Last modified: 2021-05-29 by rob raeside
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![[Gracechurch Container Line houseflag]](../images/g/gb~grace.gif)
image
by Jorge Candeias, 30 Jan 1998
The logo is this image. I’ve seen both versions: in deep and in
light blue, and don’t know which one is the right one (if any).
Jorge Candeias, 30 Jan 1998
![[Gracechurch Container Line alternate houseflag]](../images/g/gb~grac1.gif)
image
by Jorge Candeias, 30 Jan 1998
![[J. Graham & Sons houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfjgs.gif)
image by
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of J.
Graham & Sons (#358, p. 54), a Hartlepool-based company, as white with the red
letters "JG&S in the center".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#19
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021
![[Grahamston Shipping Co., Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfwtm.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 30 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of
Grahamston Shipping Co., Ltd. - Cherbury Steamship Co., Ltd. -
(William T.
Mitchell) (#1338, p. 100), a Glasgow-based company, as red with a white lozenge
charged with a blue "M".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#65
Ivan Sache, 30 April 2021
![[Graig Shipping Co. Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~graig.gif)
image by Jarig Bakker
From Scott, R.M., The Caltex book of Flags and Funnels, Cape Town, Caltex Africa
Ltd. (1959).
Graig Shipping Co. Ltd., Cardiff - flag horizontal white over green, red "G".
Jarig Bakker, 2 January 2005
Graig Shipping Co. Ltd. Owners were Idwal Williams & Co. Ltd. This was their
main operating subsidiary [now Graig Ship Management Ltd.] but they have also
operated Glynafon Shipping Co. Ltd. and Garth Shipping Co. Ltd. with the flag
being common. The name "Graig" originates from their first vessel.
Neale Rosanoski, 18 July 2005
![[W.A. Grainger houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfwag.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 26 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of W.A.
Grainger (#706, p. 70), a Belfast-based company, as triangular, blue with a red
border, except at hoist, charged at hoist with a red star.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/35/
Ivan
Sache, 26 April 2021
![[Grampian Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfgps.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 23 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of the
Grampian Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. (#389, p. 55), an Aberdeen-based company, as
blue with a red shield charged with a white cross.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#20
Ivan
Sache, 23 April 2021
![[Grangemouth Steamship Co. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfgra.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 1 May 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of
Grangemouth Steamship Co. (#1604, p. 113), a Grangemouth-based shipping company,
as red with a white diamond touching the edges of the flag, in the center, a
blue "L".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#78
Ivan Sache, 1 May 2021
![[Granite City Steamship Co., Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfgrn.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 25 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of
Granite City Steamship Co., Ltd. (Richard Connon, Reid & Co.) (#510, p. 61), an
Aberdeen-based company, as vertically divided blue-white-red with a Union Jack
in canton.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#26
A
hand-made drawing of the flag is kept at the Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and
Museums.
https://emuseum.aberdeencity.gov.uk/objects/10685/house-flag-of-connon-reid-and-co-for-use-on-the-cargo-stea
Ivan
Sache, 25 April 2021
![[E. Cyril Grant houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfcgr.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 4 May 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of E.
(Edward) Cyril Grant (#1889, p. 126), a Grimsby-based fishing company, as blue
with a white "G" in the center.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#91
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021
![[William Grant houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfwgr.gif)
image by Ivan Sache,
28 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of William
Grant (#1039, p. 86), a Grimsby-based company, as horizontally divided
blue-red-blue.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/51/
Ivan
Sache, 28 April 2021
![[Grant & Baker Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfg&b.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 28 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Grant
& Baker Steam Fishing Co., Ltd. (#1044, p. 86), a Grimsby-based company, as
horizontally divided blue-red-blue, charged in the center with the white letters
"G & B".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/51/
Ivan Sache, 28 April 2021
![[Grasmere Steam Shipping Co., Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfgss.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 4 May 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of Grasmere
Steam Shipping Co., Ltd. (Falconer, Ross & Co.) (#1853, p. 125), a
Newcastle-based company, as blue with a white cross, charged in the respective
quarters with the white letters "G", "S", "S", and "Co LTD".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#90
Ivan Sache, 4 May 2021
![[T. Gray & Co., Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hftgr.gif)
image by Ivan
Sache, 28 April 2021
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of T.
Gray & Co., Ltd. (#862, p. 78), a Hull-based company, as triangular, red with a
white "G".
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/43/
Ivan
Sache, 28 April 2021
![[William Gray & Co., Ltd. houseflag]](../images/g/gb~hfwgy.gif)
image by
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021
William Gray settled in Hartlepool in 1843. He owned a successful drapery
business, and had investments in several ships. In 1863 he formed a partnership
with local shipbuilder John Punshon Denton. The new firm was named Denton, Gray
and Company. They intended to build iron ships, which were just starting to
replace wooden-built vessels. They extended Denton’s yard at Middleton to
include part of the former Richardson Brothers’ yard. Their first ship
"Dalhousie" (later renamed the Sepia) was launched on 23rd January 1864.
In
1865 Denton, Gray & Co joined with shipbuilders Richardson, Duck and Company of
Stockton, and marine engine builders T. Richardson and Sons. The new partnership
was called Richardson, Denton, Duck and Company. A slump in the market meant
that this new firm only lasted until September 1866. After this all the firms
went back to their original ownership and names.
In 1867 Denton, Gray &
Co launched the "Lizzie English", which is thought to have been the first
well-deck steamer. In the same year, they expanded into a disused shipyard which
had belonged to Blumers. As orders increased the firm needed still more
workspace and, in June 1868, they leased the vacant Pile, Spence yard. By summer
of 1869, all the workforce had been transferred to the new yard, while the
Middleton yards, including Blumers, were taken over by Withy, Alexander and Co.
The move meant that Denton, Gray and Co. now had two dry-docks. This allowed
them to increase their business in repairing and over-hauling ships as well as
shipbuilding.
When William Gray and J.P. Denton first went into business
together they had each put up an equal share of the money needed. They had
agreed to divide the profits, with Denton taking 55% and Gray 45%. This was
because Denton intended to take care of most of the running of the business,
leaving Gray free to do other things. When Denton became ill in 1869 Gray had to
take over more of the work, so they agreed to share the profits equally. Some
legal problems were beginning to develop in the partnership, however.
Both of
Denton’s sons worked for the firm, and he wanted them to become partners. Gray
did not agree. He was willing to take on Denton’s older son, Richard, but he
wanted his own eldest son, Matthew, as the other partner, as soon as he was old
enough. There had been no legal documents drawn up when Gray and Denton went
into partnership, since they had trusted that “a man’s word is his bond”. The
two men could not reach an agreement and the matter was put in the hands of the
courts. No decision had been made by the time of Denton’s death in 1871.
By 1874 the courts had still not reached a conclusion over who should be allowed
to become a partner, and finally Richard Denton left the firm. It was now
renamed as William Gray and Company. The first ship launched by the new firm was
the "Sexta" in August 1874. In 1877 Matthew Gray, William’s older son, became a
junior partner.
The new company was even more successful than the old one had
been. In 1878 William Gray and Company launched eighteen ships. This earned them
the “Blue Riband”, which was a prize for the most ships built in a year by any
British shipyard. They won the same award in 1882, 1888, 1895, 1898 and 1900.
On 16th June 1886, a Tyneside shipbuilding firm, Armstrong, Mitchell and Co.
launched the world’s first oil tanker, the "Gluckauf". Gray’s launched their own
tanker, the "Bakuin", on 17th June, and so missed the record by just one day.
At this time most of the world’s supply of oil came from the Standard Oil
Company. The cheapest way to ship oil around the world was through the Suez
Canal. This had been opened in 1869, and provided a short-cut between the
Mediterranean and Red Seas. In 1892 the Suez Canal Company introduced new
regulations which all ships had to meet before they could go through the canal.
In May of the same year Gray’s launched the "Murex", the first of six ships
ordered by a London man named Marcus Samuel. These ships met the new regulations
exactly. The ships belonging to Standard Oil did not. This allowed Samuel to win
a share of the oil market away from Standard Oil, and was the beginning of the
now-famous Shell Oil Company.
https://www.hhtandn.org/hartlepool-ships-and-shipping/shipbuilding/200/Gray%27s%20Shipyard
Hartlepool History Then and Now
Lloyd's Book of House Flags and Funnels
(1912) shows the house flag of William Gray & Co., Ltd. (#356, p. 53), as
swallow-tailed, blue with a red cross patty inscribed in a white disc.
https://research.mysticseaport.org/item/l011061/l011061-c008/#18
Ivan Sache, 23 April 2021