Involved initially in the town’s fishing industry in 1816 with a part share in the lugger ‘Dasher’, built and registered in St. Ives, the Hains, with other venturers, proceeded to purchase the schooner ‘Camilla’ in 1838. Commanded by Edward Hain, voyages were now possible to Mediterranean ports, delivering cargoes of cured fish and returning with Greek and Turkish dried fruit. The acquisition of the schooner ‘Mystery’ meant that trading in West Indian sugar and Brazilian coffee was made possible. And the family prospered, especially as its sons became Master Mariners each in his turn, and each bearing the name Edward.

However Edward Hain IV born in 1851, showed no inclination for the sea, and worked in the offices of a London tea merchant. He soon realized that greater profits were to be made from steam, and, after a long battle with his father, the transition from sail to steam was made. Armed with finance provided by Bolitho’s bank (the forerunner of Barclays), Edward visited the yards of John Redhead and Sons at South Shields, and that same year their first steamer the ‘Trewidden’ (named after the Bolitho estate near Penzance), was commissioned, later to be launched by the daughter of John Redhead. This was the first of many as Redheads went on to build 73 more during Edward’s lifetime and a total of 87 ships was delivered by them. All vessels were identified by the prefix ‘Tre’ and a large letter ‘H’ on the funnel. This tradition continued through the years.

The company’s offices in St. Ives were originally located in the old Manor House, Greencourt (later Tregenna Place), designated as a home for the dowagers of the Stephens family after the erection of their Tregenna Castle. In 1906 the company moved to new premises, occupying a whole corner block in Tregenna Place now know as the ‘Isobar’.

The Hain Steamship Company gave preference to local boys wishing to make a career at sea, and this policy resulted in a large number of Master Mariners who were respected in all the major ports of the world. Considering that most of these mariners received only Board school education, there is all the more reason to applaud their achievements in a much harder school.

With so many St. Ives men away at sea, it was only natural for a large proportion of townspeople to take a keen interest in their welfare. For many years the local paper published weekly lists of shipping movements so that the families were kept informed. A typical entry (with appropriate dates) might read :- ‘Trevanion in ballast to Sydney for orders’. Having arrived the master would receive instructions as to where his cargo awaited, sometimes visiting more than one port before turning homewards. Ballast was mainly sand or stone that could be sold off at the end of the voyage.

The Hain fleet served in both World Wars, suffering great losses in men and ships. In the Great War alone 18 vessels were lost to enemy action. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the fleet numbered 24 vessels with a further 3 on order. It was not long before the company suffered its first loss. ‘Trevanion’ was sunk by the German pocket battleship ‘Admiral Graf Spee’, when 5 days out of Cape Town and her crew taken prisoner: other sinkings were to follow.

A few years after Sir Edward’s death in June 1917 following the death of his only son at Gallipoli in 1915, the Company’s offices removed to Cardiff and later the line was acquired by P & O of London, although the policy of employing St. Ives seamen and apprentices continued. In more recent years the trend towards bulk carriers led to a decision to phase out the Hain Line; and so it passed into history leaving behind not only memories of a great venture but of the man who nurtured it.

The history of the Hain Steamship Company is kept alive in the St. Ives museum where a special Hain Room provides a wealth of detail for the descendents of those who served it, as well as students and others. A visit to the museum is well worthwhile for anyone who has an interest in this unique enterprise.