Coventry Technical Specification

The steamship Coventry.

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'

Sivewright, Bacon & Co. was formed in West Hartlepool in 1883 as both Shipowners and Ship Brokers, and were based at No.76, Church Street, West Hartlepool. When the Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1896 they saw the business opportunities and transferred their company to Manchester in 1897.
At various times they owned a number of Hartlepool-built ships, including Gladestry, Coventry, Oswestry, Daventry, Castleventry, Eastry, Empress, Mannibgtry, Lincluden, Palatina, Mancunia, Oldhamia and Lincairn.

Family History:

William John Sivewright was born at Hartlepool in 1863 to parents William John (bank manager) and Hannah (nee Stevenson) Sivewright. He started his working life as a mercahnt's clerk. William married Mary Jane Shadforth at Durham in 1887.

William died at Stockport, Cheshire in January 1919 leaving assets of £150,518.

William Charles Frederick Bacon was born on 12th January 1854 at Wivenhoe, Essex to parents William and Mary (nee Murrell) Bacon. He went to sea aged 15 and by the age of 22, having obtained his master's certificate (no. 19398) at Colchester in 1876, became master of the sailing vessel Esperanza belonging to William Gray. Retiring from the sea at the age of 29 he joined the firm of Sivewrights, shipbrokers, agents and shipowners of West Hartlepool. By 1881 he was living in Hartlepool. He married Amy Sivewright at Hartlepool in 1881 and, by 1891 the family were living at Chadwick House, Stranton. Amy died in 1900 and William was re-married to Charlotte Harrison at Kendal, Westmoreland in 1909.

William lost two of his sons to the war. Harvey was a 2^nd Lieut in the 7^th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment and was killed in August 1915. He is listed in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour. Edward was in the Royal Flying Corps and was brought down on his first flight over enemy lines on 31^st August 1917.

William died in January 1931 leaving assets of £ 120,315.

An extract from William's obituary in the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail on 13 January 1931.

On the opening of the Ship Canal in 1894 the firm, appreciating the possibilities of the new port, transferred its business from West Hartlepool to Manchester, where it developed the Manchester - Montreal trade, now so firmly established by its successor, Manchester Liners. During the war Sivewright, Bacon sold its fleet with the exception of one ship, which had been captured by the Germans.

In 1902 Captain Bacon was appointed a director of the Manchester Ship Canal Company, and immediately associated himself actively with the company’s affairs, later becoming chairman of the Bridgewater Committee of the company. His knowledge and his capacity as an administrator were quickly manifested. It was during the war, in August, 1916, that Captain Bacon’s colleagues on the Ship Canal directorate invited him to undertake the chairmanship of the company rendered vacant by the death of Mr John K. Bythell. In accepting it Captain Bacon became the company’s third chairman since the canal became reality, Lord Tatton being the first and Mr. Bythell, who directed the policy of the company for nearly 22 years, the second. Daniel Adamson, strictly speaking, was the first chairman of the company, hut the work did not begin till Lord Egerton succeeded.

Harold, the eldest son the first family, joined his father’s business and for some years has been steadily assuming greater responsibility in the conduct of its affairs. Captain Bacon enjoyed robust health for the greater part of his life, but in the summer of 1927 had to undergo a series of severe operations, and although recovered in a way denied to most men of his years a good deal of the elasticity had gone and had to lake greater care of himself. Taking care had little attraction for one who spared himself nothing either in the interests of the great under la king whose affairs directed vet in the multifarious calls made upon him one public cause or another. He devoted a great deal lime to charitable causes, and no purse-strings opened more readily than his. Apart from the power of his interest, so readily obtained for any national or charitable activity, was much sought for the atmosphere of good will which went wherever did. He could preside over banquet with the same felicity he brought to board meetings, and in the quiet conversational tones of the plain straightforward speaker put everyone in good humour. He lived at Shawbrook Lodge, Burnage, Manchester for many years, but was at last persuaded to retreat before the advance of bricks and mortar and seek refuge in Wilmslow.