The steel steamship Abington was launched from the Port Glasgow yard of Murdoch and Murray Ltd (Yard No 204) on 20th July 1905. She measured 155.3′ x 25.6′ x 11.1′ and her tonnage was 444 gross tons, 154 net tons. She was powered by a 2 cylinder compound steam engine by Renfrew Bros, Irvine delivering 64 registered horse power. Built for R L Alpine of Ardrossan she was sold to Mann MacNeal and Co Ltd, Glasgow in April 1909 who renamed her Hurlford. On 10th January 1912 her registered ownership was changed to the Ford Shipping Co Ltd, Glasgow while Mann MacNeal remained as ship managers.
Builder’s profile and deck plans SS Abington
Lloyds register 1915
The details of the loss of the Hurlford, lost at Roan Bogha, at the west end of Gunna Sound on 29th April, 1917 while outward bound from Glasgow under Admiralty orders are not available due to wartime censorship but it is easy to see how a ship could run aground on this isolated rock which just breaks the surface at low tide and rises sharply from relatively deep water all round.
The wreck, which is well broken, lies on the north east side of the rock in position 56°32.343’N, 006°40.083’W. She lies on a white shingle seabed, with her bow facing north west, at the base of the rock in 15 – 23 metres of water. There is still a substantial amount of wreckage spread over a wide area with her huge boiler as the main feature. The remains of the engine, winches and other recognisable items from the ship provide an interesting site for the diver to explore. There have been reports that this wreck lies on the west side of the rock and of a wreck with an intact clipper bow. As stated, when visiting the site the authors found the wreckage on the north east side of the rock and the wreck explored did not have a clipper bow. However, during the search for the wreck we did locate the single blade of a propeller from another ship. It is therefore possible that their are two wrecks on the rock. The second would almost certainly be the Saint Clair, lost on Roan Bogha in September 1878, although the reports of wreckage with a clipper bow would appear to be inaccurate as neither the Saint Clair or the Hurlford had this distinctive feature.
This site is very exposed and is subject to strong tidal flows making calm conditions, slack water and good boat cover essential for a safe visit.
Location plan SS Hurlford
We would like to thank Lloyd’s Register Foundation – Heritage & Education Centre for allowing us to reproduce documents from their archive in this article.
