Transcript

of

Robert Hurrell [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1884, Vol XVI, pp. 65-66.

by

W. Harpley

Prepared by Michael Steer

The first significant event in the improvement of transport in the Kingsbridge region was the launch on 28th April 1857 of the ‘Kingsbridge Packet’, a 69 ton wooden paddle steamer built locally at Dodbrooke in the yard of William Date. Owned and operated by Hurrell Anthony Beer and Co, she ran twice a week between Kingsbridge, Salcombe, and Sutton Harbour Plymouth carrying goods.. Pioneering day excursions were advertised as ‘A Grand Devon Coast Cruise’ accompanied by a band and refreshments to give Plymothians, for the sum of 2 shillings, the earliest opportunity to visit and view the coastline and Kingsbridge estuary. Robert Hurrell realised the opportunities in shipping and persuaded local businessmen to invest in the company.  There was no competition for many years until a former shareholder William Heath Prowse, the local brewer, set up a rival company based in Salcombe with a larger iron screw driven vessel of 110 tons and to annoy his rivals called his ship ‘The Kings Bridge Packet’ that maintained a service for over 30 years between New Quay and Sutton Harbour as well as the occasional ‘Sunday School Treat’ to the tiny quay at Bantham on the River Avon. Faced with this competition the Kingsbridge Company panicked to order a new ship called the ‘South Hams Trader’ but Hurrell, Anthony and Beer went bankrupt before this ship came into service and the redoubtable Robert Hurrell acquired the original ‘Kingsbridge Packet’ from the Admiralty Marshal and continued trading on his own. The ‘South Hams Trader’ somehow ended her life in Lagos where in 1889 she was sunk and became a breakwater on the Brass River. Robert Hurrell died in 1883 and his son John Squire Hurrell, the man who welcomed the GWR to Kingsbridge, took over the vessel. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Robert Hurrell was born at Salcombe, in the year 1808. For many years he practised as a solicitor, first at Modbury, and afterwards at Kingsbridge, and was also associated with Mr. G. B. Lidstone in the management of the Kingsbridge Joint-Stock Bank, which was subsequently merged in the West of England Bank. His position thus as solicitor and banker, as well as his connection with the various public bodies and institutions of the town, brought him into close daily intercourse with all classes of persons, and this was of a free, familiar, and helpful character. He was one of the representatives of Kingsbridge on the Board of Guardians, and as Chairman of the Assessment Committee of that Board his services were of inestimable value. In his position as Chairman of the Feoffees of the town lands, his judgment and penetration were of great service to the interests of the town; and by his long and varied experience in commercial matters, he manifested in every other office he held a correctness of judgment which often proved most valuable in dealing with the interests of those about him. For many years he represented Kingsbridge on the Highway Board, of which he became Chairman; but increasing infirmities necessitated his withdrawal from that body. He was also one of the Directors of the Kingsbridge Gas Company, which he assisted to establish so far back as 1835; and in many other respects he proved himself an active and useful citizen, and was at all times desirous of promoting in every way the welfare of the town and neighbourhood. Mr. Hurrell was President of the Kingsbridge Literary and Scientific Institution, and, chiefly through his action, one of the most successful meetings of this Association was held in that town in 1877, when, in his capacity as representative of the Literary Institute, be cordially welcomed the Association in the name of the town. He became a member of the Association the same year, and filled the office of a Vice-President.

He died at his residence, The Knowle, Kingsbridge, July 31st, 1883.