Pierhead painters

The Fine Art Emporium states that Semple lived and worked in Belfast and was active c.1861-1878. He produced oil paintings on canvas or board, mainly portraits of British and Irish sailing vessels. They mention several examples of his work, including a portrait of the Carrie Bell, Captain Hugh Reason, dated 1871.
Semple also produced a painting of the Tom Roper (a different painting to that shown in colour on this site, which is unsigned and undated). The Semple painting is dated 1867, signed J.Semple and is incribed "Tom Roper of Barrow, Peter Hodgson master". The ship is shown off the South Stack, Anglesey. The photocopy shown here was sent to me by Mr.A.S.Davison of the Merseyside Maritime Museum, and was taken from a catalogue from Omell's Gallery.
The painting of the Coniston on this site is signed "John Sempill". The painting of the Lord Muncaster is simply signed J.S, so possibly could also be the work of Joseph Semple.

The Barrow lifeboat

The Thomas Fielden was the Barrow lifeboat from 1901 until 1927, and during that time she was launched fourteen times and saved 45 lives. She was the second Barrow lifeboat of that name, her predecessor having had only a brief stay of three years at Barrow after her initial service at Holyhead.

The Thomas Fielden was a 40 ft. by 11 ft. Watson class, non-self-righter. She had been built at the Thames Ironworks, and had cost £1,327. She was delivered to Barrow in July 1901 and was launched on her first service on 26th August, going to the assistance of the Millom yacht Dorcas.

The following year the lifeboat assisted the Duddon schooner T & EF, which had grounded S of Walney Island. In 1910 the lifeboat saved ten men from the Faroese trawler Dorothea, which was wrecked on Walney Island. In these years the lifeboat coxswain was Herbert Raby, and in 1917 he was succeeded by Eb Charnley.

In later years other vessels assisted included the Barrow fishing boat Daisy, the Whitby trawler Fairhaven and the Fleetwood trawler Davara. On 23rd June 1926 three people were rescued from a rowing boat that was drifting out to sea, and this was the last time that the Thomas Fielden was in action. She was replaced by a motor lifeboat, the NT.

History of Sailing Ships

Furness & Duddon Sailing Ships
The following list includes schooners, barquentines, brigs and other merchant sailing ships that were either built or owned in Barrow-in-Furness.
Whitehaven Sailing ShipsThe following list includes schooners, barquentines, brigs and other merchant sailing ships that were built at Whitehaven.
Workington & Harrington Sailing ShipsThe following list includes schooners, barquentines, brigs and other merchant sailing ships that were built at Workington or Harrington.
Lancaster Sailing ShipsThe following list includes schooners, barquentines, brigs and other merchant sailing ships that were built at Glasson Dock, Lancaster.
Maryport Sailing ShipsThe following list includes schooners, barquentines, brigs and other merchant sailing ships that were built at Maryport.
Isle of Man Sailing ShipsThe following list includes schooners and other merchant sailing ships that were built in the Isle of Man.
Solway Sailing ShipsThe following list includes schooners, barquentines, brigs and other merchant sailing ships that were built or owned in the Scottish ports of the Solway Firt.