Sandycroft Foundry and Ironworks 1853

Description

During the 19th century, shipbuilding was carried out at several locations on the River Dee – Mostyn, Baglit, Flint, Connah’s Quay, Queensferry, Sandycroft, Saltney and Chester.The ill-fated steamship ROYAL CHARTER is associated with one of these locations - Sandycroft, near Hawarden.
By 1842, the Sandycroft Ironworks had acquired a reputation for engineering innovation under the ownership of Mr Rigby. An article appearing in the Polytechnic Journal noted Rigby’s association with a new patent propeller system invented by Mr Edward Finch. This paddle system, fitted to a small steamer called the LAPWING, was more akin to oars or sculls according to the reporter who enjoyed the vessel’s first maiden voyage.
By late October 1853, George Cram’s aspirations in taking over the yard are clear from the leases preserved at Cheshire Archives which contain small colour plans of the land parcels concerned. 
The land coloured in red in the left hand image was owned Sir Stephen Richard Glynne and crucially includes the areas of foreshore Cram needed to be able to launch newly-built vessels into the river. The coloured corridor to the north allowed Cram to build a railway or steam road reconnecting the yard to the Chester and Holyhead Main Line. With this in place, he would be able to bring in supplies of coal, iron plate, and all other essentials, as and when needed via the railway, instead of being reliant on supply from the river (Cheshire Archives document reference: CR69/33/12).
The land coloured pink on the right hand image contains the existing foundry and worker’s cottages, which was leased from John Williams on 2 November 1853. It is described as follows (Cheshire Archives document reference CR69/33/13):
‘containing 3 roods and 15 perches and another part comprising 2 acres also several cottages, buildings,  sheds, erections, steam engine machinery, fixtures, articles, makers and things begin in or about the said premises sheds... whatsoever standing and being on the said two parcels of land.  Rented for 1 year for £4700, payable in two parts first on 25 Feb and then 25 August, rented for 50 years’.
George Cram built at least three steamships at Sandcroft - the GOLDEN QUEEN for Van Hoey of  London, THE MINO for Paul Yintora & Co, and the WINIFRED for Sharples, Jones and Co of Liverpool. Interestingly, the first two vessels went elsewhere to have their engines fitted – the GOLDEN QUEEN to Birkenhead Docks and THE MINO to Sandon Dock, Liverpool. 
Despite this apparent success, George Cram had continuing cash flow and credit problems. In November 1852, he had been loaned £1825 to complete an iron ship, but the ship and all in the yard had been offered as security. By April 1853, his current account was overdrawn by more than the £5000. His bankers, Thomas Rees William and John Williams of Chester, agreed to extend another £677 17s, only if the amount due to be received from the owners of THE MINO (£1000) was paid in immediately.
The crisis in George Cram’s financial affairs come to a head in August 1854 when two signed Indentures confirm that he owed large debts to Septiums Ledward, iron merchant of Liverpool, and Roberts Roberts of Chester, slate merchant, which could not be paid. These documents transfer all real and personal estate (expect the wearing apparel for himself and his family) to these two creditors and the landowner, John Williams.
On 23 December 1854, the Chester Chronicle reported that a ‘very beautiful ironship of 1460 tons register was launched from Mr Cram’s yard, at Sandycroft. She belongs to Messrs Sharples, Jones and Co, merchant, of Liverpool, and is intended for the Australian or Indian trade. The vessel was named the WINFRED by Miss Jenny Jones, youngest daughter of the owner… Nautical judges consider her of superior construction, and her lines equal to any first class ship afloat. She has full poop and top-gallant forecastle, and her figurehead was greatly admired. She is allowed by everyone who has seen her to be the strongest vessel ever built; her dimensions are as follows; length overall 235 ft, beam 35ft 9in, depth 22ft 6in, She is by far the largest vessel ever built on the River Dee’. This article also provides the first reference to the ROYAL CHARTER as it continues - ‘We understand that there is at present on the stocks at Sandycroft a vessel of 2,600 tons, nearly as large again as the one mentioned above, which will be launched next spring’.
The WINIFRED and the ROYAL CHARTER on the stocks were to be the last Sandycroft vessels associated with George Cram.
The ROYAL CHARTER was to have been built to a design by Mr Grindod of Liverpool, however once it was purchased in its half completed state by Gibbs Bright & Co, they brought in William Patterson, who had worked on the GREAT BRITAIN. It is his name that appears on the vessel’s registration document as the builder on 7 April 1855.
The 1856 listing for the Sandycroft yard in Slaters directory states ‘capable of building vessels and steam engines for them up to 3000 tons burthen. When in full operation, they employ upwards of 700 hands. The works are the property of Mr Williams, banker of Chester’. This confirms that the works had been repossessed by the bank. The legal process against George Cram had been completed with a writ of ejectment by the landowner, John Williams, in January 1856 for the non-payment of £1000 in land rentals (Cheshire Archives CR69/33/17).
 
How much would a debt of £5600 in 1856 equate to today?
What happened to George Cram and his family (who were left with only the clothes they stood up in)?
The archives of Flintshire and Cheshire have useful guides to help you begin this family history search.
Cheshire Archives:
http://archives.cheshire.gov.uk/
Flintshire Archives:
http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/LeisureAndTourism/
Records-and-Archives/H...