List of shipwrecks of Cornwall explained

The list of shipwrecks of Cornwall lists the ships which sank on or near the coasts of mainland Cornwall. The list includes ships that sustained a damaged hull, which were later refloated and repaired. Around a coast of approximately an estimated 6000 ships have been wrecked, more than on any other comparable coastline of the British Isles.[1] A traditional saying about the north coast is "From Pentire Point to Hartland light, A watery grave by day and night."[2] The coast of the Lizard peninsula is particularly hazardous to shipping and the seaways round it were historically known as the "Graveyard of Ships".

N.B. For those wrecks in the Isles of Scilly, see List of shipwrecks of the Isles of Scilly and for those on the Seven Stones Reef see List of shipwrecks of the Seven Stones Reef.

1201–1300

1284

1301–1400

1301/02

1307

1314

1318

1321

1340

1342

1343

1382

1394

1401–1500

1405

1468

1478

1480

1501–1600

1514

1515

1516

1517

1517/1518

1518

1527

1531

1532

1557/1558

1565

1571

1575

1588

1589/1590

1595

1601–1700

In 1621 Sir John Killigrew reported “... a certificate of ye losse of 25 ships there and thereabouts within this dozen or twente years besides a great numbre of others whose ruines lye neare those rocks and cliffs, not knowne of whome or what they weare.”[14]

1616

1619

1632

1635

1637

1649

1658

1659

1667

1669

1676

1683

1684

See also: Loe Bar Wreck.

1691

1695

1700

1701–1800

1704

1707

1708

1720

1721

1739

1738

1745

1746

1748

1749

1751

1752

1753

1754

1758

1760

1763

1764

1767

1768

1772

1773

1778

1780

1781

1782

1786

1787

1790

1791

1792

1795

1796

1798

1801–1900

See main article: List of shipwrecks of Cornwall (19th century).

Since 2001

2002

2003

2004

2008

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2021

• 11 August - Fishing vessel Fredwood MT338 of Maryport, Scotland. Ran aground on Battery rocks early morning after crew fell asleep on watch. Later refloated on rising tide and towed to Newlyn by the Penlee Lifeboat and workboat Danmark. No injuries and vessel returned to service after inspection.

2022

• 12 November 2022 - The 7.49m Fishing Vessel “Craig-A-Tana” of Cadgewith sank 6 miles South-East of Bass Point. Skipper and Crewman abandoned the rapidly sinking boat and took to the life raft. Both were picked up with no injuries by the Lizard lifeboat after successful activation of the EPIRB.

2023

•14 February 2023 - Belgian registered 24 meter beam trawler “Sylvia Marie Z-525” hit rocks and sank off Porthgwarra around 1800 hours, local time. The crew made a distress call before taking to the life raft and were later rescued by Sennen Lifeboat. No injuries reported

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Larn, Richard. Wreck & Rescue round the Cornish coast. Tor Mark Press. Redruth. 978-0-85025-406-8. 48. Larn, Bridget .
  2. News: Cornwall: the Shipwreck Coast . Seal, Jeremy . 2 April 2002 . Daily Telegraph (The) . 27 October 2013.
  3. Pool. P. A. S.. The Tithings of Cornwall. Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. 1981. VIII. New Series. pt 4. 275–337.
  4. Book: Larn, Richard. Shipwreck Index of the British Isles. 1997. Lloyd's Register of Shipping. London. Larn, Bridget .
  5. Berry. Christopher. The Church in St Gennys. 2002. The Gennys Gazette.
  6. Book: St Levan Local History Group. The Book of St Levan. 2004. Halsgrove. Tiverton. 1-84114-328-6.
  7. Book: Larn. Richard. Mills. G Edwin. Shipwrecks at Land's End. 1970. 34.
  8. Web site: Camidge. Kevin. St Anthony's Finds Record. Archaeology Data Service. 17 January 2012. 2008.
  9. Web site: Lettens. Jan. St. Anthony ? [+1526]]. wrecksite. 22 May 2012.
  10. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Saint Andrew [+1526]]. wrecksite. 22 May 2012.
  11. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Santo Christo De Castello. wrecksite. 22 May 2012.
  12. Book: Carter, C. . The Port of Penzance . 1998 . Black Dwarf Publications . Lydney . 0-9533028-0-6 .
  13. Web site: Lettens. Jan. SV John (And 2 other) (+1595). Wrecksite. 4 August 2014.
  14. Book: Noall, Cyril. Cornish Lights and Ship-wrecks. 1968. Bradford Barton. Truro.
  15. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Rill Cove wreck [+1616]]. Wrecksite. 19 July 2014.
  16. Web site: Cornish Shipwrecks. 3 November 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110916034022/http://www.connexions.co.uk/culture/shpwrck.htm. 16 September 2011.
  17. St Ives Times and Echo. 29 November 1968
  18. Book: Thomas, Charles. Godrevy Light. 2009. Twelveheads Press. 9780906294703. Mann, Jessica .
  19. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Aleppo Merchant (+1658). wrecksite. 14 April 2012.
  20. McBride, P. W. J.; Richard, L. & Davis, R. (Ferdinand Research Group). (1971) "A Mid–17th Century Merchant Ship-wreck near Mullion, Cornwall: interim report". Cornish Archaeology 10: 75–78
  21. Web site: Lettens. Jan. ?49°57'5XXN-005°12'0XXW [+1667]]. wrecksite. 22 May 2012.
  22. Web site: History – Halzephron Inn.
  23. Web site: Lettens. Jan. President ? [+1684]]. wrecksite. 22 May 2012.
  24. Web site: Remains one of richest treasure ships wrecked off Cornwall revealed. Graeme. Wilkinson. 10 June 2018. 11 June 2018.
  25. http://www.divernet.com/home-diving-news/p322243-president-s-guns-found-off-cornwall.html President's guns found off Cornwall
  26. Web site: Schiedam. English Heritage. 20 November 2011.
  27. Web site: HMS Coronation (north part) [+1691]]. wrecksite . Eekelers, Dirk . Lettens, Jan . 27 October 2013.
  28. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Thornton (+1700). wrecksite. 4 May 2012.
  29. Book: Leach, Nicholas. Sennen Cove Lifeboats: 150 years of lifesaving . 2003. Tempus Publishing Ltd. Stroud. 0-7524-3111-0 .
  30. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Albemarle (+1708). wrecksite. 7 May 2012.
  31. News: Carter. Jonathan. First wreck project of its kind to start work. The Cornishman. 3 July 2008.
  32. Web site: Lettens. Jan. HMS Royal Anne [+1721]]. wrecksite. 7 May 2012.
  33. Web site: Allen. Tony. Boscawen (+1745). Wrecksite. 21 December 2014.
  34. News: (untitled) . Lloyd's List . 1175 . Lloyd's of London . 27 February 1746 .
  35. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Sqirell (+1749). wrecksite. 5 May 2012.
  36. Web site: Lettens. Jan. HMS Spencer (+1754). wrecksite. 8 May 2012.
  37. Web site: Lettens. Jan. HMS Rinovia (+1754). wrecksite. 8 May 2012.
  38. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Olive Branch (+1754). wrecksite. 8 May 2012.
  39. Book: Treglown, Tony. Porthleven in Years Gone by; Local Shipwrecks. 2011. Tony Treglown. Ashton. 978-0-9539019-7-5 .
  40. News: Fairlplay. Pirates of Penzance. 4 June 2014. Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Adviser (1884–1942). 17 August 1909. 5.
  41. Book: Pool. Peter A S. The History of the Town and Borough of Penzance. 1974. The Corporation of Penzance. Penzance. 978-0905375007.
  42. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Hanover [+1763]]. wrecksite. 13 May 2012.
  43. Book: Larn, Richard. Shipwrecks of the Isles of Scilly. 1992. Thomas & Lochar. Nairn. 0-946537-84-4.
  44. Web site: Lettens. Jan. HMS Firebrand (+1781). wrecksite. 7 May 2012.
  45. News: Mount Edgcumbe to display Cornish shipwreck cargo. BBC. 17 December 2011. BBC News. 17 December 2011.
  46. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Frau Metta Catharina [+1786]]. wrecksite. 8 May 2012.
  47. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Star Cross (+1787). wrecksite. 7 May 2012.
  48. Web site: Lettens. Jan. Briel [+1792]]. wrecksite. 10 May 2012.
  49. Book: Joseph. Peter. So Very Foolish. A History of the Wherry Mine, Penzance. The Trevithick Society. 978-0-904040-95-1.
  50. News: That Vixen, Cairn Jenny . The Cornishman . 391 . 14 January 1885 . 4.
  51. The Marine List . Lloyd's List . 2789 . 29 January 1796 .
  52. Ship News . 10 February 1796 . 3 . 3514 . A .
  53. Bart. Arthur. The Wherry mine, Penzance, its history and its mineral productions.. The Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society. June 1949. XXVIII. 205. 517–536. 1949MinM...28..517R. 10.1180/minmag.1949.028.205.01.
  54. Book: Thomas, J. The History of Mount's Bay. 1820. 1 April 2014.
  55. Web site: Report on the investigation of the grounding of mv Willy, Cawsand Bay, Plymouth Sound on 1 January 2002. Marine Accident Investigation Branch. 24 October 2011. 33. October 2002.
  56. News: Floods continue amid heavy rain. BBC. 29 March 2014. 5 February 2002.
  57. Web site: Sanu you see her...now you don't!. North Cornwall National Trust. 15 November 2013. 18 October 2013.
  58. News: Work starts on clearing Scylla wreck net. BBC. 13 January 2012. BBC News. 12 January 2012.
  59. News: Anon. Capsize boat given all-clear in tests. The Cornishman. 5 June 2008.
  60. News: Fishermen describe being plucked from sinking boat. The Cornishman. 17 March 2010.
  61. News: Ship runs aground near Cornwall's Pendeen lighthouse . BBC News Online . 3 August 2011. BBC News . 3 August 2011 .
  62. Toby Meyjes. Crew warned before big ship ran aground. The Cornishman 11 August 2011.
  63. Web site: Latest Information. Shipwrecks UK. 19 February 2012.
  64. News: Tug boat Aquarius sinks off Lizard in Cornwall. BBC. 23 April 2012. BBC News. 23 April 2012.
  65. News: Trawler runs aground off the Lizard. BBC. 29 August 2013. BBC News. 29 August 2013.
  66. News: Lizard trawler: Scuderia refloated after several attempts . BBC . 3 September 2013. BBC News . 2 September 2013 .
  67. News: Barrie. Josh. Mission staff help rescued fishermen. 13 November 2013. The Cornishman. 7 November 2013. 11.
  68. Web site: Le Sillon – French trawler crew airlifted by SAR helicopter off Trevose Head, Cornwall. Through the Gaps Blog. 3 February 2014.
  69. News: French fishermen rescued from stricken boat off north Cornwall coast. West Briton. 3 February 2014.
  70. Web site: Boat wreck breaks apart near Porthcothan bay. ITV. 2 February 2014.
  71. Web site: Padstow lifeboat rescues crew from French trawler in heavy seas. RNLI. 2 February 2014.
  72. Web site: Video of rescue taken from Padstow lifeboat in heavy seas. RNLI. 3 February 2014.
  73. News: Cornwall rescue for sinking cargo vessel . BBC News Online . 9 March 2014. BBC News . 9 March 2014 .
  74. News: Sinking cargo vessel off Cornwall towed into St Austell . BBC News Online . 10 March 2014. BBC News . 10 March 2014 .