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{{Short description|British excursion steamer and marine engineering company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
|name = Cosens & Co Ltd
|name = Cosens & Co Ltd
Line 6: Line 9:
|foundation = 1848
|foundation = 1848
|founder = Joseph Cosens
|founder = Joseph Cosens
|defunct = 1996
|location = [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], United Kingdom
|location = [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]], United Kingdom
|locations =
|locations =
Line 31: Line 35:


==History==
==History==
[[File:Joseph Cosens 1880.jpg|thumb|''Joseph Cosens, about 1870<ref>Photograph courtesy of Richard Clammer, from ''Views & Reviews, Weymouth & Portland, 1895''</ref>]]
[[File:Joseph Cosens 1880.jpg|thumb|Joseph Cosens, about 1870<ref>Photograph courtesy of Richard Clammer, from ''Views & Reviews, Weymouth & Portland, 1895''</ref>]]
The company was founded in 1848 by Joseph Cosens and incorporated in 1876. It operated a fleet of paddle steamers on excursions along the south coast of England and on cross channel trips to [[Cherbourg]] and [[Alderney]]. Also it operated a number of launches offering "trips round the bay" as well as tugs serving ships using Weymouth harbour. Up to the end of [[World War 1]] the company held the Admiralty contract to operate liberty boats for naval ships at Portland.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gladwell|first1=Andrew|title=Cosens Pleasure Steamers|date=2013|publisher=Amberley|location=Stroud|isbn=978-1-4456-1450-2|page=32}}</ref> The engineering side of the company was a major ship repair and marine engineering facility. The company also had a cold storage and ice-making facility adjacent to the port.
The company was founded in 1848 by Joseph Cosens and incorporated in 1876. It operated a fleet of paddle steamers on excursions along the south coast of England and on cross channel trips to [[Cherbourg]] and [[Alderney]]. It also operated a number of launches offering "trips round the bay" as well as tugs serving ships using Weymouth harbour. Up to the end of [[World War I]] the company held the Admiralty contract to operate liberty boats for naval ships at Portland.{{sfn|Gladwell|2013||p=32}} The engineering side of the company was a major ship repair and marine engineering facility. The company also had a cold storage and ice-making facility adjacent to the port.


In 1851 Joseph Cosens was operating the steamer ''Princess'' between Weymouth and Portland, when he found that a rival organisation, the Weymouth & Portland Steam Packet Company, owned by Philip Dodson, intended placing its own steamer ''Contractor'' on the same route. Cosens' response to this was to expand the company by going into partnership with wealthy local newspaper proprietor [[Joseph Drew]], in order to have a new ship designed and built. The new ship, named ''Prince'', was designed and built by [[John Scott Russell]], famous later as the builder of the fated {{SS|Great Eastern||2}}.<ref>Clammer, ''Cosens of Weymouth, 1848–1918'', pp 30–33</ref>
In 1851 Joseph Cosens was operating the steamer ''Princess'' between Weymouth and Portland, when he found that a rival organisation, the Weymouth & Portland Steam Packet Company, owned by Philip Dodson, intended placing its own steamer ''Contractor'' on the same route. Cosens' response to this was to expand the company by going into partnership with wealthy local newspaper proprietor, [[Joseph Drew]], in order to obtain a new ship. The new ship, named ''Prince'', was designed and built by [[John Scott Russell]], famous later as the builder of the ill-fated {{SS|Great Eastern||2}}.{{sfn|Clammer|2005|pp=30–33}}


Joseph Cosens died at the end of 1873 and Joseph Drew became chairman.<ref>Clammer, ''Cosens of Weymouth, 1848–1918'', p 72</ref>
Joseph Cosens died at the end of 1873 and Joseph Drew became chairman.{{sfn|Clammer|2005|p=72}}


In 1946 Cosens was taken over by its Southampton based rival [[Red Funnel]] which continued to operate the pleasure steamers, in conjunction with its own, until 1966 when the last surviving paddle steamer was withdrawn from service. The engineering division continued however, finally being sold in a management buy-out in 1990. Renamed Cosens Engineering Ltd it had a brief independent career that ended in receivership.<ref>{{cite book |last=Adams |first=Keith |year=2010 |title=Red Funnel 150 |place= |publisher=Richard Danielson |isbn=978-0-9513155-5-2 |page=163}}</ref>
In 1946 Cosens was taken over by its Southampton based rival [[Red Funnel]] which continued to operate the pleasure steamers, in conjunction with its own, until 1966 when the last surviving paddle steamer was withdrawn from service. The engineering division continued however, finally being sold in a management buy-out in 1990. Renamed Cosens Engineering Ltd it had a brief independent career that ended in receivership.{{sfn|Adams|2010|p=163}}


==Fleet==
==Fleet==
[[File:FitzGerald, Cosens & Co. SS Emperor of India off Bournemoth Pier.png|thumb|''Emperor of India'' off [[Bournemouth Pier]] in 1908]]
[[File:FitzGerald, Cosens & Co. SS Emperor of India off Bournemouth Pier.png|thumb|''Emperor of India'' off [[Bournemouth Pier]] in 1908]]
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
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|{{PS|Highland Maid}}
|{{PS|Highland Maid}}
|1848
|1848
|On charter
⚫
|
|-
|-
|{{PS|Princess}}
|{{PS|Princess}}
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|{{PS|Contractor}}
|{{PS|Contractor}}
|1858–1863
|1858–1863
|Taken over from P Dodson
⚫
|
|-
|-
|{{PS|Ocean Bride}}
|{{PS|Ocean Bride}}
|1858–1865
|1858–1865
|Taken over from P Dodson
⚫
|
|-
|-
|{{PS|Bannockburn}}
|{{PS|Bannockburn}}
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|1852–1938
|1852–1938
|
|
⚫
|-
⚫
|{{PS|Wave Queen}}
|1852
|On charter
|-
|-
|{{PS|Commodore}}
|{{PS|Commodore}}
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|-
|-
|{{PS|Empress}}
|{{PS|Empress}}
|1879–1955
|1879–1958
|Featured in the 1946 film adaptation of {{Great Expectations (1946 film)|Great Expectations]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gladwell|first1=Andrew|title=Cosens Pleasure Steamers|date=2013|publisher=Amberley|location=Stroud|isbn=978-1-4456-1450-2|page=68}}</ref>
|Featured in the 1946 film adaptation of ''[[Great Expectations (1946 film)|Great Expectations]]''.{{sfn|Gladwell|2013|p=68}}
|-
|-
|{{PS|Queen}}
|{{PS|Queen}}
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|{{PS|Brodick Castle}}
|{{PS|Brodick Castle}}
|1901–1910
|1901–1910
|ex Clyde steamer. Sold and renamed ''Peca Nova''. Sank under tow off [[Portland Bill]] en route to South America.
|ex Buchanan Clyde steamer. Sold and renamed ''Paca Nova''. Sank under tow off [[Portland Bill]] en route to [[Argentina]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Paca Nova barge |url=https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?153644 |website=Wrecksite |access-date=14 June 2022}}</ref>
⚫
|-
⚫
|{{PS|Helper}}
⚫
|1910
⚫
|Purchased to replace ''Brodick Castle'' .<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gladwell|first1=Andrew|title=Cosens Pleasure Steamers|date=2013|publisher=Amberley|location=Stroud|isbn=978-1-4456-1450-2|page=15}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[PS Princess Royal|PS ''Emperor of India'']]
|[[PS Princess Royal|PS ''Emperor of India'']]
|1908–1957
|1908–1957
|ex ''Princess Royal''. Bought from [[Red Funnel]]. Served as HMS ''Mahratta'' in World War I. Served as J106 HMS ''Emperor of India'' in World War 2 and was present at [[Dunkirk evacuation|Dunkirk]].<ref name=Colledge>{{cite book |last1=Lenton |first1=HT |last2=Colledge |first2=JJ |year=1962 |title=Warships of World War 2 |volume=Part 4 – Auxiliary Fighting Vessels |place= |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |page=341}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Divine |first=David |year=1959 |title=The Nine Days of Dunkirk |place= |publisher=Pan Books |page=295}}</ref>
|ex ''Princess Royal''. Bought from [[Red Funnel]]. Served as HMS ''Mahratta'' in World War I. Served as J106 HMS ''Emperor of India'' in World War 2 and was present at [[Dunkirk evacuation|Dunkirk]].<ref name=Colledge>{{harvnb|Lenton|Colledge|1962|p=341}}</ref>{{sfn|Divine|1959|p=295}}
⚫
|-
|[[PS Sir Francis Drake (1873)|PS ''Helper'']]
⚫
|1910-1920
|Ex [[Great Western Railway ships|GWR]] ''Sir Francis Drake''. Purchased to replace ''Brodick Castle'' .{{sfn|Gladwell|2013||p=15}}
⚫
|-
|{{PS|Audrey}}
|1911
|On charter
⚫
|-
|{{PS|Lord Roberts}}
|1911
|On charter
|-
|-
|[[PS Lune (1892)|PS ''Melcombe Regis'']]
|[[PS Lune (1892)|PS ''Melcombe Regis'']]
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|[[PS Duke of Devonshire|PS ''Consul'']]
|[[PS Duke of Devonshire|PS ''Consul'']]
|1937–1963
|1937–1963
|ex ''Duke of Devonshire''. Bought from Alexander Taylor of Torquay. Served as an examination vessel at Weymouth in World War II.
|ex ''Duke of Devonshire''. Bought from Alexander Taylor of Torquay. Served as an examination vessel at Weymouth in World War II. Sold in 1963 for use along the Sussex coast. in 1965 she was adapted for use as an accommodation ship at [[Britannia Royal Naval College|Dartmouth]] and reverted to her original name.{{sfn|Gladwell|2013||p=125}} Scrapped in 1968.
|-
|-
|[[PS Shanklin|PS ''Monarch'']] (II)
|[[PS Shanklin (1924)|PS ''Monarch'']] (II)
|1951–1961
|1951–1961
|ex ''Shanklin''. Bought from the [[British Transport Commission]], Portsmouth
|ex ''Shanklin''. Bought from the [[British Transport Commission]], Portsmouth
|-
|-
|}
|}
Cosens' archive collection is extensive, and available to view at the Dorset history Centre, Dorchester
https://archive-catalogue.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/


==References==
==References==
Line 146: Line 164:


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Clammer |first=Richard |year=2005 |title=Cosens of Weymouth, 1848–1918 |place=Witney |publisher=Black Dwarf Publications |isbn=1-903599-14-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Adams |first=Keith |year=2010 |title=Red Funnel 150 |publisher=Richard Danielson |isbn=978-0-9513155-5-2 }}
*{{cite book |last=Clammer |first=Richard |year=2001 |title=Cosens of Weymouth, 1918–1996.|place=Truro |publisher=Twelveheads Press |isbn=9780906294482}}
*{{cite book |last=Clammer |first=Richard |year=2005 |title=Cosens of Weymouth, 1848–1918 |place=Witney |publisher=Black Dwarf Publications |isbn=1-903599-14-8 }}
*{{cite book |last=Clammer |first=Richard |year=2001 |title=Cosens of Weymouth, 1918–1996 |place=Truro |publisher=Twelveheads Press |isbn=9780906294482 }}
*{{cite book |last=Divine |first=David |year=1959 |title=The Nine Days of Dunkirk |publisher=Pan Books |page=295}}
⚫
*{{cite book |last=Gladwell |first=Andrew |year=2013 |title=Cosens Pleasure Steamers |place=Stroud |publisher=Amberley |isbn=978-1-4456-1450-2 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Lenton |first1=HT |last2=Colledge |first2=JJ |year=1962 |title=Warships of World War 2 |volume=Part 4 – Auxiliary Fighting Vessels |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |page=341 }}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal||Companies}}
⚫
*[http://www.britishpathe.com/video/show-boat/query/paddle Pathé News film of ''Showboat'' on the Thames]
*[https://archive-catalogue.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/records/D-COS Cosens & Co Ltd Archive at Dorset History Centre]
⚫
*{{cite web |url= http://www.britishpathe.com/video/show-boat/query/paddle |publisher=British Pathé |via=Reuters |title=''Showboat'' 1932}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cosens and Co Ltd}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cosens and Co Ltd}}

[[Category:Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 04:02, 7 October 2024

Cosens & Co Ltd
Industryshipping
Founded1848
FounderJoseph Cosens
Defunct1996
HeadquartersWeymouth, United Kingdom
Area served
South Coast
ServicesTourism, ship repair and marine engineering

Cosens & Co Ltd was a British excursion steamer and marine engineering company based in Weymouth.

History

[edit]
Joseph Cosens, about 1870[1]

The company was founded in 1848 by Joseph Cosens and incorporated in 1876. It operated a fleet of paddle steamers on excursions along the south coast of England and on cross channel trips to Cherbourg and Alderney. It also operated a number of launches offering "trips round the bay" as well as tugs serving ships using Weymouth harbour. Up to the end of World War I the company held the Admiralty contract to operate liberty boats for naval ships at Portland.[2] The engineering side of the company was a major ship repair and marine engineering facility. The company also had a cold storage and ice-making facility adjacent to the port.

In 1851 Joseph Cosens was operating the steamer Princess between Weymouth and Portland, when he found that a rival organisation, the Weymouth & Portland Steam Packet Company, owned by Philip Dodson, intended placing its own steamer Contractor on the same route. Cosens' response to this was to expand the company by going into partnership with wealthy local newspaper proprietor, Joseph Drew, in order to obtain a new ship. The new ship, named Prince, was designed and built by John Scott Russell, famous later as the builder of the ill-fated Great Eastern.[3]

Joseph Cosens died at the end of 1873 and Joseph Drew became chairman.[4]

In 1946 Cosens was taken over by its Southampton based rival Red Funnel which continued to operate the pleasure steamers, in conjunction with its own, until 1966 when the last surviving paddle steamer was withdrawn from service. The engineering division continued however, finally being sold in a management buy-out in 1990. Renamed Cosens Engineering Ltd it had a brief independent career that ended in receivership.[5]

Fleet

[edit]
Emperor of India off Bournemouth Pier in 1908
Ship Service Notes
PS Highland Maid 1848 On charter
PS Princess 1848–1853
PS Prince 1852–1888
PS Contractor 1858–1863 Taken over from P Dodson
PS Ocean Bride 1858–1865 Taken over from P Dodson
PS Bannockburn 1860–1865
PS Premier 1852–1938
PS Wave Queen 1852 On charter
PS Commodore 1863–1890
PS Empress 1879–1955 Featured in the 1946 film adaptation of Great Expectations.[6]
PS Queen 1883–1920
PS Victoria 1884–1953
PS Monarch (I) 1888–1950
PS Albert Victor 1889–1928 ex Lass o' Gowrie. Tug.
PS Prince George 1898–1928
PS Majestic 1901–1916 Served as 0108 HMS Majestic II in World War I. Lost while minesweeping off Oran.
PS Brodick Castle 1901–1910 ex Buchanan Clyde steamer. Sold and renamed Paca Nova. Sank under tow off Portland Bill en route to Argentina.[7]
PS Emperor of India 1908–1957 ex Princess Royal. Bought from Red Funnel. Served as HMS Mahratta in World War I. Served as J106 HMS Emperor of India in World War 2 and was present at Dunkirk.[8][9]
PS Helper 1910-1920 Ex GWR Sir Francis Drake. Purchased to replace Brodick Castle .[10]
PS Audrey 1911 On charter
PS Lord Roberts 1911 On charter
PS Melcombe Regis 1913–1920 ex Lune. Bought from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
PS Alexandra 1915–1931 ex Portsmouth & Ryde service. Sold to breakers then resold as Showboat. Scrapped 1934.
PS Embassy 1937–1967 ex Duchess of Norfolk. Bought from the Southern Railway. Served as J109 HMS Ambassador in World War II.[8] The last ship in company service.
PS Consul 1937–1963 ex Duke of Devonshire. Bought from Alexander Taylor of Torquay. Served as an examination vessel at Weymouth in World War II. Sold in 1963 for use along the Sussex coast. in 1965 she was adapted for use as an accommodation ship at Dartmouth and reverted to her original name.[11] Scrapped in 1968.
PS Monarch (II) 1951–1961 ex Shanklin. Bought from the British Transport Commission, Portsmouth

Cosens' archive collection is extensive, and available to view at the Dorset history Centre, Dorchester https://archive-catalogue.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Photograph courtesy of Richard Clammer, from Views & Reviews, Weymouth & Portland, 1895
  2. ^ Gladwell 2013, p. 32.
  3. ^ Clammer 2005, pp. 30–33.
  4. ^ Clammer 2005, p. 72.
  5. ^ Adams 2010, p. 163.
  6. ^ Gladwell 2013, p. 68.
  7. ^ "Paca Nova barge". Wrecksite. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b Lenton & Colledge 1962, p. 341
  9. ^ Divine 1959, p. 295.
  10. ^ Gladwell 2013, p. 15.
  11. ^ Gladwell 2013, p. 125.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Adams, Keith (2010). Red Funnel 150. Richard Danielson. ISBN 978-0-9513155-5-2.
  • Clammer, Richard (2005). Cosens of Weymouth, 1848–1918. Witney: Black Dwarf Publications. ISBN 1-903599-14-8.
  • Clammer, Richard (2001). Cosens of Weymouth, 1918–1996. Truro: Twelveheads Press. ISBN 9780906294482.
  • Divine, David (1959). The Nine Days of Dunkirk. Pan Books. p. 295.
  • Gladwell, Andrew (2013). Cosens Pleasure Steamers. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-1450-2.
  • Lenton, HT; Colledge, JJ (1962). Warships of World War 2. Vol. Part 4 – Auxiliary Fighting Vessels. Ian Allan Publishing. p. 341.
[edit]
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