Blackpool shipwrecks

Blackpool and the Fylde coast has become a ship graveyard to a number of vessels over the years. Most of the shipwrecks occurred at or near Blackpool, whilst a few happened a little further afield but have strong connections with the Blackpool area. For the purposes of this article, Blackpool means the stretch of coast from Fleetwood to Lytham St Annes.

Travers - 1755

The "Travers" was wrecked in 1755 with a cargo of lace.cite web | url = http://www.btinternet.com/~stephen.yarwood/Blackpool_history.htm| first = | last = | origyear = | origmonth = | publisher = Stephen Yarwood| work = | title = Growth of the County Borough of Blackpool in the County of Lancashire 1500-1938| accessdate = 2008-02-25]

The "Pea Soup" wreck - 1779

In the autumn of 1779 a ship laden with peas was wrecked at Blackpool.

Fanny - 1821

The "Fanny" was wrecked off the coast of Blackpool in 1821, laden with red and black flannel.

Wreck at the Gynn - 1833

A ship was wrecked at the Gynn in 1833.

Crusader - 1839

The "Crusader" was wrecked at South Shore in 1839, laden with silk. Some looters from Marton were jailed after being caught stealing the cargo.

Aristocrat - 1840

The Brig "Aristocrat" was wrecked opposite the Imperial Hydro in 1840. Two of the passengers were drowned.

William Henry - 1861

The schooner "William Henry" was wrecked at South Shore, laden with flour and lard.

St Michael - 1864

The "St. Michael" was wrecked at Blackpool on 18 September 1864. The new lifeboat rescued the crew of fourteen.

Favourite - 1865

The brig "Favourite", of Liverpool was wrecked off Blackpool on 22 November 1865 with the loss of ten crew. She was carrying a cargo of palm oil and seed.cite web | url = http://www.mightyseas.co.uk/marhist/whitehaven/built_elsewhere/favourite.htm| publisher = Through Mighty Seas| title = Favourite| accessdate = 2008-04-20 ]

Lexington - 1865

The barque "Lexington" was wrecked, the crew of fourteen were saved by the lifeboat.

Bessie Jones - 1880

The Fleetwood schooner "Bessie Jones" was lost on Salthouse Bank on 26 February 1880. One man was lost, but four were saved. It was this shipwreck that led to a campaign for a lifeboat at St. Annes.cite news
last =
first =
title = Shipwreck Gallery
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-02-25
url = http://www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/shipwreck/
accessdate = 2008-02-25 ]

Arethusa - 1882

The "Arethusa" was wrecked off Blackpool in 1882, ten people were saved.cite web | url = http://rmhh.co.uk/blackpool.html| first = | last = | origyear = | origmonth = | publisher = Hall Genealogy| work = | title = A Chronology of the growth of the County Borough of Blackpool in the County of Lancashire, from 1500 to 1938| accessdate = 2008-01-31]

Mexico - 1886

The "Mexico" ran aground on Horse Bank off Southport on 9 December 1886. The crew of twelve were saved by the Lytham lifeboat "Charles Biggs", but the Southport and St. Annes lifeboats both capsized, with 27 of the 29 crew being killed.

irene - 1892

The Norwegian ship "Sirene" was sailing from Fleetwood to Florida in the United States on 9 October, 1892 when it was caught up in a hurricane and smashed into North pier, destroying part of the pier. The eleven crew members jumped onto the pier to safety. The ship's wheel is housed in Blackpool lifeboat house.cite news
last = Fleming
first = Craig
title = A graveyard for ships
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-02-05
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/daily-feature/A-graveyard-for-ships.3744532.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-06 ]

SS Huntcliff - 1894

The tramp steamer SS "Huntcliff" had been anchored off Llandudno on 12 February 1894 when the anchor chain snapped. She was beached between Squires Gate and St. Annes, being refloated 11 days later. The beach became a temporary fairground.

Abana - 1894

where it was wrecked. The ship's bell still hangs in St Andrews Church in Cleveleys.cite news
last = Fleming
first = Craig
title = The Fylde coast - A graveyard for ships
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-02-05
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/The-Fylde-coast--A.3742141.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-06 ] The remains of the Abana are still visible at low tide on the beach at Little Bispham.cite web
title = Fylde Post Card History: THE ABANA WRECKED 22nd DECEMBER 1894 OFF NORBRECK
publisher = rossallbeach.co.uk
url = http://www.rossallbeach.co.uk/wreckedtheabanap.htm
accessdate = 2008-02-06] On the same day as the Abana hit the pier, a fishing boat from Fleetwood, the "Petrel" was also driven ashore by the same storm close to Uncle Tom's Cabin at North Shore.

HMS Foudroyant - 1897

and anchored two miles out to sea between Central and North piers. Just before 6am on 16 June the ship was caught up in a hurricane force storm and broke anchor. She drifted toward land, and just missed the jetty at North pier before hitting the shore slightly to the north at Cocker Square. The ship was then bought by a local syndicate who made souvenirs from the wood. Most of the ship though was broken up in a storm in November 1897.

Commandant Bultinck - 1929

Formerly a Fleetwood trawler, "Commandant Bultinck" was wrecked on Rossall Beach on 3 December, 1929. Three people were killed.cite web | title = Wrecked Rossall Beach | publisher = Fylde Postcard History | date = | url = http://www.rossallbeach.co.uk/wreckedrossallbeachp.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-06]

MV Thorium - 1964

The "Thorium" was an ICI coaster that ran aground on Knot Spit in 1964. She was refloated six days later.cite web
title = Cleveleys Beach
publisher = Fylde Postcard History
date =
url = http://www.rossallbeach.co.uk/icicoastersp.htm
accessdate = 2008-02-06]

Holland XXIV - 1981

The "Holland XXIV" was a dredger that ended up beached at Cleveleys in 1981.cite web
title = ICI Coasters
publisher = Fylde Postcard History
date =
url = http://www.rossallbeach.co.uk/pcleveleysbeachp.htm
accessdate = 2008-02-06]

MS Riverdance - 2008

when it ran into trouble at about 19:30. A total of twenty three people were airlifted from the ferry, which ran aground on the beach at Anchorsholme, Cleveleys, opposite Anchorsholme Lane at about 22:50. The ship was beached very close to the remains of the "Abana".cite news
title = Riverdance ferry drama: Timeline
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-02-01
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Riverdance-ferry-drama-Timeline.3734939.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-02] cite news
title = Ferry runs aground at Blackpool
publisher = BBC News
date = 2008-02-01
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7221386.stm
accessdate = 2008-02-02] cite news
last = Marsden
first = Paul
coauthors = Joe Robinson
title = Dramatic airlift from stricken ferry
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-01-31
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Dramatic-airlift-from-stricken-ferry.3734540.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-02] On 1 February a 400 metre exclusion zone was placed around the stricken ferry and it was revealed that the ferry could be stranded on the beach for some time before salvage teams could remove her.cite news
last = Robinson
first = Joe
title = Stricken ferry could be stranded "for weeks"
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-02-01
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Stricken-ferry-could-be-stranded.3737467.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-02] The ship suffered further structural damage during storms on 12 March, and it was announced on 10 April that all attempts to refloat her had been abandoned and that she was to be scrapped on site.cite web
title = Final death knell for Riverdance ferry
publisher =Blackpool Gazette
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Final-death-knell-for-Riverdance.3970830.jp
accessdate = 2008-04-15]

Coco Leoni - 2008

On 27 March 2008 the motor cruiser "Coco Leoni" ran aground opposite Lytham windmill.cite news
last = Bennett
first = Julia
title = Riverdance ferry has a rival!
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-03-28
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Riverdance-ferry-has-a-rival.3924270.jp
accessdate = 2008-03-28] The boat was refloated a week later.cite news
last = Parkinson
first = Shelagh
title = Sailors refuse to leave stranded yacht
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2008-04-08
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Riverdance-ferry-has-a-rival.3924270.jp
accessdate = 2008-04-08]

References