Maryport History (click here for home page)

ISAAC MIDDLETON & CO 1820-1860

Middleton’s Ship Yard was situated on the River bank below Mote Hill and were renowned for their crafts as shipbuilders and shipsmiths. “Charlotte Middleton” was the grandmother of “Thomas Henry Ismay” who became the greatest ship owner of his day. As a small boy he spent a great deal of his time talking to the sailors whose ships were in Ellenfoot Harbour, and where his great love of ships had its birth, and his desire to one day owning the greatest fleet of ships in the world (the famous “White Star Line”) a dream which was certainly fulfilled.

One of the earliest Middleton built vessels of the early 1800’s was the “Atlantic” of 215 tons and launched from their yard below Mote Hill in the area known then as Paper Mill Green (1822) and still is today. Other vessels built at this yard were:-

1814 – Brig – “Janes” – 150 tons – Joseph Middleton.
1816 – Brig – “Grace” – 193 tons – Isaac Middleton.
1816 – Brig – “Brown” – 189 tons – I. Middleton & Co.
1824 – Brig – “Clytie” – 76 tons – I. Middleton.
1825 – Snow – “Margaret” – 226 tons – I. Middleton.
1826 – Brig – “Brothers” – 93 tons – I. Middleton.
1827 – Sloop – “Mary Ann” – 27 tons – I. Middleton.
1828 – Snow – “Ritson” – 237 tons – I. Middleton
1835 – Brig – “Caribb” – 245 tons – I. Middleton.
1837 – Schooner – “Mary” – 45 tons – I. Middleton.
1839 – Brig – “Middleton” – 241 tons – I. Middleton.