‘SS Welholme’ at Victoria Mills, Grimsby 1908.

The original and unique photograph, dated June 25th 1908.

The annotation on the reverse reads, “SS ‘Welholme’ at Victoria Mills. 200 tons, 9 knots.” The photograph is dedicated to Mrs Chapman and is signed by William S. Chapman. William Chapman may have been a member of the significant Chapman family on Grimsby Docks.

The Grimsby registered ‘SS Welholme’ was a British screw steamship built of steel by Scott of Kinghorn Ltd, Fife in 1903. She was lengthened by Messrs. Charlton & Doughty, of Grimsby and the name was changed from ‘Fair Maid’ to ‘Welholme’.

The ‘SS Welholme’ was owned by William Marshall & Sons Ltd. of Victoria Mills, Grimsby but was managed by a Hull shipbroker.

After leaving Burghead, Scotland incorrectly laden with a cargo of wood for barrel heads on 30th September 1910, the ‘SS Welhome’ sank 7 miles N. N. E. of Cromer lighthouse on 2nd/3rd October 1910. One member of the crew, William Page, lost his life. The other crew members were rescued by the fishing smack ‘Constance’ and were taken to Lowestoft.

Full details of the Formal Investigation of the loss held at Grimsby Town Hall between 22nd and 25th November 1910 are available online. The court estimated the value of the ‘SS Welhome’ as £2,750.