Thomas Andrews: The Heroic Designer of the Titanic from Comber, County Down, Ireland
The Titanic is probably the best known ship in the world. It was designed by Thomas
Andrews who was born in Comber, a small town on the western shore of Strangford
Lough. The Andrews family arrived in Ulster from Scotland and initially settled on
Mahee island in Strangford Lough. Thomas Andrews joined Harland and Wolff as an
apprentice and rose through the ranks to become Managing Director. He lost his life
on the night of April 14 th 1912 after the Titanic hit an iceberg. As the tragedy unfolded
that night, Thomas Andrews was a hero, putting the lives of others ahead of saving
his own life.
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Memorial in the centre of Comber, County Down
Portaferry’s Historic Connection to the Titanic: From Shipbuilding Hub to Collectible Treasures
Before the loss of the Titanic, Thomas Andrews was a regular visitor to Portaferry.
Portaferry had been an important shipbuilding centre throughout the 19 th Century and
the largest ship ever built in Ireland before the Titanic, the Bess was launched in
Portaferry in 1802.
Some of the timbers used in the construction of the Titanic in Belfast were later sold
on. They were transported to Portaferry and recycled as roof beams in local
buildings in High Street.
Tickets to attend the launch of the Titanic in May 1911 were on sale at the time for
one shilling. These later became highly sought after collectors’ items. The Beck
family from Portaferry had kept an unused ticket. It was sold in 2014 for £34,000.
Gold Pocket Watch of Titanic’s Richest Passenger Sells for Record £1.175 Million in April 2024 Auction
Last week (April 2024) a gold pocket watch which was recovered from the body of the
richest man on the Titanic was sold for a record-breaking £1.175million. It was the
highest amount ever paid for Titanic memorabilia according to the auctioneers,
Henry Aldridge & Son. The price paid reflects the enduring fascination with the
Titanic story.
The owner of the watch, John Jacob Astor was thought to be one of the richest
people in the world at that time with a net worth equivalent to several billion dollars in
todays’ money.
Visitors at the Titanic Belfast
The first book published about the sinking of the Titanic was written by Filson Young,
a famous journalist whose family came from Portaferry.
