House flag, P. Henderson & Co.

The house flag of P. Henderson & Co., Glasgow. A rectangular tricolour in red white and blue with a small Union Flag in the centre. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting with a linen hoist. It is machine sewn, a rope and toggle is attached.

P. Henderson & Co, also known as Paddy Anderson & Co was a ship owning and management company based in Glasgow. The company was founded in 1840 as a partnership of Patrick and George Henderson. Initially operating with chartered vessels to Australia and then New Zealand, they moved into ship owning and founded the Albion Line in 1848. After carrying emigrants on the outward run, their ships started having problems finding cargoes on the return trip and began to call at Rangoon. In 1865, with the Denny companies, Henderson and Co established the Irrawaddy Flotilla & Burmese Steam Navigation Co which provided water transport in the interior of Burma. The setting up of the British and Burmese Steam Navigation Co in 1874 followed the opening of the Suez Canal and carried passengers direct to Burma. Albion was sold to Shaw Savill in 1882. A decline of the Burma trade followed independence and Elder Dempster acquired control of the Henderson Line in 1952. The group was acquired by the Ocean Steamship Co in 1965 and two years later, the closure of the Suez Canal ended the Burma services. The last Henderson vessel was sold in 1970.

Object Details

ID: AAA0251
Collection: Textiles; Flags
Type: House flag
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: circa 1951
People: P. Henderson & Co Ltd; Pope, Charles Meredyth
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Pope Collection. We regret that Museum enquiries have not been able to identify the copyright owner of the flag's emblem and would welcome any information that would help us update our records. Please contact the Picture Library.
Measurements: flag: 1168.4 x 1600.2 mm