Langton Grange was a refrigerated steam cargo ship built in 1896 by the Workman, Clark & Co. of Belfast for Houlder Brothers & Co. of London to transport meat and other produce from Australia and South America to United Kingdom.

In mid-1890s, following continuous expansion of their frozen meat trade with Australia and South America, Houlder Brothers & Co. placed an order for three refrigerated cargo vessels of approximate 9,000 deadweight to increase the capacity of their fleet.

Langton Grange was the first ship of the series and was laid down at Workman, Clark & Co. shipyard in Belfast and launched on 29 February 1896 (yard number 124), with Mrs. Fred Houlder of West Hampstead, being the sponsor.

In addition, the ship was fitted with refrigerating machinery of the carbonic gas system and insulated chambers to carry chilled meat on her homeward journeys.

[1] After successful completion of sea trials on 27 May 1896 on the Belfast Lough, during which the ship could easily maintain an average speed of 13+1⁄2 knots (15.5 mph; 25.0 km/h), she was transferred to her owners and immediately departed for Newport in the late afternoon.

From South Africa the vessel departed on 25 July for New Caledonia in ballast, however, she experienced some problems with her machinery en route, and had to put into Melbourne for repairs.

She was sighted around Cape Horn on 24 December by steamer SS Wennington Hall who took her in tow and brought to Montevideo on 4 January, and from there Langton Grange was taken by two tugs to Buenos Aires.

[7] After finalizing temporary repairs, the vessel departed Buenos Aires on 7 February 1897, stopped at Montevideo to load 561 bulls and 900 sheep, and reached London on 15 March, concluding her maiden journey.

Langton Grange conducted three more trips between the United Kingdom and Australia via South Africa and Buenos Aires in 1897-1899, bringing back frozen meat, wool and nickel ore. On 2 October 1898 she collided off Charleston with Norwegian barque Henrietta in the morning fog, and had her rails and bridge amidships damaged and had to return to London for repairs.

While en route, the ship was chartered by the Imperial Government to transport troops and horses to South Africa as tensions between the Boers and England had increased.

[10] In January 1901 the steamer headed from South Africa to Buenos Aires to bring more horses for the army, however, her charter was cancelled, and she sailed from La Plata to England.

Upon arrival in England from South America, Langton Grange was again chartered by the American & Australian Line and left London for New York via Liverpool on 5 April 1901.

After loading her cargo, consisting among other things of 50,375 cases of kerosene, and a large number of steel rails, the vessel sailed from New York on 25 May and reached Adelaide on 27 July.

She made two more trips from Australia to Durban, in September 1901 and March 1902, carrying horses and provisions for the British army in an unofficial capacity, before returning to London on 3 June 1902.

Subsequently, the ship was chartered by the Japanese Government to carry horses to Hong Kong and arrived in Sydney on 27 April, and continued to Townsville for loading.

Instead of Hong Kong, she unloaded her cargo at Ujina and departed for her return trip to Australia on 6 June carrying on board 56 officers and crew of steamer SS Courtfield.

[18] An inquiry into the wrecking was held on 18–20 September 1909 and the court found the captain was at fault for relying too much on the approximate distance from the Strumble Head Light, which likely was inaccurate in a foggy weather at the time of disaster.