fTHIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

SNOW FINDON ?

Copyright Valerie Martin 2005

In December 2005 I was surprised to hear about another vessel named FINDON or possibly SNOW FINDON which was built in 1853.

This vessel I am talking about could have possibly looked something like a brig on the high seas....

 

 

17th December 2005

Hello Valerie

Ships Called Findon

I wondered if anyone has contacted you about a ship - different from the one which you have described - which was also called "Findon", or possibly ("Snow Findon")?

My information is that the (Snow)? Findon was built in Sunderland in 1853, was owned by Fenwick and was based in London. She was a "snow rig" with 2 masts each with square sails.

A snow rig differs from a brig in having an extra small mast fitted abaft the main lower mast - the "trysail mast" - which was set with a spanker sail (fore-and-aft triangular sail).

The snow rig was at one time common around the coasts of the UK but it is believed that the last one, the "Commerce" of Newhaven, was built in 1862 and existed until 1909.

The Captain of the Findon in 1856 was an ancester of my wife's stepmother. He died on board in 1856 during a voyage to New Zealand but we need to visit the PRO to try to find out the circumstances.

Meanwhile, any further information would be appreciated.

Your website is most interesting - congratulations!

Best wishes

John Parrish

 

 

I understand that sailing ships could be rigged in a variety of ways.  In most case, the type of ship defined the style of the rig.   On larger vessels in particular, the rigging style could be changed to suit a particular use (or even her Master's personal preference).

A snow rig in those days was not unusual for a sail ship ........and had a stump mast to carry the rings of the spanker/tri-sail .......which simplified the mainmast rigging ......and also made the hoisting of sail easier

I'm all at sea and adrift on this one but if anyone has information on a vessel named SNOW FINDON, do let me know......

 

 

18th December 2005

Hello Valerie.

Snow Findon

I don't really keep info about sailing ships otherwise I would be going back too far into the mists of time!

I have some shipyard lists from Sunderland and some of them go back as far as the 1850's but I cannot see a FINDON on any of them, so must have been a builder not in my lists.

Sorry I have no other sources.

No snow in Findon this Christmas then!

Season's greetings
George

George Robinson.

 

 

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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.

 

E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com