Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Lovells Shipping & Transport Group

Other Business Names:

  • Lovell, Charles S, & Sons
  • Bristol Steam Navigation Co Ltd
  • War Office Steam Packet Co
  • British Electric Traction Co Ltd
  • United Transport Co Ltd
  • International Ferry Freight

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Bristol, City of Bristol, Avon, South West, England

Sectors:

  • Transport services Freight forwarding, broking, packing, etc, services
  • Transport services Shipping agency, etc, services
  • Transport services Shipping services - short distance, inc ownership & management

Notes:

Traced origins to Charles Shaw Lovell, 1847-1916, who established at Bristol in 1869 a ship and shipping agent's business. Known as C Shaw Lovell & Sons from 1897. From 1890s closely associated with Bristol Steam Navigation Co Ltd, established in 1821 as War Office Steam Packet Co, which provided services to Ireland and Europe. Acted for this business for many years and controlled it from 1847. 1954 Bristol Steam acquired C Shaw Lovell & Sons and became a public company in 1965 as Lovell's Shipping & Transport Group, shipowners, shipping agents and shipping and forwarding agents. Early users of container shipping. 1976 acquired by British Electric Traction Co Ltd (BET) via its subsidiary International Ferry Freight, part of United Transport Co Ltd.

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