The History of the tug Tolbenny

Previous names:- F.T.Everard Built:- 1928 Fellows and Co Great Yarmouth,YN321 Scrapped:- 1980 Plymouth as Tactful

Period in Fowey:- 1951 – 1964

Name of Vessel in Fowey

Tolbenny

Previous Names

F.T. Everard

She was built as the F.T.Everard in 1928 by Fellows & Co Ltd. Of Great Yarmouth. With a Yard Number of 321. Her Length was 83ft and a beam of 21’6”'.She had quite a deep draft of 11 ft. She was 124grt. Her ON160596 and IMO 5363964 "Plenty & Sons Ltd" of Newbury built the 3 cylinder TE steam engine developing 107nhp-550ihp of the following dimensions 13.5"x22"x36"x27"s The engine powered a single screw, In October 1928 she was delivered to F.T. Everard & Sons Lighterage Ltd., Greenhithe to carry out mainly barge towage but also assisted the companies other vessels in and out of the Thames berths. The Thames-based F T Everard and Sons operated a fleet of coasters, tankers and other ships, several of which were built or repaired at Fellows/Richards Dock and the neighbouring engineer Crabtree on Southtown Road. Fellows Shipyard and Dry Dock, Southtown, Great Yarmouth built many small and coastal craft a a number for Everards as the company grew. The yard was established and the first dock was built be James Lovewell. After his death in 1824 the business passed into the hands of the Fellows family. In later years the company was owned by FT Everard & Sons Ltd. The yard was sold to Richard (shipbuilders) Ltd in 1970 and is still open for business today. The site has changed little over the years (By Laura Matthews)

Men working in in the lofting shed Portrait of workers at Fellows Shipyard, c.1910 photos from Great Yarmouth Museums

Men working on a vessel in the dry dock at Fellows, c.1910 Great Yarmouth Museums

An aerial view of Fellows Shipyard and Dry dock c. 1910 Great Yarmouth Museums

Plenty Ltd was a thriving engineering company based in Newbury which made agricultural equipment during the 1800s. Its founder, William Plenty, also designed lifeboats which were then stationed around the country. The company also made marine steam engines, iron bridges, balloon gas equipment and rotary engines and supplied parts all over the world.

The NEWBURY DIESEL COMPANY The factory in Kings Road Newbury, originally the Plenty boiler shop, became the Plenty-Still Company in 1928 and eventually the Newbury Diesel Company in 1932 when the two businesses separated. It produced, during its life, a range of marine diesels designed by H Kent-Norris. These were given the trade name of Sirron Diesels, Norris in reverse, and which, along with smaller high speed auxiliary engines driving pumps and generators, became the standard engines of the Everard Shipping Company. Everard's in 1936 took a controlling interest in the Newbury Diesel Co which became Newbury Diesel Controls Ltd in 1981 until the eventual sale of the business to Radamec in 1987 The factory in Kings Road Newbury, originally the Plenty boiler shop and then the location of the Plenty-Still company, became the Newbury Diesel Company in 1932 when it separated from Plenty & Co. It produced, during its life, a range of marine diesels designed by Kent Norris. These were given the trade name of Sirron Diesels, Norris in reverse and which became the standard engines of the Everard Shipping Company that took a controlling interest in the Newbury Diesel Co.in 1936.The relationship between Everard's, the Plenty Company and the Newbury Diesel Company was forged at the turn of the century by one of the sons of the founder, Frederick T Everard. The three sons were Will Everard and

Fred Everard who were shipwrights and Alf Everard who trained as an engineer at Plenty & Son Ltd at Newbury. It was this link that would have set the seal for the use of Plenty engines and subsequently Sirron diesels by the Everard company.

The engine shed where engines were built and tested. They were then disassembled for transport to the shipyard

The F T EVERARD on trials

Seen towing barges in the Thames

On 16th April 1940 he was requisitioned for Admiralty service. And Returned to owners on 4th June1946 In 1951 Everards sold her to Fowey Tug Co Ltd., Fowey, and they renamed her Tolbenny on 13th November 1951 and registered her in the Port. !0 years later with a downturn in business in 1961 her ownership was transferred to Fowey Harbour Commissioners.

Tolbenny moored in Underhills mooring in lower harbour

The Commissioners operated her until 1965 before selling her to W.J. Reynolds Ltd., Plymouth, She was renamed again “Tactful” and registered in Plymouth

On moorings in Polruan Pool alongside No 7 jetty

She was often hired in to assist towing and here she can be seen towing a ship off the Harbour Office with Fowey Lifeboat in background. A small bridge house was built to give protection in adverse weather.

Seen outward bound below Fowey Castle ruins

The Tactful off Riverside towing a ship upstream

As the Tactful towing a ship into Mixtow reach

Seen here (2nd tug from right) moored off Torpoint

In 1972 Reynolds company was sold to Cory Ship towage and the following year in 1973 she was sold for scrapping to Davis & Cann Ltd, Plymouth.a company that had scrapped many of the Reynolds and ex Fowey tugs And in 1979 Registration closed. [Vessel no longer navigable] The vessel was finally scrapped in1984.

Awaiting scrapping in Plymouth at Laira along with “Trevol”,”Garbeile” and “Anthony” which also worked in Fowey from time to time

http://www.historic-shipping.co.uk/hulks/Tugs.html

Name of Vessel in Fowey

Tolbenny

Previous Names

F.T. Everard

Year Built

1928

Official Number Call sign

160596

MPGB

G.R.T.

124

Builders

Fellows and Co Great Yarmouth,

YN321

Dimensions

Length

Beam

Draft

83’

21’6”

11’

Engines

Plenty and Son, Newbury, 550 H.P 3 cylinder 107mn

Bollard pull

Owners Built for

F .T. Everard and Sons, Greenhithe

History Before Coming to Fowey

Year 16-04-40 4-06-46

Used for Admiralty

service

Owners in Fowey

1951 1961

Fowey Towage Co

Fowey Harbour Commissioners

History on Leaving Fowey

23-09-64

1972

1973

1984

W.J. Reynolds, Torpoint

Renamed Tactful Cory Ship Towing,

Plymouth Davis and Cann Ltd,

Plymouth Scrapped at Laira bridge

Built in Great Yarmouth 1928

London Greenhithe 1928 to 1951 Admiralty service 1940 - 1946

Fowey 1951 to 1964

Torpoint and Plymouth where scrapped 1964 to 1984

VOYAGES OF THE TUG TOLBENNY