Author Topic: Merchant Vessel Porlock Hill  (Read 3626 times)

Offline Phodgetts

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Merchant Vessel Porlock Hill
« on: Thursday 10 December 09 13:49 GMT (UK) »
Hi everyone. I am trying to find out some information about a modern'ish ship, the Porlock Hill. In searching for it I found out about the heroic Porlock Hill lifeboat incident in 1899 which is great, but it is not what I am looking for.

Any suggestions on where to find out about the cargo ship Porlock Hill would be much appreciated. I am trying basically to find out when it was built and in use and when it was scrapped so that I can date a photo of the ship. Sadly I cannot post the image of the ship on the forum because of copyright. I do however think that the hull plates are welded and not riveted, though it is difficult to make out in the image.

Thanks in advance for any assistance

Philip
Northumberland; Johnson, Johnston, Dodds, Rutherford, Gray, Kennedy, Wilson, Sanderson, Davidson and other Border Marauders as they are discovered on this journey.
Berkshire; Knight, Bristor, Sharpe, Sharp, Ashley.
Suffolk / Essex; Perce, Pearce, Pearse, Pierce, Hayes.
Midlands; Hodgetts, Parker, Easthope.

Offline leighton

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Re: Merchant Vessel Porlock Hill
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 10 December 09 18:54 GMT (UK) »
Hello Philip

The Porlock Hill was built in the USA in 1944 as the SAMCHESS (Official Number 169823), 7200 ton Cargo Ship.

Her name was changed to the PORLOCK HILL in 1948 and she was wrecked off Famagusta in 1951.

I would have thought she was of welded construction rather than riveted.

leighton

Offline Phodgetts

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Re: Merchant Vessel Porlock Hill
« Reply #2 on: Monday 14 December 09 18:27 GMT (UK) »
Wow, thanks for that information. Glad I looked in on this as I have not had a notification of a response on the subject, unless it got deleted by accident without my knowledge.

It helps date a photograph to within a much narrower margin than I had ever hoped for.

Once again, many thanks.

Philip
Northumberland; Johnson, Johnston, Dodds, Rutherford, Gray, Kennedy, Wilson, Sanderson, Davidson and other Border Marauders as they are discovered on this journey.
Berkshire; Knight, Bristor, Sharpe, Sharp, Ashley.
Suffolk / Essex; Perce, Pearce, Pearse, Pierce, Hayes.
Midlands; Hodgetts, Parker, Easthope.

Offline Phodgetts

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Re: Merchant Vessel Porlock Hill
« Reply #3 on: Monday 14 December 09 19:06 GMT (UK) »
Oh, and even more wow! I looked up a few additional words re the info you gave me and the Porlock Hill was a Liberty Ship!

Samchess    02    08    1.44    Lease lend to Britain
1944 MOWT (Cayzer, Irvine & Co, London)
1946 MOWT (R. S. Dalgliesh Ltd, Newcastle)
1947 ALPHA MOOI, Alpha South African SS Co (Moller Line, Durban).
1948 PORLOCK HILL, Somerset SS Co.- British flag (Counties Ship Management Co, London)
21.12.51 Stranded near Famagusta in heavy weather, broke in two. CTL.
1952 Stern section refloated and scrapped Italy.

Very interesting stuff an' all that.  ;D

Philip
Northumberland; Johnson, Johnston, Dodds, Rutherford, Gray, Kennedy, Wilson, Sanderson, Davidson and other Border Marauders as they are discovered on this journey.
Berkshire; Knight, Bristor, Sharpe, Sharp, Ashley.
Suffolk / Essex; Perce, Pearce, Pearse, Pierce, Hayes.
Midlands; Hodgetts, Parker, Easthope.


Offline dels

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Re: Merchant Vessel Porlock Hill
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 17 January 16 14:15 GMT (UK) »
I have pictures of the vessel when she ran aground and the salvage, I am willing to send to you.