POSITION ... 52 49 475 N / 001 36 423 E

Type ... Cargo

Official Number ... 67517

Built ... 1871

Builder ... R. Irvine & Co, Hartlepool

Construction ... Iron

Dimensions ... 213 x 26 x 16.1 / Raised Quarter deck = 90 feet  / Forecastle = 27 feet

Tonnage ... Gross 924 / under deck 761 / net 589

Engine builder ... Blair & Co, Stockton-On-Tees

Engine type ... 2 cylinder compound / Hp = 26.5 inches / Lp = 51.5 inches x 33 inch stroke / Direct acting inverted cylinders / 98hp

Boiler ... x1 drum type multi tubular / x4 furnaces (AT TIME OF BUILD)

Donkey boiler ... Yes

Double bottom ... Part double bottom

Lost ...  6th November 1893 / Cause, collision  with the SS Ratcliffe

Owner at time of loss ...  W. Runciman & Co

Casualties ... None

Depth ... 18mtrs

Harefield  ... The position at the head of the page is listed as an unknown by the UK hydrographics office. Research has shown that the site is more than likely to be that of the steamer Harefield. The Harefield is listed as being lost 2 miles off Sea Palling and to date has not been located. The position at the head of the page is 2 miles north of sea palling, so in turn offers itself as a good candidate for the Harefield, this combined with measurements of the site that show themselves to be consistent with that of the Harefield in turn offers more positive evidence of a highly likely identification. The engine on the site is consistent with that of the Harefield as is a measurement taken of the diameter of the low pressure cylinder cover. The site shows itself to have one single drum type boiler, this also being consistent with the Harefield at the time of loss. A measurement taken of the spare prop, ie diameter shows itself to be the same diameter to that as fitted on the Harefield. From the data gathered from the site it can be concluded that the likelihood of this site  being that of the Harefield  is all but conclusive.

Below ... Diver examines the wreckage of the Harefield

R. Irvine & Co, bulders of the SS HareField

Irvine, Currie & Co  Ship Builders was founded at Hartlepool in 1863 by Robert Irvine and Alexander Currie. In 1866 Robert Irvine took complete control of the company and renamed it R. Irvine & Co. In 1880 Rober Irvine was succeeded by his son Robert Irvine junior. In 1887 the company was aquired by Christopher Furnace who in turn re named the company The Irvine Ship Building and Dry Docks Company Ltd. By 1911 the company had become the eighth largest ship builder in Britain.  In 1917 the company was bought by the Commercial Bank of London. The company continued to  prosper through the period of WW1,  however the slump in new orders post war and the general depression wthin ship building during the 1920's was to see the company build their last ship in 1924. In 1926 the company went into receivership. Despite failed efforts to save the company it was later liquidated.

Blair & Co Ltd, builders of the Harefields engine and single boiler.

In 1855 George Blair became manager of Fossick & Hackworth and ten years later in 1865 became a partner in the company. On Hackworth's retirement the company was renamed Fossick, Blair & Co. In 1866 on the death of Fossick and with Blair now being the only surviving partner the company was once again renamed, this being to Blair & Co.

Under the management of Blair the company produced the first compound engine built on the Tees in 1869, this being fitted in the steamer Glenmore. In 1884 the company built its first triple expansion engine, this being fitted in the steamer Burgos. At the companies peak it employed some 2000 people and its works covered over seven acres.  By 1914 the company had produced around 1400 engines and somewhere in the region of seventy five during WW1.  After the war Blair & Co was taken over by Gould Steamships and Industrials in 1919.

Engine and boiler

It would appear that at the time of the Harefield's loss the vessel still retained its original engine. However research suggests that in 1887 the Harefield was fitted out with a new single boiler. Up until 1887 the boiler is listed as follows regarding its construction materials. Shell, stays, end plates, furnaces and combustion chamber all made of Iron. From 1887 onwards the boiler materials are listed as follows, shell, stays, end plates, furnaces and combustion chamber made of steel. This would in turn suggest that the Harefield was fitted out with a new boiler in 1887. At the time of the Harefield's build the boiler is listed as being a fire tube drum type with four furnaces. Of note ... The replacement boiler would have been of the same type, ie drum type / fire tubes. There is no reference made as to the number or type of furnaces fitted in the new boiler, however it would be safe to assume this would have been either three or four.

Below ... The port side of the single boiler with fire tubes exposed. (Sam Lister)

History of ownership

Built in 1871 for Cory & Co  who retained full ownership up until 1876. From this point up until 1881 ownership was held by Cory, Lohden & Co of West Hartlepool. From 1881 up until 1887 the Harefield was owned by E. Cory & Co. In 1887 ownership was in the Hands of R. Irvine Junior, this is more than likely the same R. Irvine junior who took control of the ship building company R. Irvine & Co in 1880 , who in turn built the Harefield in 1871. R. Irvine junior only retained ownership of the Harefield for a very short period of time. In 1888 ownership was once again transferred, this time to J.M. Corderoy who in turn retained ownership for a very short period of time until he sold the Harefield to W. Runciman & Co in 1889. W. Runciman retained ownership of the Harefield up until the time of loss in 1893.

1871 - 1876 ... Cory & Co

1876 - 1881 ... Cory, Lohden & Co

1881 - 1887 ... E. Cory & Co

1887 - 1888 ... J. Irvine junior

1888 - 1889 ... J. M. Corderoy

1889 - 1893 ... W. Runciman & Co

Loss of the Harefield.

Whilst en route with a cargo of coal from the Tyne to London the Harefield was in collision with the steamer Ratcliffe. The collision resulted in the loss of the Harefield and extensive damage to the bows of the Ratcliffe. After the collision the Ratcliffe made its way to Gravesend in in Kent. The crew of the Harefield were all taken safely aboard the Sunderland registered steamer Newent built in 1882 by Short Brothers of Sunderland. The Newent was 216 feet in length and had a gross tonnage of 1016 tons.

Below ... A diver approaches one of the Harefields anchors. (Sam Lister)

The Harefield today (2024) ...   For the most part the site is little more than 2-3 mtrs in height. The main features of the site are the single drum type fire tube boiler, the two cylinder compound engine, donkey boiler and the stern.  The stern which is of a counter stern design is upright and is complete with the rudder post and a four bladed prop. Leaning up against the stern close to the prop is a large admiralty type anchor of about seven feet in length. The counter stern stands about ten feet in height. Coming away from the stern and following the prop shaft you will then come to the engine, the harefield being engined midships, this is located about about 20 - 25mtrs or so from the stern. The engine has toppled completely over on to its port side. This makes for an interesting part of the dive as it is possible to see much of the workings of the engine that are located below the cylinders, ie piston rods, crossheads, connecting rods, crank arms, crank, plus the valve gear. The boiler that sits about ten feet forward of the engine stands about fifteen feet in height and is fitted with three furnaces. The port side shell plating of the boiler has either rotted away or been damaged as the Harefield broke up. At this point the interior of the boiler is exposed, this in turn revealing rows of fire tubes. Forward of the main boiler is a vertical donkey boiler, this like the engine has toppled over to the port side. Moving forward from the donkey boiler you will find yourself passing over large sections of intact hull plates as you make your way to the bow. There is not a great deal of the bow remaining, and what there is is little more than six feet or so in height. At the bow you will find an anchor plus chain.  There are still portholes to be seen on the site, however these are  firmly bolted / encrusted to the collapsed plates. The spare prop is to be seen, this being located mid way between the stern and midships. Additional features include, anchors, winches and so on.  All in all the site makes for a good dive with plenty to see.