EAST DONYLAND​ / ROWHEDGE
J. A. HOUSTON
YACHTING WORLD - 12 June 1896
Vessel listed on the National Historic Ships UK website
MYRA
​
SBA Steamboat Register site -
Owner: (non-member)
Area: Oulton Broad (UK).
HULL
Schooner yacht
Built 1893 by J.A. Houston at Rowhedge.
Designed by J.E. Wilkins.
LOA: 42', LWL: 38', Beam: 8' 7", Draft: 4' 2", Displacement: 13 gross tons.
Carvel teak on oak
Clipper bow with bowsprit, counter stern, white, varnished upperworks, 2 cabins, 4 berths, galley, wheel steering, 6 knots.
ENGINE
Triple Expansion, 4½" + 7" + 10" x 6".
Built c1910.
Valve(s): pv on HP, sv on IP & LP.
On 8 turned columns, ecc driven fp, Xhead lever driven air pump, Kcond.
BOILER
RT Scotch.
Built 1990 by Peter Darby.
Fuel: oil, Pressure: 100 psi.
3' dia x 3' 4" long 80 tubes.
PROP
HISTORY
Designed by J. E. Wilkins, new to W. H. Mackenzie, converted motor 1920. Acquired Oct 1977, restored and new plant fitted by Peter Darby 1979. Reputed to have been displayed at Paris Marine Exhibition 1903-4. Acquired July 1999. Ref: Funnel 15. 1893-1920 fitted with Mumford 30 IHP comp. (1979-1990 fitted with a 3 drum WTB).
Reported to be at Goodchilds Marina, Burgh Castle, Norfolk in 2006
THE YACHTSMAN – 30 March 1893 – “The Marquis of Carmarthen recently purchased the Vanguard from Mr. John A. Houston, of East Donyland, Essex.”
YACHTING WORLD - 26 April 1895 - "EAST COAST - At Mr. J.A. Houston's yard at Rowhedge, the new 17-tonner which has been built for Mr. Charles Clegg, of Mexico, has been launched, and christened Chula, the ceremony being performed by Mrs. Houston."
YACHTING WORLD - 3 Sept 1897 - “Mr. A.J. Houston’s yard.... the new lifeboat building for the Walton-on-the Naze is rapidly approaching completion.”
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EVENING STAR – Monday 22 November 1897. “YACHTING. At Mr. Houston’s yard as order is in hand for eleven boats, including sailing cutters. Mr. J.J. Colman’s s.y. Wild Wave is to have sundry alterations to her deck-house, promenade deck, etc. The s.y. Rona has gone down to Wivenhoe, where she is lying at the quay after having been painted outside. The work on the s.s. Ossian is proceeding; her foremast was taken out on Friday, and the work of putting in a new boiler and new decks is to be pushed on as fast as possible. The steam launch Generator has had a new cabin top, new engines, etc., and the work on her is now nearly complete.”
ESSEX COUNTY STANDARD – Saturday 15 February 1902 - "ROWHEDGE – PRESENTATION TO MR. HOUSTON - Manager of the Donyland Shipyard who was leaving to take up a post in West Africa. The presentation took place at the Three Crowns Inn on Wednesday evening, 12th February….”A capital musical and elocutionary programme was rendered by [among others] Messrs. John Simons……”
THE (ESSEX) NEWMAN - Saturday 10 April 1915 - “HALSTEAD FALABA VICTIM - In the official list of the missing from the liner Falaba, which was recently torpedoed by a German submarine off the Bristol Channel, appears the name of Mr. J.A. Houston, of Halstead. Mr. Houston, who had been connected with the Navy for many years, had recently retired on a pension. He was going out to Lagos on the West Coast of Africa, to undertake work on behalf of the Admiralty. Formerly he carried on business as a yacht builder at Rowhedge.”
