Speke

A steel full-rigged ship built in 1891 by T.R. Oswald, Milford Haven, as Yard No. 260. Dimensions 310'3"×42'2"×25'6" and 2875 GRT and 2712 NRT. Rigged with a main skysail and single topgallant sails. Together with her sistership the Ditton (1891), the largest three-masted ships built.

1891 March: Launched at the shipyard of T.R. Oswald, Milford Haven, for R.W. Leyland & Co., Liverpool. Assigned the official British Reg. No. _____ and signal ____.
1891-1899: In command of Captain James Gyllencreutz late of the same owner's ship Allerton.
1899: Captain F. Stott.
1904: Captain Tilston late of the Wavertree was given command of the ship.
1905 February 21: Stranded at Kitty Miller's Bay, Phillip Island, Australia, on voyage from Sydney Heads to Melbourne.

References:

Square-rigged ships, general references.
Lubbock, Basil: The Last Windjammers.
Brown, Ferguson & Son, Glasgow, 1926 [?].
Walker, David: Champion of Sail. R.W. Leyland and his Shipping Line.
Conway Maritime Press, London, 1986. 4to, 191 pp, ill.

Updated 1997-05-15 by Lars Bruzelius

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