Toyne Carter & Co

The Fowey shipbroking firm of Toyne Carter and Co was founded in 1896 when J P Carter (1872-1957), of Coppack, Carter and Co, Connah's Quay, joined in partnership with C L Toyne (c 1870-1921), who had become established in business in the port some time earlier. Before long the firm became one of the principal shipbrokers and agents in Fowey, a position which resulted from the partners' involvement with the china clay shippers in and around nearby St Austell. The export of china clay in the early days was handled through the liner ports, local merchants selling in small amounts which would then be held until there was sufficient to make up a coaster cargo. It would then be shipped in casks to Liverpool for outward shipment. Toyne Carter and Co ran an office in Liverpool for several years for this reason, but subsequently arrangements were made to charter ships to carry china clay directly from Fowey. The first shipment in what became known as the 'Clay Line' left Fowey harbour for the United States in 1904. With the growth in the demand for china clay, more and larger ships were arriving to load for destinations all over the world; some, like those of the Holland Steamship Company and the Glynn Line, on a regular basis, and with these the company forged particularly strong links.

The company owned ships on several occasions, both steam and sail, most notably the three-masted schooner A B Sherman. A war prize, she was acquired by the firm in 1918 in poor condition, restored at great expense and returned to service in 1921, when the post-war boom had passed its peak. With freight rates down and cargoes difficult to find, the A B Sherman traded under the company's flag for only a short period. The consequence of this episode, which came close to bankrupting the company, was its change into a limited liability company in 1921. It remained one until 1968, reverting back into a partnership then. In 1977 Toyne Carter & Co was acquired by English Clays Lovering Pochin and Co Ltd, St Austell.