Rossano Gallery

Christopher Furness was born at New Stranton, West Hartlepool, in 1852, the youngest of seven children. He became a very astute businessman, and by the age of eighteen was playing a major role in his older brother Thomas’ wholesale grocery business, being made partner in 1872.

In 1882 the two brothers decided to go their separate ways, allowing Thomas to concentrate on the grocery business, while Christopher took over the ownership and management of the four steamships their company was then operating.

This was the beginning of what would eventually become the huge Furness Withy & Co. Ltd. empire. As many books have been written detailing the history of this company, its ships and its many subsidiaries, this section will only feature those ships with direct Hartlepool connections.

Some of the ships that were not built at Hartlepool but owned by Furness are listed below as 'a general history'

Built 1909

Northern Daily Mail, 21st April, 1909:
To-day, Messrs. Wm. Gray and Co. Ltd., launched the handsome steel screw steamer Rossano, which they have built for Messrs. Furness, Withy and Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool. She will take the highest class in the British Corporation Register, and is of the following dimensions, viz: Length, 358ft.; breadth, 50ft 8in.; and depth, 25ft, 6in.; with long bridge, poop, topgallant forecastle. The saloon, staterooms, captain’s officers, and engineers’ rooms, etc., will be fitted up with houses on the bridge deck, and the crew berthed under the topgallant forecastle.

The hull is built on the deep bulb angle frame system with clear holds, cellular double bottom all fore and aft and large after peak ballast tank, seven steam winches, double derricks, steam steering gear amidships, hand screw gear aft, patent direct steam windlass, extra large horizontal multitubular donkey boiler, shifting boards through out, stockless anchors, telescopic masts fore and aft rig, and all requirements for a first class steamer. Triple-expansion engines are being supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 25in., 40in., and 65in. Diameter, with a piston stroke of 42in., and two large steel boilers for a working pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.

The vessel has been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. A.H. Walker, Capt, Wm. Brackenbury, and Mr .T. Tose on behalf of the owners. The ceremony of naming the steamer Rossano was gracefully performed by Miss Furness, niece of Sir Christopher Furness, M.P. There was a large company present, and amongst those who witnessed the launch were Sir Christopher Furness, M. P., Mr and Mrs. S.W. Furness, Mr Geo. Jones, Mr. A. Glashan, Mr. J. Fraser Macdonald (North-East Coast Chief Surveyor of British Corporation), Mr. F.W. Purvis, Mr. Maurice S. Gibb, etc.

After the launch, Mr. Geo. Jones, in proposing “Success to Messers. Furness Withy, and Co.” mentioned that that was the 32nd vessel built by to Sir Christopher’s order, which, he thought, was a very satisfactory as between builders and client. He incidentally referred to the present depression, and expressed the hope that Sir Christopher’s prognostications of a revival would before long be realised.

Sir Christopher Furness, M. P., in reply, remarked that since the first vessel he ordered from Messers Gray and Co. was built, the firm had, taking the number of the first vessel, the Chicago, and of the present one, built 580 steamers, which was a record of which any firm might well be proud. Looking into the future, he might say that sanguine as he was, he could not get away from the fact that to keep the shipbuilding yards of this country employed with orders was going to be a very difficult task. He did not remember in the whole of his experience such a period of bad trade as that through which they had just been passing, and he emphasised the need for workmen and employers to pull together. If, he said, cordial relations between employers and workmen continued in this country, he ventured to say that we would hold our own against all the other nations of the world. A handsome silver casket was presented by Mr. Jones to Miss Furness.

Northern Daily Mail, 21st April, 1909:
Yesterday the handsome steel screw steamer Rossano was taken from the yard of Messrs. Wm. Gray and Co. Ltd., for a trial trip. The vessel has been built for Messrs. Furness, Withy and Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool. Her principal dimensions are: Length, 358ft.; breadth, 50ft 8in.; and depth, 25ft, 6in.

Triple-expansion engines have been supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 25in., 40in., and 65in. Diameter, with a piston stroke of 42in., and two large steel boilers of their well known standard type of which the absence of rivets on the bottom of the boiler is a notable feature. The engine room is fitted up with modern auxiliaries, making a complete installation to give economical running.

The trial was satisfactory in all respects a mean speed of 10 ½ knots being obtained. Mr. A.H. Walker, and Mr .T. Tose were present on behalf of the owners. The shipbuilders and engine builders were represented by Captain J. E. Murrell and Mr. Maurice S. Gibb, and the British Corporation by Mr. A. F. J. Macdonald. After the trial the vessel proceeded to Middlesbrough to load.

Northern Daily Mail on October 21st, 1919:
"In the Admiralty Court today, before Mr. Justice Hill, a settlement was announced of the cross-claims for damage arising out of a collision between the steamship Rossano, belonging to Furness, Withy and Co. Ltd., and the West Hartlepool steamship Astraea. The occurrence took place in August last year outside the Straits of Gibraltar. Both vessels at the time were proceeding in the same convoy. The terms of the settlement were not stated."