Rose Middleton - a general history

Official No. 72641: Code Letters NQFV: Code Letters JVRG.

Owners: 1874 Robert Morton Middleton & Co. West Hartlepool: 1883 Jacob R. Olsen, Bergen, Norway-renamed Niord.

Masters: 1876 H Dew: 1877 Dowey: 1878-80 Higgins/Higgon: 1880-81 J Millard (West Hartlepool): 1881 WH Middleton: 1881-83 J Millard (Hartlepool): 1884-96 N Lovold.

Lloyd’s List, Tuesday, January 14^th, 1879:
CARDIFF Jan. 11; The Rose Middleton steamer, Higgon, from Havre, struck the dock and broke her stem while docking here to-day in charge of a pilot.

On a voyage from Hull to Burntisland in ballast with a total crew of 16 to load for the Baltic Rose Middleton was driven by the force of a gale on to the Redheugh 13 miles east of Dunbar where she stranded on 14 October 1881. The crew were saved using rocket apparatus. The vessel was refloated on 21 January 1882 & taken by 4 tugs to Leith for repairs. One life lost.
Falkirk Herald, Thursday, October 20^th, 1881:
LOSS OF THE ROSE MIDDLETON. A steamer that want ashore at Redheugh, about 13 miles from Dunbar, is the Rose Middleton, of West Hartlepool, bound from Hull to Burntisland in ballast. Just as she struck one of the crew, a Norwegian, was washed overboard. The other 15 members of the crew and the Captain’s wife were rescued by the rocket apparatus. The hull of the vessel is badly damaged, and the machinery started.

Shields Daily News, Thursday, February 2^nd, 1882:
THE STEAMER ROSE MIDDLETON. This steamer, which stranded at Redheugh near Dunbar, during the storm on 14^th October last, and was lately floated off, was surveyed in the Commercial Dry Dock, Leith yesterday. The steamer was found to have sustained damage to the extent of several thousand pounds, a number of her plates having been smashed completely in. A new keel will also be required.

Dundee Evening Telegraph, Thursday, March 16^th, 1882:
The steamer Rose Middleton, of West Hartlepool, which was purchased some weeks ago by Mr W. B. Thompson, arrived in the Tay on Wednesday night from Leith.

Dundee Advertiser, Friday, April 6^th, 1883:
THE REPAIRS OF THE ROSE MIDDLETON. THE EDITOR OF THE DUNDEE ADVERTISER. Sir,— Are the Harbour Trustees justified in setting aside the recognised rules of the Graving Docks and acting as they have done in the case of the Rose Middleton referred to in your report of the Trustees’ meeting of yesterday? What has the Harbour Trust to do with any private dispute between one of their number and his workmen? During repairs a dispute between employer and employees occurs, the former finds it is his interest to delay operations and allow his vessel occupy the Slip a much longer time than should have been the case. Had it been one of the Graving Docks instead of the Patent Slip—which was very nearly the case—dues would not have compensated for the serious consequences that would have resulted to vessels frequenting the port. Under the new rules framed by the Trustees the other day the following was adopted from the Liverpool and Greenock rules: Should the vessel not be capable of being removed at the expiration the time regulated for, until she shall be chargeable with double dock dues from the expiry of the time regulated for until she shall be in a condition to be so removed from the dock or slip.
In the face of this the Trustees resolved by a sweeping majority on returning the owner 25 per cent of the lower rates charged under the old rules. Have they power to charge one party less than another?  The largeness of the amount incurred as compared with the estimated amount (which would have been nearly doubled under the new byelaws) has nothing to do with the question. If the dues are a lawfully earned asset of the Harbour, the Trustees must account for same; and if in consideration of the Trust being a prosperous concern they must exercise munificence at the expense the ratepayers, let them snow some discretion in their actings without breaking through their rules, which are alike binding on themselves andthe different parties engaging the Slip - without establishing a dangerous precedent, and without mixing themselves with private affairs, and altogether putting themselves in a false position. - I am, &etc., Ratepayer, Dundee, 3d April.

Dundee Advertiser, Monday, April 9^th, 1883:
THE ROSE MIDDLETON S.S. THE EDITOR OF THE DUNDEE ADVERTISER. Sir, —From “Ratepayer’s” letter to-day it evident the Harbour Trustees, by their action in this matter, have laid themselves open to challenge.
I am a party to the Graving Dock and Slip, having entered my vessel under the rules and byelaws—confirmed by the Sheriff—under which the Rose Middleton was entered. So long these rules remain in force—and they are still in force— I protest against this vessel paying three-fourths only of the authorised dues, whilst I and other interested parties are charged and have to pay in full. The risk of repairing the Rose Middleton was alone a matter of the owners; and it certainly looks like an untenable position for the Trustees of a public Trust to address one of their own number in as many words:—“We know this, but as your speculation might have turned out better if you had not had this dispute with your men, we shall make you a grant equal to 25 per cent on the dues incurred by you. —I am, &c., Fairplay, Dundee, 5th April 1883.

Life lost October 1881: Harliverson/Huliorson, Norway.

Niord was loading timber when she & her cargo were damaged by fire at Drammen 15 May 1897. She was sold for breaking.

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