She also carries a large cargo for her tonnage."

Other China voyages recorded in Source 1 include:

• Foochow to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 114 days, arr.Deal 29th April 1859).
• Foochow to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 111 days, arr.London 4th May 1860).
• Whampoa to Liverpool (Capt.R.Thomson, 88 days, arr.Liverpool 11th April 1861).
• Hong Kong to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 123 days, arr.London 15th October 1862).
• Shanghai to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 120 days, arr.London 30th October 1863).
• Whampoa to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 128 days, arr.London 13th October 1864).
• Hong Kong to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 115 days, arr.London 27th December 1865).
• Foochow to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 100 days, arr.London 15th January 1867).
• Canton to London (Capt.R.Thomson, 115 days, arr.London 13th December 1869).

From the Times newspaper, Weds, 31st January, 1883, page 6;

" Captain Kane, of the barque Rosedale, of Belfast, reports that on the 9th inst. he rescued the master and crew of the barque Scawfell, which was then in a sinking conditon. Subsequently the rescued crew were transferred to a German vessel, and thence to the ship Norwhal, which has landed them at Falmouth."

Sources :

1. "The Tea Clippers" by David R.MacGregor (Conway Maritime Press, 1972). ISBN 0 85177 059 2.