Quays, Derry City, Co. Derry
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Where: Northern Ireland, Derry, United Kingdom
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When: Unknown
Try to find the date or year when this image was made.
Staying in Ulster again to end the week and today visiting the lovely city of Derry on the banks of the Foyle! The Quays have shipping tied up - but it does not look like a hive of activity. Looking at the timbers on the quay it is most likely that a lot has changed in the interim?
With thanks to all the usual incredible contributions in the comments, we've been able to map this location accurately. And refine the near 50-year catalogue range to perhaps a 15-year range between the mid-1890s and early 1910s. The latter is possible because of the vessels visible. The smaller vessel, nearest the photographer, is the Screw Steamer 'Harrier'. Built in 1892, she was torpedoed in 1943 (by u-boat U181). The larger steamer, just beyond, is the Packet Steamer 'Duke of York'. Built in 1894, she was renamed the 'Peel Castle' in 1911/1912, and pressed-into service as an Armoured Boarding Vessel during WWI. While the subjects on the leftside of this image are gone forever, it's worth noting that at least some of the focus from the rightside (including the city's Guildhall tower) remain as they were....
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914. Definitely after c.1894 (Duke of York steamship came into service). And before c.1912 (Duke of York renamed).
NLI Ref: L_ROY_02563
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Source: Flickr Commons
Views: 43824
With thanks to all the usual incredible contributions in the comments, we've been able to map this location accurately. And refine the near 50-year catalogue range to perhaps a 15-year range between the mid-1890s and early 1910s. The latter is possible because of the vessels visible. The smaller vessel, nearest the photographer, is the Screw Steamer 'Harrier'. Built in 1892, she was torpedoed in 1943 (by u-boat U181). The larger steamer, just beyond, is the Packet Steamer 'Duke of York'. Built in 1894, she was renamed the 'Peel Castle' in 1911/1912, and pressed-into service as an Armoured Boarding Vessel during WWI. While the subjects on the leftside of this image are gone forever, it's worth noting that at least some of the focus from the rightside (including the city's Guildhall tower) remain as they were....
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Catalogue range c.1865-1914. Definitely after c.1894 (Duke of York steamship came into service). And before c.1912 (Duke of York renamed).
NLI Ref: L_ROY_02563
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Info:
Owner: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsSource: Flickr Commons
Views: 43824
robertfrench
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B-59
Duke of York was built for the joint LYR/LNWR Fleetwood-Belfast and was in service from 1894 until 1911 or 1912. In 1912 she was renamed Peel Castle. www.simplonpc.co.uk/IOM_PeelCastle.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Peel_Castle
domenico milella
Congratulation for your beautiful Album.
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
Ooo! There is a reverse view from the bridge of the 'Duke of York', with the 'Harrier' astern. Same day? catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000323058
B-59
The Harrier was built in 1892 and was torpedoed and sunk in 1943, s. www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=20324 www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/35320/...
sissonni
Streetview? goo.gl/maps/wsnRSEPYx6n
Vab2009
The clock tower of the Guildhall is visible. Building on it commenced in 1887 so this has to be post 1887. But it had a chequered history. It was burnt in 1907 but from what I remember the tower survived so that cannot be used to date this. More history here www.derrystrabane.com/Subsites/Museums-and-Heritage/Guild...
Vab2009
Yep. According to Wki the clock tower survived the fire so no use to narrow the date. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guildhall,_Derry
Vab2009
Not very research driven, but looking at the Guildhall here and comparing it to current photographs, the roof of the main hall looks a bit lacking. Possibly this is in the period post the fire in 1907 and pre the reopening in 1912.
Vab2009
The Guildhall as it is now www.historyireland.com/18th-19th-century-history/the-guil...
macsimski
https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia Yes. the rail wagons are on the same spot and i can even see a person sitting on the wooden contraption near the boulder with the ropes on the other picture. i think there is not more that ten minutes between the two pictures. well spotted! and a few down in the same catalog: another copy of this one.
aidanhodson
I wonder is this the place where many people left to start a new life in America: the immigration records of some of my Donegal ancestors in America show that they started their sea journey from this city.
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/simski] Fun for Friday 13th! In the reverse view there is a distant building named "Electric Supply Station", which might help with dating... [https://www.flickr.com/photos/mise-le-meas] When looking for 'now' photos on flickr, I came across this poignant photo of an emigrating family - the blurb implies they caught a steamer to Moville to catch the liner - [https://www.flickr.com/photos/librariesni/8392569282/] From an album of Derry photos www.flickr.com/photos/librariesni/sets/72157632817125623 via [https://www.flickr.com/photos/librariesni/]
aidanhodson
beachcomber thanks for that . Some information here about emigration from Derry /Londonderry : www.loughs-agency.org/emigration/
O Mac
U 81, the U boat that sank the Harrier also sank the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Interesting indeed https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] - I have added that little tidbit to the description. Along with the fantastic inputs from https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected], https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia, https://www.flickr.com/photos/vab2009 and others (including https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] on the mapping location). Much appreciated all!
Dr. Ilia
Great Shot !!
B-59
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]] Good story, but not true - not U-81 but U-181 sank the Harrier, on June 7, 1943, (the information in www.shipsnostalgia.com is not correct on this point) s. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-181
O Mac
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] Вы правы, капитан Савицкий.
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Spoilsport https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected] :) Whatever happened to not letting truth get in the way of a good story :) Have updated the text to correct though. Thanks!
Joefuz
Looking at how close it is to the Guild Hall, I'd say that is Queen's Quay, where you can now park your car. The road runs along where the rails are and the large building on the mid right of the frame is now where the Quayside Shopping Centre is, with the City Hotel beside it and closer to the Guild Hall.