WikiWirral Share a Little Learn a Lot about your Wirral
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,352
Posts1,033,280
Members14,560
Most Online16,551
Feb 2nd, 2024
Who's Online Now
11 members (ArranGirl13, 3 invisible), 7,969 guests, and 428 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,788
_Ste_ 16,345
Newest Members
Kalena1962, rattus, Lisrush, Emotecreative, ArranGirl13
14,560 Registered Users
New General Forums
New Wirral History
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
D.I.Y. / Building Shop
by mharford91 - 3rd Mar 2024 8:53pm
1970's Murder in Central Park, Wallasey
by cutespam - 4th Aug 2018 10:28am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by Rhoobarb - 25th May 2010 5:55pm
Oleo Works
by Ducko - 14th May 2008 3:09pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
granny 14
casper 13
bri445 4
Topic Replies
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 3:50pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by diggingdeeper - 27th Mar 2024 2:33am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 5:43pm
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by diggingdeeper - 26th Mar 2024 3:09am
Old Hall in Higher Bebington
by diggingdeeper - 24th Mar 2024 5:58pm
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 21st Mar 2024 9:27am
March
M T W T F S S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
Kylix 1
cools 1
Top Likes Received
bert1 14
Mark 4
granny 3
casper 3
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#394960 14th Mar 2010 7:19pm
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
bert1 Offline OP
Wiki Veteran
OP Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
In 1858 the famous explorer Dr Livingstone came to Birkenhead to view the trials of a small paddle vessel built by Lairds. It was the first vessel ever built in the new material used for shipbuilding., that material being Steel. The vessel named MA ROBERT, the African name for Mrs Livingstone. The MA ROBERT was used for his expedition to the Zambesi in the same year.

Attached Images
Livingstone.jpg (34.02 KB, 311 downloads)
ma robert.jpg (85.19 KB, 312 downloads)
ma robert lairds.jpg (659.24 KB, 313 downloads)

God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Google Ads
bert1 #394970 14th Mar 2010 7:59pm
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,515
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,515
The journey to West Africa must have been as exciting as going up the river.


See you in cyberspace!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 243
Addict
Offline
Addict
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 243
They often used to ship these craft out in sections, and finally assemble them when they got to site.

Didn't stop him getting lost and Stanley having to go and find him !

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 576
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 576
The first programme in a new series called The Last Explorers was shown on BBC-2 last Sunday (January 21). I taped it and have only just watched it – hence this late heads-up.

It’s worth seeing for anyone interested in the history of Laird’s, telling the story of the missionary David Livingstone’s expedition in the Ma Robert - a vessel specially built for him by John Laird at the Birkenhead yard in 1858.

An experimental craft, it was the first steel-hulled paddle-wheel steamer and was shipped to Africa in prefabricated sections in the hold of a larger ship to be assembled on the Zambesi.

However, it was not a success. The Ma Robert drew a draught of only 3ft, but even that proved too deep for some sections of the river. It also turned out to be badly underpowered and was dubbed The Asthmatic.

I seem to remember reading that David Livingstone came to Birkenhead to take delivery of the ship and that Livingstone Street was so named in commemoration of his visit.

The programme, presented by Neil Oliver, does not mention that the ship was built at Laird's.

If anyone wants to catch it, this episode of The Last Explorers can be seen on BBC’s iPlayer until Sunday night.

Last edited by yoller; 27th Jan 2012 12:59am.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 720
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 720
It's something my husband would love to watch as his Dad worked for many years at Laird's but sadly because we live in USA we wouldn't be able to see it on BBC iplayer. I've never understood why just because you don't live in a country you can't watch something on the internet from there. I've tried to listen to various UK radio stations online too but get the same message all the time saying I can't due to location frown


Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14
bert1 Offline OP
Wiki Veteran
OP Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 14


God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,452
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,452
Yes Elizabeth, I get that too and can never understand it. Defeats the whole object of the "World-Wide Web", it strikes me...!!

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,973
Forum Guardian
Offline
Forum Guardian
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,973
Wasn't there a film about Dr Livingstone,some scenes were shot in Hamilton Square,can't remember what it was called?


Every dog has its day!
bert1 #659194 28th Jan 2012 12:15am
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 576
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 576
Attached is an extract about the Ma Robert from Men of Iron: The Story of Cammell Laird Shipbuilders, by D Hollett (1992).

Attached Images
robert1.jpg (175.91 KB, 157 downloads)
robert2.jpg (135.71 KB, 159 downloads)
yoller #660066 30th Jan 2012 8:52pm
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,195
Forum Addict
Offline
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,195
The naming of the vessel Ma Robert may have had more to do with Scottish tradition rather than any African influence. It was named in honour of Mary (Livingstone's wife) mother of their first born son 'Robert'.

There's some great info and further photographs on the following link:

http://www.ecoelements.co.uk/vf/vfpages/discovery/second.html

Geekus #660962 1st Feb 2012 1:30pm
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 472
Likes: 1
Smartchild
Offline
Smartchild
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 472
Likes: 1
The account of the origins of the name of Livingstone's steam launch come from his own writings where he records: "Those who speak this language [Sichuana or Bechuana, now called Tswana] have a curious custom of putting 'Ma' and 'Ra' before the name of the eldest son, and of calling his parents by these newly compounded names respectively. Thus they call Mrs Livingstone Ma-Robert, ie the mother of Robert..."


Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Tall Brick Chimneys
by diggingdeeper - 16th Mar 2024 11:56am
For Sale & Free
Wisper electric bike. 36v .
by Dilly - 21st Mar 2024 7:36pm
This is Elvis
by GingerTom - 17th Mar 2024 2:37pm
Member Spotlight
diggingdeeper
diggingdeeper
Wirral
Posts: 14,343
Joined: July 2008
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Facial recognition coming in supermarkets?
by Excoriator - 27th Mar 2024 10:52am
Hot Spot Chippie Broadway
by Excoriator - 26th Mar 2024 7:57pm
Bolts at Bebington Road
by Excoriator - 23rd Mar 2024 9:48am
Get your Money Tree ready
by keef666 - 22nd Mar 2023 12:27pm
Restaurant/pub with outdoor seating - Bromborough
by CarterUSM - 7th Aug 2020 7:59pm
News : New Topics
Gaza
by diggingdeeper - 29th Oct 2023 9:28am
Lost river (Well, brook really)
by Excoriator - 10th Sep 2019 8:50am
New Enthusiast Forums
Netflix 3 Body Problem.
by BultacoAstro - 22nd Mar 2024 8:04am
Xbox
by TudorBlue - 3rd Mar 2024 8:48pm
Wiper mechanism needed
by Peter0787 - 20th Feb 2024 4:07pm
Popular Topics(Views)
5,069,750 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,013,797 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5