Retired Section Swansea Docks

Retired Section Swansea Docks

Lynx

Above is the paddle steamer ‘Lynx’, pictured in the newly-opened South Dock in 1859, having been acquired by Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot that same year for conversion into a luxury steam yacht. Built in 1853 by William Denny & Bros. of Dumbarton for the Glasgow-Belfast run, the ‘Lynx’ remained in the Talbot family’s ownership until consigned to the breakers yard in 1887.

C R M Talbot's lifetime passion was sailing and, as well as the paddle yacht ‘Lynx’, he owned several racing yachts including the ‘Galatea’, the ‘Guilia’ and the ‘Capricorn’. He became a member of the prestigious Royal Yacht Club (later the Royal Yacht Squadron) in 1823, and was elected Vice Commodore from 1851 - 1861.

It was aboard the ‘Lynx’, along with family members and honoured guests, that C R M Talbot attended the grand opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Then in 1881, for the opening of Swansea’s new Prince of Wales Dock, he had the privilege of conveying the Prince and Princess of Wales aboard the ‘Lynx’ from Corporation Quay to the lock entrance of the new dock, where Prince Edward performed the official opening ceremony.

As well as being a prominent figure in dock and railway development in South Wales, C R M Talbot also served an unprecedented 59 years as the Liberal MP for Glamorgan, and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan in 1848. He died in January 1890 at 87 years of age.

Note:- We thank the Port Talbot Historical Society for the use of the photos above and below.

The above photo of the crew of the luxury steam yacht ‘Lynx’ was sent to us by Ann Thomas, whose great (x2) grandfather, Thomas Jones, is pictured in the centre of the middle row complete with distinguished white beard. Thomas Jones was born around 1821/1822, and is known to have worked as a shipwright from 1861 to 1871 and as a ship’s carpenter in 1881, and then as a shipwright again in 1891 at the time of his death. Ann believes this photo was taken around the time of the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 where C M R Talbot was in attendance aboard the ‘Lynx’, together with family members and other honoured guests.

Thomas Jones lived in No. 2, Captains’ Row, Taibach, near Port Talbot, and was known locally as ‘The Captain’, possibly because of his role as a crew member of the ‘Lynx’, or maybe because he lived in that particular street.

Above Agreement

The above agreement contains the conditions covering home trade voyages. It also has spaces for the Master or Owner to write in their own conditions. Below are the conditions inserted by the Master or Owner.

Voyage cruising United Kingdom

Crew to provide provisions for three months.

The clothes (uniforms) to be considered the property of the owner and to be worn as the Master may direct, and all the cost to be born by the crew, and any member of the crew being not acceptable to be discharged in any port or ports in the UK.

Below are the particulars of engagement and a printed list of all the crew

				LAST SHIP		PLACE OF SIGNING
NO.	NAME	D.O.B.	TOWN	DATE	NAME		DATE	PLACE
1	W F Smith Capt	1848	Glamorganshire		Same ship		05/08/81	Swansea
2	E J Kidley	25	Colchester	1881	?		05/08/81	Do
3	Matthew Taylor	44	Mumbles	1880	?		05/08/81	Do
4	David Timothy	54	Mumbles	1880	?		05/08/81	Do
5	Herbert Lloyd	44	Mumbles	1881	?		05/08/81	Do
6	W Kidley	28	Colchester	1881	Griffin C.Yacht		05/08/81	Do
7	G D Peebles	28	Scotland	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
8	James Forrest	35	Putney?		First ship		05/08/81	Do
9	Charles Michael	60	Mumbles	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
10	William F Fox	24	Swansea	1881	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
11	William J Jones	40	Clovelly	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
12	Thomas Jones	59	Bristol	1881	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
13	David Hughes	45	Clovelly	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
14	William Griffiths	37	Gower	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
15	W Williams	32	Mumbles	1881	Thought		05/08/81	Do
16	John Blake	36	Mumbles	1880	?		05/08/81	Do
17	Charles Rogers	25	Mumbles	1881	?		05/08/81	Do
18	William Jenkins	25	Mumbles	1881	?		05/08/81	Do
19	Edward Williams	49	Haywood?	1880	Lynx		05/08/81	Do
20	DavidMcNamara	49	Mumbles	1880	Lynx		05/08/81	Do
21	John Michael	40	Mumbles	1881	Dawn SS		05/08/81	Do
22	William Thomas	22	Mumbles	1881	?		05/08/81	Do
23	Samuel Gammon	25	Mumbles	1881	Francis Mary		05/08/81	Do
24	T J McNamara	41	Mumbles	1881	H Dawson SS		05/08/81	Do
25	Samuel Morgan	35	Britton Ferry	1881	Morfa SS		05/08/81	Do
26	David Francis	24	Clovelly	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
27	Thomas Jones	23	Clovelly	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
28	Dan Thomas	43	Clovelly	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
29	John Thomas	31	Clovelly	1880	Two Brothers		05/08/81	Do
30	Thomas Williams	22	Clovelly	1880	First ship		05/08/81	Do
31	John Morgan	29	Port Talbot	1880	Lynx RYS		05/08/81	Do
32	John Parker	47	Swansea	1881	Edgemoor?		05/08/81	Do

Below are Particulars of discharge

Below crews numbers on the Articles and their positions aboard ship

1	Master	17	AB
2	Mate	18	AB
3	Boatswain	19	AB
4	Coxswain	20	AB
5	Quartermaster	21	AB
6	1st Steward	22	AB
7	2nd Steward	23	AB
8	1st Cook	24	AB
9	2nd Cook	25	Fireman
10	Sail Maker ?	26	Fireman
11	?	27	Fireman
12	Carpenter	28	Fireman
13	1st Engineer	29	Fireman
14	2nd Engineer	30	Fireman
15	AB	31	Assistant Fireman
16	AB	32	AB

Below Particulars of Voyage :- Cruising the coast of England

Our thanks to Ann Thomas for providing us with the above documentation

The original photograph of the crew of the Lynx was contributed to Ann Thomas by
Mrs. Joan Krzyzek (otherwise known as Joan Cross) . She is the grand-daughter x 1 of Thomas Jones.