Halo Technical Specification

Completed July 1879; Official No. 81652: Code Letters SPJH.

Owners: 1879 George Horsley, Hartlepool.

Masters: 1879-81 H Powell: 1882 Willis: 1883-84 Lennard.

South Durham & Cleveland Mercury 6 September 1879:

‘On Monday afternoon, about five o’clock a serious collision occurred in Hartlepool Harbour between the newly built screw-steamer Halo belonging to Messrs G Horsley & Co of West Hartlepool & the Port & Harbour Commisioners. The Halo, which is a fine iron vessel of about 2000 tons burden, was coal-laden & bound to the Baltic on her second voyage & was in tow of a tug at the time of the accident. The dredger was moored on the east edge of the channel, &, in her endeavour to pass to the westward of it, the Halo, probably owing to the falling tide, did not answer her helm properly, &, the towline breaking, she collided with the dredger; one of the massive brackets projecting from the stem of which penetrated the port bow of the Halo, which, for a few minutes, could not be backed clear. As soon as this could be accomplished the latter vessel, caught on her broadside by the strong westerly breeze, was driven over to the eastern edge of the channel near the old pier, where she took the ground. Although it is hoped that she may be got off on the morning tide, it is by no means improbable that she will have to be discharged on getting into dock before her injuries can be efficiently repaired. The dredger has also received considerable damage.’

Halo left the Danube in early December 1883 bound for Rotterdam with a cargo of grain & a crew of 20. On New Years Eve 1884 she ran onto a reef at Cape Finisterre. The crew took to their boats & Halo went down soon after.  No lives lost.

George Horsley was born on 22 June 1836, the eldest of three sons of Matthew Horsley. On leaving school he was apprenticed to E.S. Jobson and later became a partner in the company. The third partner was Ludwig August Stahle. George became an Alderman and was Mayor in 1875 and 1876. He was also Swedish Consul and a member of the Hartlepool's Shipowner Society along with William Maclean.

George married Alethia Ann Berry in 1866 and Matthew Henry, who became known as Harry, was born in June 1867.

On the death of Ebenezer Jobson in April 1877 at his home in Cliff Terrace George took over the company and it became George Horsley & Co. His son, Harry, eventually became a partner in his father’s company and by 1889 it had become George Horsley & Son. George died suddenly at his residence, Claremont House, in December 1895 leaving effects of £83,157.

Harry married Clara Maclean in April 1893. He died on 17 February 1925 at Sidmouth, Devon leaving effects of £274,009. Harry was interred at Stranton Grange Cemetery.

By 1900 the company had become the Horsley Line Ltd., with Harry as managing director. The company ceased trading in 1915.

The following information was compiled by Bert Spaldin and appeared in the 'Tees Packet' No.89, November 1986:
George Horsley was the son of Mathew Horsley, a local pilot who bought shares in sailing vessels and then branched out becoming a steamship owner, firstly in a partnership and then on his own. The company were also timber merchants, shipbrokers and coal exporters, and branches were opened at Hull, Manchester and Gothenburg.