Elder Dempster Lines was one of the UK’s largest shipping companies. As part of the Homeward Bound project, we’ve spoken to a number of Elder Dempster’s former employees and passengers, recording their ‘real’ stories and experiences. You can listen to their Elder Dempster stories here.
The Homeward Bound: A Liverpool-West Africa Heritage Project documents the lives and memories of Elder Dempster’s seafaring and office staff. As part of the project, we recorded 25 oral testimonies.
Read more about the history of Elder Dempster Lines - the largest UK shipping group between Western Europe and West Africa from the late-nineteenth century to the 1980s.
Expand your knowledge of Elder Dempster with our teaching and learning resources.
Throughout the year, we hold a number of events relating to Elder Dempster Lines. We'll post details about upcoming events on this page. Read more about the workshops, talks and training we've held in the past.
Please contact us using the details below if you’d like to find out more about Elder Dempster Lines or the Homeward Bound Project. We welcome enquiries from schools, teachers and community groups.
Browse through the dates on the Elder Dempster timeline to learn more about the history of the Elder Dempster Lines shipping company.
Alan Wigelsworth began working for Elder Dempster Lines aged 15. Alan joined the company as office boy. Listen to Alan's interview.
As part of the Homeward Bound project we’ve collected 25 oral testimonies from Elder Dempster Line’s seafaring and office staff. Listen to the interviews.
Derek Bailey joined Elder Dempster Lines in 1957. In his interview, Derek recalls what it was like living on a ship with a wife and children at home. Derek also speaks about Elder Dempster Lines’ latter years.