Head Line and the Ulster Steamship Co. Ltd

Reference code

HOYFM.ACL2024.20

Level of description

Fonds

Title

Head Line and the Ulster Steamship Co. Ltd

Scope and content

Items from the Ulster Steamship Company and G. Heyn & Sons, generally known as ‘Head Line,’ which acquired the Lord Line and the Donaldson Line in 1917. During the first 100 years of trading, from 1877 to 1977, the company owned 58 ships; their second ship, Fair Head, features in many photographs in the collection. Subsequently, the company became a part of the Heyn Group, which is involved in a wide range of shipping operations. Contents: photographs from G. Heyn & Sons Ltd. Belfast of various ships at various time periods in different locations (as indicated by the back of photographs), including Fair Head, Kenbane Head, Torr Head, Brae Head, etc. a photograph of Dunaff Head in 1918; Bray Head photographs dated 1894; two photographs of Kenbane Head (1919); a print of the North Down ship (1954); Fair Head photographs; undated photograph the Lord Downshire; photographs of the ships: Kenbane Head, Dunduff HD; a photograph of a breach on an unidentified ship; photographs of the City of Dublin and Orlock Head; a print of the Lurigethan by Harvey Richard Photography; photographs of the M.V. Ballygally Head (1954), a Dutch postcard of the Ballygally Head, other photographs of the ship stamped by the Belfast Telegraph, a photograph of its maiden voyage as ascribed by a typescript note; photographs of the Bengore Head, the Carrigan Head (1958); photographs of the Head Line (1960); a card copy of the SS Fair Head; two prints of the Inishowen Head (dated 1951); many more photographs of the Inishowen Head/ Ramore Head (1950s); a picture of the Ramore Head at Chicago (1960); many photographs of the Rathlin Head stamped by Harland and Wolff; two photographs of Roonagh Head at Navy Pier, Chicago (1960); several photographs of the Torr Head stamped by Turners Ltd., Newcastle Upon Tyne, presumably in Newcastle Harbour; a photograph of the inaugural champagne ship launching of the Torr Head; a Skyfotos Ltd. price list and order form (Sept. 1966); a Skyfotos letter to G. Heyn & Sons Ltd., Belfast, concerning a proof of one of their vessels and advising them to buy photocopying rights (Dec. 1967); a photograph of M.V. Carrigan Head, Quebec (winter 1965/66); a picture of the Torr Head with the Toronto skyline (1963); photographs of the Torr Head at sea; a large photograph of the hull of Rathlin Head in a port by Hayward Studios; a print of the Roonagh Head, Inishowen Head, and Fanad Head discharging at Pollock Dock, Belfast on the 8th of June 1954; an older photograph of the Roonagh Head seemingly in motion with flags; a picture of men on the Roonagh Head; subsequent older card prints of the Roonagh Head, one with vessel under a bridge; a photograph of the Roonagh Head at Eisenhower Lock, St. Lawrence Seaway (1959); power of attorney handwritten letter from Samuel Orr to Kelly Orr (1917); two prints on cardboard of the Rathlin Head and Carrigan Head (dated 1882); a card photograph of Captain Samuel Cambridge Orr (1882); two blank postcard photographs of the Carrigan Head and Torr Head (1882); photograph of a ship with sails in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (1882); blurry photograph of the Torr Head (1882); another sail ship photo (1882); a postcard with an illustration of ‘the rescue of the crew of William H. Skinner by the Brae Head,’ containing a small note, “How do you like this for a life? Hope you are all quite well with kind regards,” to Miss Nora [?] in Ballycarry (10/6/1882); a certificate of competency as Master to Samuel Orr, on parchment, issued by the Board of Trade from Glasgow (1892); a typescript letter from G. Heyn and Sons concerning the allocation of £5,000 to captains, engineers, and officers who remained in their service at the end of the war, with this specific employee receiving £100 if he signs and returns the letter (November 28th, 1918); a stapled, printed note of the Navy’s thanks to the Merchant Service (likely 1918); Ireland via Liverpool’ train services card (1937); Ulster Imperial Line Belfast-Liverpool informational pricing booklet (1933); photocopies of private and confidential material from Headline in the 1920s; empty managers of Head Line’ booklet; P&O Ferries timetabling booklets and supplements (1975); a Liverpool-Belfast ferry service promotional/price booklet (1967); photocopied promotional images, posters, and photographs from Belfast Steamship Company; a laminated P&O European Ferries informational page; original typescript letter correspondence between Heyn & Sons and James Little & Company Ltd. . concerning Messrs and commissions (Feb. 1921); newspaper cutting of Head Line from the Gazette (Oct. 1961); a copy of the press release information for the launch of ‘Rathlin Head’ from Harland and Wolff (1953); several postcards of Head Line vessels, one old dated 1912.

Contents

HOYFM.ACL2024.20/1 - G. Heyn and Sons/Head Line Limited Centenary Exhibition at Cultra