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| 1800's |
The 1800’s – wine and shipping interests in Madeira and the Canary Islands
Since John Blandy (1783 – 1855) first came to Madeira in 1807, the history of the family has been closely interlinked with that of the island. In 1811 John Blandy established himself as a wine shipper, purchasing the property that today houses the Old Blandy Wine Lodges in the centre of Funchal.
During the following decades, Blandy’s diversified its activities, mostly into areas associated with wine or shipping. Blandy’s began importing general goods, often undertaking the management of sailing vessels and their cargo. This developed into the shipping agency and later as Madeira started as a tourist destination this all sowed the seed for banking; it was the custom for local and foreign bills of exchange for payments to be discounted against travellers’ Letters of Credit by the shippers as well as wealthy Englishmen coming to Madeira for their health arrived with letters of credit drawn on Blandy’s.
The Ship’s Agency
By the 1850’s the age of coal had dawned offering new opportunities. John Blandy and his son, Charles Ridpath Blandy purchased beach front land and coves on the island for the storage of coal. Blandy’s became responsible for offering bunker services to the vessels that called at Funchal, as well as supplying coal to the coastal steamers. This in turn led to the establishment of the shipping agency. During the American Civil War, ships from both the Federal and Confederate navies were bunkered by Blandy’s, a situation that must have demanded delicate diplomacy at times. In 1878, Blandy’s were appointed Lloyd’s agents on the island, a position still held today. Also at this time, Blandy’s built up a distribution network around the island, used not only for moving grapes but also for transporting people and goods. Later this developed into a fleet of coastal vessels, which were in turn supported by an engineering and repair yard.
Expansion Overseas and further diversification
Being so close geographically and sharing so many common characteristics of a trading port, it was a natural step to look towards the Canary Islands for expansion. In 1886, John Burden Blandy, grandson to John Blandy, opened Blandy’s offices in the Canaries offering a ship’s bunker service, and the supply of water and stores to vessels.. The London office (est. 1838) became responsible for the purchase of coal from South Wales, as well as negotiating the yearly bunkering contracts with the ships owners. In 1906 Blandy’s was appointed Lloyd’s Agents at Las Palmas.
Until the late 1800’s, piped water was only available in Funchal at public fountains. Graham John, John Burden and Raleigh Blandy (Charles Ridpath’s sons) laid down one of the first systems of piped water in the city, ensuring the supply of pure drinking water for ships and for the wine production.
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1900's |
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