Project: Titanic Jetty, Cobh, Co. Cork. Archaeological and Historical Background October 2015 Address: Julianna O’Donoghue Archaeological Services, 61 Lady’s Cross, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. Web: www.jodas.ie Email: [email protected] Phone: (023) 8858707 / (086)3844831 Contents List of Plates.............................................................................................................................. 3 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 2 Scope of Report.................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3 Historical Background........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1 Cobh General .................................................................................................................. 4 3.2 Advent of the Great Shipping Lines .................................................................................. 5 3.3 Post Office Packet Service ............................................................................................... 6 3.4 Liners the paradigm of technological advance and national prestige................................ 6 3.5 Charlotte Grace O'Brien and Emigration Conditions ......................................................... 7 3.6 White Star Line ................................................................................................................ 8 3.7 Royal Navy Agreement .................................................................................................... 9 3.8 White Star House Flag ................................................................................................... 10 3.9 White Star Ships ............................................................................................................ 10 3.10 White Star Shipwrecks ................................................................................................. 11 3.11 Deliberate sinkings of White Star Liners ....................................................................... 12 3.12 Increasing Size of Liners ............................................................................................... 14 3.13 Titanic ......................................................................................................................... 14 3.14 White Star Queenstown............................................................................................. 16 3.15 Improved train links..................................................................................................... 19 3.16 Whiter Star Tenders at Queenstown ............................................................................ 19 3.17 White Star Jetty Queenstown ...................................................................................... 23 4 Description of White Star Jetty ........................................................................................ 24 5 Recommendations ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Cronin Millar Condition Survey Report ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Option 1:Localised temporary repairs....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Cultural comment Option 1 ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Option 2:Construction of new structural support frame to support existing pier in its current form and condition. ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Cultural Comment Option 2 ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 1 Option 3: Construction of comprehensive structural support frame incorporating access above the pier deck. ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Cultural Comment Option 3 ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Option 4: Full reconstruction of pier to original form and condition. ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Cultural Comment Option 4 ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 6 Conclusions .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 30 2 List of Plates Plate 1: Queenstown Harbour Valentine Collection 1893 Plate 2: Gruss Aus Queenstown postcard Plate 3: Emigrants boarding at Cobh Plate 4: White Star line logo Plate 5: Browne’s last photograph of the Titanic as it leaves Roches Point. Plate 6: White Star Line poster advertising Titanic sailing Plate 7: White Star Line poster advertising Titanic sailing Plate 8: Emigrants boarding from the White Star Line jetty (Fr. Browne Collection) Plate 9: Porters at the White Star Line Jetty waiting for employment (Fr. Browne Collection). Plate 10: The Tender Ireland towing two rowing boats (Fr. Browne Collection). Plate 11: Loading the Mail onto tender from the 'American Mail Special Train' from Cork. Plate 12: Mail being taken aboard the Titanic from the Tender America. (Fr. Browne Collection) Plate 13: Crowded tenders leaving the White Star Line jetty Plate 14: Embarking passengers, Queenstown Plate 15: Image of White Star Line Building, Cobh. Plate 16: White Star Line ticket office and jetty. Plate 17: Crowds waiting to embark on the White Star tenders (Fr. Browne Collection) Plate 18: Queenstown in mourning with flags at half staff outside both the Cunard and white star offices. 19th April 1912. Plate 19: View of quay, jetty and ticket office, September 2015. Plate 20: View of south facing elevation of jetty. Plate 21: West –facing elevation of jetty. Plate 22: East –facing elevation of jetty. Plate 23: Image of deteriorating state of timber piles. 3 1 Introduction Julianna O’Donoghue Archaeological Services has been engaged by Cronin Millar Engineers to undertake historical research of the Titanic Jetty in Cobh, Co. Cork. This report is a component of a wider assessment of the jetty undertaken by Cronin Millar Engineers on behalf of Cork County Council. 2 Cobh General The development of the town and port of Cobh is fairly recent. In 1786 it comprised of the small village of Cove divided by a stream that issued into the sea around what is today known as Casement Square. The village was mainly of the thatched cottages of fishermen, pilots and customs officials. However, it quickly developed into a handsome town of nine large and several smaller streets. The rapid expansion was largely due to its very fine sheltered anchorage whose importance was fully recognised as ships became larger. During the American War of Independence and wars with France between 1776 and 1815 it was a used as a muster port for large merchant convoys and was often filled with shipping. In 1835 it was '...no unusual sight to behold from Spy Hill... 300 sail of merchant vessels assembled for convoy' (Brunicardi 2012, 14). The construction of large military forts at Camden, Carlisle strategically at the narrows and controlled by Westmorland fort on Spike Island controlled all shipping into Cork. Haulbowline was also fortified and made the Ordinance Depot and the Admiralty made it the only naval victualling depot in Ireland. Rocky Island was excavated and became the chief gun powder magazine for the south of Ireland. The Admiral of the Fleet was based in Cobh and it became the embarkation port for thousands of troops. The town prospered and a new pier was constructed in 1805 for £20,000.00 followed by several other quays. It became a provisioning town for merchant and naval shipping. In August 1849 the name of Cove was changed to Queenstown to celebrate the visit of Queen Victoria to Ireland (Foster 2012, 414-5). In 1868 the foundation stone of the wonderful neo-Gothic Revival style St. Colman's cathedral was laid. The cathedral which conspicuously stands 45m above sea-level, was finally roofed and opened in 1894 while the 90m spire was completed in 1915 (McNamara 1981, 140-1). The cathedral became a renowned icon of Cobh universally recognised by mariners, emigrants and passengers. St Colman's features in nearly all the early post cards and images of Cobh. 4 Plate 1: Queenstown Harbour Valentine Collection 1893 Plate 2:Gruss Aus Queenstown postcard 3 Advent of The Great Shipping Lines Until the 19th century most merchant ships were owned by a number of small investors who spread their capital across several ships. One of the immediate benefits of the advent of steamships was that they were less dependent on the weather and could, more or less, operate to a schedule. It made good economic sense to operate several ships on the main or more lucrative routes to maintain a regular service. 5 The origin of the shipping line came from the US most likely influenced by the 'lines' that operated regular stagecoach routes (Lavery 2004, 200). The Black Ball Line offered a fortnightly service between New York and London since 1816. Other American companies followed suit exploiting the availability of an abundance of quality timber and very good sailing ships. The abolition of monopolies like the East India Company in 1833 also improved a more diverse share by the commercial merchant sailing companies. The abolition of the Navigation Acts in 1854, which had been in place since 1650,