Speedy by Name, Speedy by Nature!

West Bay, or Bridport Harbour as it was once called, is not now somewhere normally associated with shipbuilding. Yet, around two centuries ago it was an important shipbuilding centre with around 350 vessels being built there. Most of the workers were from Bridport while others came from Eype and Burton Bradstock.

The clipper, Speedy was the largest vessel ever built there. Some 200 feet in length, it took several attempts in 1853 to launch her. She sat firmly aground for two weeks, awaiting a higher tide to float her. The vessel was featured in a December 1853 edition of the Illustrated London News. It was said it was ‘very lofty between decks’ and the passenger cabins were ‘of the highest order.’ Like the Cutty Sark, which can still be viewed at Greenwich, the Speedy was constructed for the Australia run. She was constructed of teak and English oak and first arrived in Sydney on 22nd March 1854. This passage took 83 days with the Equator being crossed on the 20th day.

Built by Messers Cox & Son of Bridport and with Liverpool owners, her first Master was Captain Nightingale. According to the Hobart Chronicle:

‘This ship is built on lines said to be unsurpassed by any vessel afloat. Her appearance in the London Docks excited no little interest amongst the sea-going community and the confidence in her admirers is shown by the fact heavy wagers are pending on her accomplishing the voyage out to Sydney in a less period than any previous ship.’

Shipyard owner, John Cox was also a Wesleyan preacher. A stone memorial to the Speedy can be found in Bucky Do Square in the heart of Bridport. The Bridport Shipyard was operational between 1769 and 1879.

(Source: Trove - Australia.)

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