Alexander Hall was born in Auchterless, Aberdeenshire, in 1760 and moved to Aberdeen in 1783. In 1790, he took over his father-in-law’s established shipbuilding partnership of Cochar & Gibbon, and the name changed to Alexander Hall & Co.
The firm built a number of vessels of various types but is best remembered for the schooners SCOTTISH MAID (1839) and NONSUCH (1842) which pioneered the Aberdeen Bow. This innovative distinctive sharp pointed design allowed the vessel to cut through the water, thus improving speed and manoeuvrability.
Hall went on to develop the design and taking advantage of the tax regime that prevailed, where ships were taxed according to a formula based on width of the vessel. This resulted in the long sleek vessels such as TORRINGTON and STORNOWAY built in 1845 and 1850 which epitomised the Clipper Ships for which Aberdeen became celebrated and which plied the opium and tea routes.
As an employer Alexander Hall was benign and contributed to a fund to pay for medical bills, provide sick pay for employees as well as ultimately help cover funeral expenses.
After Alexander Hall’s death in 1849 the firm now managed by his son continued to build vessels.
It wasn’t long before Hall’s were building steam powered vessels including warships, although not being an engine builder themselves. Perhaps the best-known warship Hall’s built was the JO SHO MARU (later renamed RYŪJŌ) destined for the Japanese navy and ordered through Thomas Glover who was one of the major commercial figures in Japan following its opening up to foreign trade.1887 saw Hall’s launch its first vessel powered by an engine they had built themselves. This was installed in the PETREL. The following year saw Hall’s move into building steam trawlers with the launch of MAGGIE WALKER. The years up to outbreak of First World War saw the yard produce a wide range of different vessels although they were to struggle after the armistice was signed and the yard was plagued by underinvestment. This came to a head in 1942 when Burntisland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd took over the yard and Hall’s only really existed in name. After this the yard continued to struggle and was eventually merged into Hall, Russell shipbuilders in 1957, which themselves were nationalised in 1977 under the name British Shipbuilders.
The story of Hall’s is a mirror of the industry in Aberdeen; one of great innovation, a long period of stagnation following a lack of investment resulting in an inability to compete on the market and eventual closure.
Image: William Hall (Sculpture) by Henry Bain Smith
