One of my favourite old postcard views shows the Royal Marine Hotel in Hunter’s Quay. The Hotel was built in 1890 to the design of the Glasgow Architect, Thomas Lennox Watson, and replaced an earlier hotel that was destroyed by fire. It received its “Royal” designation because it was the home of the Royal Clyde Yacht Club for many years. The photograph from which the postcard was printed was taken by Messrs Poulton in the 1890s. Their negative stock was purchased by Messrs Ritchie of Edinburgh and released as postcards as part of their “Reliable Series.”

Poulton collotype of the above view

Of particular interest are the two old steam lighters, Effort and Advance, on the beach. Both are of the old style and steered by tiller, rather than having a wheel. The Effort looks the simpler and older of the two. Indeed, she was launched by Messrs William Swan & Son at Kelvindock on the Forth and Clyde Canal, Glasgow towards the end of June, 1884. She was designed to sail through the locks on the Canal; 66¼ feet in length, 14½ feet in breadth and 5 feet in depth, with a steam engine of 5 h.p. provided by Messrs Wiilliam King & Co., Glasgow. The Effort’s first owners were James M‘Creath and Charles Hendry of Hunter’s Quay.

“Launches.—Effort, screw-steamer, 70 tons by Messrs Wm. Swan & . Co., Maryhill, for Messrs M‘Creath & Hendry, Hunter’s Quay.”—Evening Citizen, June 28, 1884

Some of the work of the steam lighters can be traced through the “Shipping Intelligence” notices in the Glasgow Herald. For Effort, the notices reveal that she was heavily employed in the coal trade, loading at Bowling or at collieries on the Forth and Clyde Canal and sailing from Bowling to Dunoon and Kirn, returning light for a further load. Sometimes, the load of coal would be picked up at Irvine or Glasgow. Very occasionally, particularly in summer, Crinan might be a destination for coal with a return from Easdale with slates or Tarbert with timber.

In 1905, she was sold to Messrs J.&E. M‘Neil of Greenock, and is seen below in their ownership in Greenock Harbour.

Puffers Invergowrie, Lookout, and Effort in Greenock Harbour with Celt astern

She met her end on January 26 1927.

“During a gale of southerly wind with a heavy sea running the steam lighter Effort, belonging to Mrs Hardie, Greenock, while proceeding towards Loch Long, was driven ashore opposite Holyrood, midway between Kilcreggan and Cove, on Wednesday. The boat being light, it is expected she will break up. The four men on board were got safely ashore.—Glasgow Herald, January 28, 1927

Advance and another puffer off the coal depot at Dunoon

The Advance was a larger craft. Launched in 1891 by Messrs Burrell & Son, Glasgow for Duncan M‘Lachlan and others of Dunoon, she was 65½ feet in length by 17¼ feet in breadth and with a depth of 6 feet. She had a 10 h.p. 2 cylinder engine.

In her early years, Advance delivered coal to Kirn and Dunoon from Ardrossan and Bowling. Coal was also transported much further, to Loch Melfort and Ardrishaig, returning with slates from Easdale and timber from Loch Striven and Toward. She could also be found taking sand from Lamlash to Bowling, and cargoes of bricks to Dunoon and Campbeltown. During this period of carrying bricks, she fell foul of the Harbour Authorities at Greenock.

Advance unloading coal on Lochfyneside

“Duncan M’Lachlan, master of the steam lighter Advance, pleaded guilty at Greenock of contravening the Greenock Port and Harbours Act, by laying down a large quantity of bricks on the south breast of the Albert Harbour, and within six feet of the edge of the breast. The offence was committed on 5th inst. Bailie Clink passed sentence of £2 fine, or 20 days in gaol. The fine was paid.”—Shields Daily Gazette, October 19, 1895

After the Coal Pier at Dunoon was erected in 1905, Advance called there and was damaged while lying at the pier in 1907.

“Heavy gale from the East on November 26, 1907—The steam lighter Advance sustained some damage while lying in Dunoon Harbour.”—Lloyd’d List, November 27, 1907

“The launch of a P. and O.—Lighter that failed to go slow.—Duncan M‘Lachlan, master of the steam lighter Advance, was charged at Glasgow Marine Court yesterday morning with having committed breach of the harbour regulations It was stated that on August 15, while the lighter in question was passing down the river opposite Whiteinch Shipyard, Whiteinch, the master of the vessel failed to notice or disregarded the usual signal red flag exhibited from a small boat in the channel, indicating that the launch of a vessel was in progress, and that all traffic was consequently suspended for the time being. The launch was that the P. and O. liner Morea by Messrs Barclay, Curle & Co. Mr M‘Lachlan pleaded gutty, but explained that he was below at the time, and the lighter was in charge of one of his men. They had passed the boat with the red flag when someone called to them to go on as it was then safer do so rather than go back. Bailie Henderson imposed a fine of £2 2s.”—Greenock Telegraph, September 8, 1908

In 1914, Advance was sold to John M‘Creath of Hunter’s Quay and in the 1930s, she was bought by owners in Troon. Her final change in ownership came in 1933 when she was purchased by Mr Robert H. Shaw of Strone. She survived in the coal trade to Strone and other Holy Loch piers for a number of years. There are some excellent photographs of her on the Inverclyde Heritage Network site.

Advance at Kilmun around 1950 with Duchess of Fife (Valentine)

John M‘Creath and his partner Charles Hendry of Hunter’s Quay had one other steam lighter. This was Hafton, Built of steel by Messrs Munro & Co., Glasgow in 1910. She was 66 feet in length by 18 feet in the beam and 7 feet in depth with a 15 h.p. engine. She could be found sailing far and wide and was a useful boat with good capacity. In 1915, John M‘Creath purchased her outright. She was sold to Alexander M‘Lean of Glasgow in 1933 and sank on February 9th of that year.

Hafton at Ardrishaig on the Crinan Canal, 1924 (Valentine)

“Steam Lighter Sinks—Crew’s narrow escape.—The steam lighter Hafton, trading between Glasgow and the Hebrides, sprang a leak and sank in the Firth of Lorne on Saturday. Captain Alexander M‘Lean, who is also the owner of the vessel, and the crew of four made their escape from the sinking ship with very little time to spare, The Hafton was proceeding from Bowling to the Isle of Mull with a cargo of coal and had made several calls on the Argyll coast. She left Toberonochy, in the island of Luing, her last call before going to Mull, in the early morning, and was about nine miles on her journey when the ship’s engineer raised the alarm that the boat was rapidly filling with water.

“Flares sent up.—Her position was in the neighbourhood of the Holy Isle, one of the most dangerous parts on the West Coast. Flares and the blowing of the ship’s siren failed to attract attention. The water quickly filled the engine-room, and as there was a danger of the boiler exploding a small rowing boat was launched and the captain and crew pulled away from the ship. They lost all their possessions, and, to add to their discomfort, they were tossed about in their small craft until daybreak, when they managed to pull ashore at Ellanbeich, in the island of Seil. All of them were exhausted after their terrifying ordeal, but recovered after receiving attention.”—Campbeltown Courier, September 9, 1933

Forward, in the company of Advance in front of the Royal Marine Hotel, Hunter’s Quay

The Forward was built at Kelvin Dock in 1896 by Messrs Marshall & Co., for Mr Charles Hendry of Hunter’s Quay. Her length was 66¼ feet by 16¼ feet with a depth of 5¾ feet with a 12 h.p. engine. She was another that was involved mainly in the coal trade to Cowal.

Forward at Hunter’s Quay Pier with Minerva on her Holy Loch sailing (Stengel)

Puffer Forward loading at the end of Gourock Pier

Around 1910, Forward was purchased by Messrs P. M‘Bride & Co., contractors, Port-Glasgow, and was used by them in transporting building materials to the Port, with brief details in the Port-Glasgow Express.

“A consignment of 21,000 bricks arrived from Glasgow in Messrs P. M’Bride & Co.’s steam lighter Forward to be used in the construction of the new Bay Area.—October21, 1910

“Messrs P. M‘Bride & Co.’s steam lighter Forward brought a cargo of sand from the Bank, and has now gone off to Grangemouth, via the Forth and Clyde Canal. to bring home a cargo of cement. This little excursion of the Forward has been arranged owing to the continuance of the strike with the dockers on the Thames at the Port of London.”—July 19, 1912

“The steam lighter Forward having discharged a cargo of sand from the bank for Bay Area building purposes, left yesterday morning for Glasgow to bring back a cargo of bricks, also for the same Bay Area.”—June 16. 1911

“The steam lighter Forward had a new mission this week. That was to proceed to Glasgow to bring down 75 tons of cement for her owners, Messrs P. M‘Bride & Co. These cargoes usually arrive direct front London, but the steamer in the present instance went on to Glasgow.”—May 31 1912

“But for the coming and going of the steam lighter Forward during the past week the harbours would have been quiet almost to monotony. She brought four cargoes, consisting of crushed granite from Gourock, and four cargoes of sand from the Bank.”—January 19, 1913

“The busiest steamer arriving and departing from the harbours is Messrs P. M‘Bride & Co.’s steam lighter Forward. Last week she was out and in daily. This week she has brought two cargoes of bricks, each of 21,000 bricks, for the Bay Area building purposes. She has besides taken a cargo of rubbish down the firth beyond the Cumbraes.”—January 27, 1913

“The steam-lighter Forward—Engineer found dead in the forecastle.—There was much excitement down by the Mid Quay Shed on Monday forenoon. The cause of it. was Harry Welsh, engineer, being found dead in the forecastle of the steam lighter Forward, owned by Messrs P. M‘Bride & Co., contractors, Port-Glasgow. Deceased resided in Paisley, and had spent the week-end at home. He got down to Port-Glasgow early in the morning, and appears to have retired to rest in the forecastle. Wondering how there was no steam up, search was made, and the engineer was found dead reclining in the forecastle. The body was seen by Dr Kydd, and conveyed to the burgh mortuary. Deceased was forty-nine years of age, and leaves a widow and family.”—Port-Glasgow Express, April 23, 1913

“M‘Bride Co.’s steam lighter Forward brought two cargoes of sand from the bank, the same being discharged at the Mirren Shore.”—October 24, 1913

In 1915 Forward was sold to Peter M‘Lachlan of Kilfinnan and after the end of the First World War was passed on to owners on the Mersey.

Prior to the construction of the Coal Pier at Dunoon around 1905—the only part of a proposed harbour development that was built—the lighters and gabbarts delivering coal grounded off the coal depot, and were unloaded at low tide. The lighters delivering coal were not restricted to locally owned vessels.

 

A puffer, possibly Forward off the Coal Depot, Dunoon

Brightlight at Dunoon Coal Depot

In this view, Messrs Ross & Marshall’s Brightlight looks as if it has already unloaded and is awaiting to depart with its trailing anchors available to help winch it into deeper waters. Brightlight was built by Messrs Ross & Marshall at their yard in Greenock in 1901. Her dimensions were 65¼ feet in length by 17¾ feet in breadth by 6¾ feet in depth. She was sold in 1915 to Greenock owners and subsequently passed to the Warnock family in Paisley.

The new coal pier is seen below, also with a Ross and Marshall puffer alongside.

Puffer at the Coal Quay, Dunoon, around 1910

The Coal Pier in 1932 (Judges)

Skylight at Dunoon around 1957

Messrs Ross & Marshall’s Skylight was built as late as 1936 by Messrs Ferguson Brothers Ltd., in Port Glasgow. She was 66½ feet long by 18¼ feet in breadth and almost 8 feet in depth. She was sold in 1967 to Alex Mair, a timber merchant in Troon, and renamed Sitka.

Puffer Cuban at Kirn Quay in 1949

Kirn also had a coal pier. Here Messrs Hay & Sons puffer Cuban is at the pier. She was built in 1935 by her owners at their Kirkintilloch yard and was 66¼ feet in length by 17½ feet in breadth and 6 ¾ feet in depth. She was broken up in 1960.

On the Holy Loch, Kilmun, with its quay and pier was a fine place for puffers to call. In the following view, the Paisley owned puffer Douglas perhaps unloading coal and returning to Paisley with timber for thread spools. Douglas was built in the mid-1880s by Messrs J M‘Arthur & Co. of Paisley for the Warnock family. She was 66 feet in length by 16½ feet in breadth, and 6¼ feet in depth with a 14 h.p. engine.

Puffer Douglas at Kilmun (Ritchie)

Captain James Warnock was not averse to hiring his vessels for excursions.

“St. George’s Parish Sabbath School Excursion.—Last Saturday, the annual trip of the above school took place under most favourable circumstances, the weather being all that could be desired. The destination was Roseneath, conveyance being per Mr Warnock’s steam-lighters Douglas and TomTelford, kindly granted for the occasion. The sail down the Cart and Clyde was of a pleasant and enjoyable character, the many points of interest on the route being greatly admired. Arriving at Roseneath about four o’clock, ample justice was done to tea and other good things waiting their arrival, purveyed by Mr John Alexander. The young folk afterwards enjoyed themselves to their heart’s content in all kinds of amusements, and returned home in the evening considerably better for their day’s outing. Considering the number present—over 650—everything passed off in a highly creditable manner, which says very much for Mr Warnock, and those under him, for the careful manner in which the vessels were managed. The Johnstone Brass Band accompanied the excursion and rendered some good music.”—Renfrewshire Gazette, June 30, 1888

The Douglas was involved in a horrific accident in 1915.

“Fireman’s serious accident.—Paisley lighter taking sand from the bank—fireman’s arm amputated.—An accident of a very serious nature occurred on the bank almost midway between Port-Glasgow and Dumbarton on Friday afternoon. The steam lighter Douglas belonging to Messrs Warnock Brothers, Paisley was at the bank for a cargo of sand. A fireman named Andrew Green, belonging to Paisley, was assisting to haul in the slack of rope which moored the lighter to a post in the bank, when the sleeve of his right arm got entangled with the rope and the steam winch. The result was that his arm was frightfully torn. It was late in the afternoon and a high wind prevailed. One of the hands from the lighter got into a small boat and sculled down to Port-Glasgow for a doctor. But this proceeding was not approved on shore. And so a couple of policemen skilled in ambulance work along with several rafters were dispatched to the lighter with a stretcher on which to bring the injured man ashore. The lighter was duly reached, and the poor fellow was found lying on deck as carefully wrapped up as circumstances would permit. He was carefully taken on to the stretcher and rowed into the harbour. From there he was conveyed to Broadstone Jubilee Hospital between eight and nine o’clock at night. So serious were the injuries to the arm of the unfortunate man that it had to be amputated near to the shoulder soon after being admitted to the hospital.”—Port-Glasgow Express, January 20, 1915.

Douglas was scrapped in 1922, and replaced by a larger lighter of the same name.

By grounding at mid-tide and unloading at low-tide, lighters were able to float free again at high-tide when their cargo had been removed. However, the reverse process, loading a cargo from the beach was not readily possible, and required the puffer remaining in deeper water. The main cargo coming from Cowal was timber that, in the absence of a suitable quay, could be floated out to the puffer and loaded by the puffer’s derrick.

The puffer Rachel is seen loading timber on the Holy Loch in 1922. The cargo has been brought by a horse and cart wading into water and the logs floated to the puffer (Judges)

The Rachel was built in 1892 by Messrs Burrell & Son, Glasgow and her dimensions were 66 feet in length by 18¼ feet in breadth and 8½ feet in depth. She had a two-cylinder engine of 16½ h.p. She was originally built for Messrs Burrows of Glasgow but was sold by them to Mr John Aim of Kilcreggan around 1900. On January 13, 1903 while on a journey from Troon to Greenock, light, Rachel went ashore on Campbell Rock. She got off but was making water, and was beached at Montgomerie Pier, Ardrossan. She was badly holed on the starboard side, and the engine room was flooded. By 1922 Rachel was owned by the Laighbrannock Steamship Co. Ltd, Glasgow.