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Morecambe Bay Shipwrecks




Source of Information, Larn: Shipwreck Index of the British Isles Vol 5

Morecambe Bay is well known to millions of people as a holiday destination with shallow seas and warm, sandy beaches for children to play on. But those who live and work the Bay often see a different side of it, a side that the day trippers never see. When the westerly gales howl in off the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay reveals its Jekyll and Hyde nature.

The first recorded instance of a Morecambe Bay shipwreck dates back as far as 1643 when an unidentified sailing vessel was wrecked near Fleetwood and was set on fire by Royalists after they had stripped her of everything of any value.

In the days of sail shipwrecks were a day to day occurrence on the Lancashire coast as the gales often left vessels, with not much room to manouvre, disabled and wrecked on the extensive banks and shoals that abound. Indeed, the most dangerous parts of any voyage must have been the leaving of, and the approach to, any coast. Morecambe Bay, with its fast flowing tides, hidden banks and cross currents, must have proved a very difficult place to be caught out in.

To make matters worse, light winds were often as much a hazard as gales. The gentle breeze made sailing vessels very difficult to handle in the fast flowing waters.
It is worth noting that, as steam began to make its presence felt, the number of wrecks fell, as illustrated in these lists. Steamers could manouvre no matter what the wind state.

Throughout the 19th. century there were several "Great Storms" in the area and as many as 30 vessels were lost on the same night. This is reflected where several vessels are listed under the same date.

I'm not really sure of the exact geographical boundaries of The Bay but it could be said to stretch from Barrow to Rossall Point. However, this list covers the area from Barrow to the Ribble and does not include the many, many vessels lost around Liverpool or the Isle on Man. Also, some of the ports that are referred to, although flourishing at the time, no longer exist as such. Poulton is one example.

This page covers the period from 1642 to 27/12/1852

Name Date Details
Unknown 1642 Wrecked near Fleetwood
Unknown 1660 Thought to be a "plague" ship, lost near Fluke Hall
Employment Aug 1702 Stranded at Bispham, Red Bank
Mary & Betty 03/02/1740 Lost on the Lancashire Coast
Mayflower 22/09/1749 Sailing vessel inbound from Barbados capsized in the Lune. Several lives lost.
Young William 28/11/1755 Sailing vessel on passage between Malaga and Dublin, lost on the Lancashire Coast. All except 2 lost.
Samuel 25/11/1760 Struck a sandbar in Lancaster Bay and lost with six of her crew.
Eagle 17/09/1762 Inbound from Guadaloupe and was entering Lancaster when her crew abandoned her and she hit rocks and was lost.
Anna Maria 07/12/1766 Burned out in the Lune.
Traver 1775 Lost to collision? Rossall Point
Captain Totty 27/10/1775 Lost in a gale in Morecambe Bay after colliding with the sailing vessel "Charming Mary"
Unknown 27/10/1775 Drove ashore at Blackpool. All crew except 2 lost.
Ruby 10/10/1777 Inbound from Jamaica and lost on Walney Island.
Justita 04/11/1777 On a voyage from Sweden to Liverpool. Lost at Blackpool with the loss of 1 life.
Rebecca 19/07/1782 Sailing from Lancaster to the leeward Islands. Lost near Lancaster.
Good Intent 03/09/1782 Foundered whilst anchored off Preston Island.
Alexander 28/09/1790 Lost at Walney Island.
Orange Tree 28/01/1791 Lost at Lytham
Mary Ann 22/05/1792 Lost in Lancaster Bay on a voyage from Liverpool to Ulverston.
Susannah 01/11/1793 Lost off Lytham on a voyag between St Petersburgh and Liverpool
Barbara 14/10/1794 Lost at Lancaster.
Lord John Campbell 20/01/1797 Lost with all hands off the Lancashire Coast.
Happy 15/12/1797 Voyage from Oporto to Liverpool. Lost at Lytham.
Brothers 03/11/1799 Merchantman driven ashore at Blackpool during a storm.
Dolphin 06/02/1801 Stranded and lost at Blackpool
Nostra Senora De Carmen 27/03/1801 Voyage from Lisbon to Liverpool. Lost near Preston, 1 boy saved.
Tyson 17/04/1801 Voyage from Demerara to Lancaster. Driven ashore at Lytham
Unidentified 1802 Lost off Blackpool. 3 out of 18 saved.
Ann 04/10/1802 Dunfalk to Liverpool. Lost near Heysham.
Sally 17/01/1806 Maryport sailing vessel. Lost on Walney. Crew saved.
Fame 25/11/1806 Dublin to the Duddon Estaury. Lost on Walney.
Pomona 16/02/1808 Inbound to Liverpool from Whitehaven. Lost on The Red Noses.
Fletcher 08/10/1808 On voyage from Liverpool to Heligoland. Wrecked in a gale on The North Meols.
Vedra 26/10/1808 Malta to Liverpool. Driven ashore at Lytham.
Lavinia 12/12/1809 Inbound from New Jersey to Liverpool. Wrecked at Lytham.
Griffin 10/03/1810 From Cork to Liverpool. Wrecked near North Meols.
Three Brothers 03/04/1810 Outbound to Cadiz. Wrecked near the North Moles.
Mennie 04/06/1811 Inbound from Newry. Lost near Preston, one drowned.
Chesterfield 12/11/1811 On voyage from Jamaica to Liverpool. Lost at Ulverston.
Fletcher 18/11/1811 Miramichi to Liverpool. Lost at Southport. Nine drowned.
Avis 22/11/1811 Inbound to Liverpool from New Brunswick. Wrecked near Lytham.
Unidentified 1812 Lost off South Shore. Ship's cat the only survivor.
Unidentified 07/1812 Dutchman outbound from Barrow in Furness. Lost on Ulverston Sands. Pilot and one crew lost.
Thomas & Mary 05/01/1813 On voyage from Strangford to Liverpool. Lost at Southport.
Mary Hall 05/03/1813 On voyage from Waterford to Liverpool. Lost at Lytham.
William Leece 23/12/1814 Stranded near Blackpool
Friends 26/12/1814 Pernau to Liverpool. Lost near Blackpool
Sutton 04/09/1816 Outbound for Dublin from Liverpool. Lost 5m NW Southport.
Augustus 10/09/1816 Poole to Liverpool. Lost off Southport.
Shannon 28/11/1816 Inbound from Limerick to Liverpool. Lost on The Banks, Southport.
London 28/01/1817 Sloop, on voyage from London to Liverpool. Lost off Lytham.
Kingsmoor 02/1817 Liverpool to Pernambucu. Ashore in the Duddon Estuary.
Walton 12/12/1817 Inbound from Archangel to Liverpool. Lost on Walney
Corry 19/12/1817 From Newry to Liverpool. Lost near Southport. Eleven men drowned.
Alpha 30/12/1817 Outbound to Poole from Liverpool. Wrecked near Southport, 2 drowned.
New Liberty 28/01/1819 Ulverston to Liverpool, wrecked 2m SE of Fleetwood, at Pilling.
Freedom 02/04/1819 Dublin to Liverpool. Grounded at Southport.
Lady Bulkeley 24/01/1820 Sank at Southport. All crew drowned.
Unidentified (possibly William Bursledon or William Whalley) 23/10/1820 A sloop laden with wheat and oats., lost off Southport.
Unidentified (possibly Richardson) 06/12/1820 A brig, lost on The Banks off Southport.
Cresent 01/12/1821 Left Liverpool for the Clyde and was wrecked at Southport.
Isabella 02/12/1821 On voyage from New Orleans. Wrecked at Southport.
Friends 05/12/1821 Inbound from Waterford, lost in the Ribble.
Phoebe 02/02/1822 Inbound to Liverpool, Lost off The Banks.
Nelly & Jane 02/02/1822 Lost with Phoebe and several other vessels.
Catharine 11/09/1822 Drogheda to Liverpool. Lost in the Ribble. Master, 2 crew and 2 men who went to their assistance drowned.
Fame 15/11/1822 Liverpool to Sunderland. Driven ashore at Walney.
Unidentified On voyage from Ireland. Lost off Walney.
Lascelles 18/11/1822 Inbound from Maranham and driven ashore near Southport in a SW gale.
Ellen 31/12/1823 Carlisle to Liverpool. On rocks off Walney.
Unidentified 31/10/1823 80 ton vessel on the Duddon Sands.
Duncan 31/10/1823 Inbound to Duddon and lost in the Wyre. All drowned.
George 07/11/1823 Lost leaving Southport.
Jessie 13/12/1823 Outbound from Lancaster, wrecked at Blackpool.
Fanny 06/03/1824 Wooden sloop wrecked at Blackpool.
Unidentified 16/11/1824 Brig, lost off Lytham.
Orion 18/01/1825 On voyage from Liverpool to Cork. Driven onto Sand Banks, Rampside.
Aurora 01/02/1825 A 30 ton sloop sailing from Lancaster to Preston. Lost on Walney with the loss of her crew.
Auspicous 28/05/1825 Inbound to Lancaster from London. Lost in Morecambe Bay
Commerce 17/08/1825 Inbound to Preston and lost at the entrance to the Ribble.
Susan 06/11/1825 A brig sailing for Whitehaven. Lost with all crew on the western side of Walney.
Lady Endergally 10/02/1827 A sloop inbound for the Duddon. Lost with all her crew 6 miles from the Pile of Foudrey.
Brothers 07/03/1827 Wreckage washed ashore at Southport.
Commerce 23/03/1827 Sailing vessel carrying gunpowder. Caught fire and exploded in Foulney Island Harbour.
Nancy 13/12/1827 Sailing from Richebucto to Lancaster. Lost in the Lune.
William 16/12/1827 Driven ashore at Heysham point during a gale.
Friendship 04/01/1828 Inbound from Waterford to Liverpool. Lost at Blackpool with all crew.
Lord Oriel 27/01/1830 On voyage from Drogheda to Preston. Lost on the Ribble Banks.
Eliza Jean 11/11/1830 On voyage from Jersey to Liverpool. Lost on the Ribble Banks.
Commerce 04/02/1831 Inbound from St John to Liverpool. Lost on the Ribble Banks.
Unidentified 24/03/1831 Lost near Wyre Water.
Peru 20/09/1831 From Mobile to Liverpool. Stranded on the Ribble Banks.
Neptune 30/09/1831 Lost in the Lune with all hands.
Regalia 11/11/1831 Liverpool to Lisbon. Lost on the Outer Banks.
Howick 16/10/1832 Sailing between Newry and Glasgow. Lost on the Ribble Bank.
Happy Return 1833 Wrecked at Blackpool.
Braddyl 22/02/1833 Sailing from Whitby. Lost on the Lancashire Coast.
Alert 11/06/1833 Lost off Blackpool in a storm along with 12 other vessels on the coast.
Norge 12/06/1833 Outbound from Liverpool to Tonsberg. Lost with all crew off Heysham.
Susan 12/06/1833 A sloop carrying grain. Lost off Southport.
Industrie 13/06/1833 Liverpool to Rotterdam. Lost with one crewman off St Anne's.
Hope 13/06/1833 On voyage from Liverpool to Miramichi. Lost at South Shore.
Barbara 15/06/1833 Lost at Blackpool.
Unidentified 15/06/1833 Lost at Blackpool.
Martha 15/06/1833 Outbound to Lerwick from Liverpool. Lost off Blackpool.
Fly 17/06/1833 Lost on the Lancashire Coast.
Maria 18/06/1833 Sailing to Colchester from Liverpool. Lost on Foulney.
Barbara 15/06/1833 Outbound to Greenock from Liverpool. Lost near Preston.
Active 20/06/1833 Lost near Preston.
Alexandrina Louisa 19/09/1833 Inbound to Liverpool from the Baltic. Struck a wreck and sank near Lancaster.
Prince Leopold 28/09/1833 Inbound to Poulton from the Isle of Man. Lost on the Red Wharf.
Malvina 29/11/1833 Inbound to Liverpool from Cork. Lost near Southport in one of the worst storms of the century.
Acorn 29/11/1833 Outbound to Ballina from Liverpool. Lost on Ulverston Beach. Another victim of the great storm.
London Packet 29/11/1833 Yet another great storm loss. Wrecked on Ulverston Beach.
Jane 03/12/1833 Bound for Exeter. Lost at Southport.
Severn 28/12/1833 On voyage to Fort William from Lancaster. Wrecked near St Anne's Head.
Swift 24/10/1834 Inbound to Liverpool from Fort Rush. Lost near Southport.
Hetty Clifton 03/12/1834 Dundalk to Preston. Lost to the south of Blackpool.
Unidentified 08/12/1834 Foreign schooner lost at Poulton.
Dryades 14/01/1836 From Pentowin to Liverpool. Wrecked near Southport.
Collinogue 31/03/1836 Inbound to Preston from Creetown. Lost at the mouth of the Ribble.
Anna 19/07/1836 Flint to Ulverston. Lost near Blackpool.
Charlotte 08/12/1836 Sailing for Newry. Lost near Lytham.
Eliza 18/02/1837 Sailing between Dublin and Workington. Lost on the outer banks of the Ribble.
Unidentified 25/02/1837 A large vessel lost with all hands on Pilling Sands.
Cumberland 17/09/1837 Making to Lancaster from St. Petersburg. Lost at Piel Island near the NW Buoy.
Royal Oak 26/11/1837 Inbound to Liverpool from Carrickfergus. Lost at Blackpool.
Favourite Jan. 1839 Bound for Genoa. Lost on Crusader Bank.
Crusader 08/01/1839 Liverpool to Bombay. Wrecked on Crusader Bank.
Alert 08/01/1839 Sailing for Sligo from Liverpool. Lost at Heysham.
Yeoman 09/01/1839 Lost in the Lune
Ann Paley 10/01/1839 Lost off Cleveleys on voyage to Lisbon.
Monkey 10/01/1839 Sailing for Gibraltar. Lost off Southport with 3 drowned.
Fame 13/01/1839 Lost at Blackpool.
Tiffin 20/01/1839 Lost at Walney after sailing from Whitehaven.
Whitehaven 20/01/1839 Lost on Moat Bank, Walney.
Tejor 20/12/1839 A Brigantine bound for Liverpool. Driven onto Walney in a gale.
Margaret Nilear 28/01/1840 Lost on Salthouse Bank.
Sovereign 09/03/1840 Lost at Ulverston.
Minerva 18/08/1840 Sailing to Fleetwood from Memel. Driven ashore at Southport in a gale.
Henriette 30/09/1840 Outbound from Liverpool to Reval. Stranded on Horse Bank, 2 drowned.
Isabella 03/01/1841 Lost on Horse Bank while making for Liverpool.
Earl of Selkirk 09/01/1841 Inbound to Preston from Whitehaven. Lost at Walney.
Malcolm 19/08/1841 A Sloop bound for Glasgow. Lost at Lytham Point.
Arcturus 24/12/1841 A Brig wrecked on Walney on voyage to Preston.
Lady Eleanor Rodgers January 1843 A Smack wrecked on Walney.
Aristocrat 18/01/1843 A brig on voyage from Montreal to Liverpool. Wrecked at Blackpool Beach.
Earl of Glasgow 03/01/1852 A Smack on voyage to Mulroy. Wrecked on Walney.
Eagle 19/02/1852 A Flat which sank off Lytham after collision with Friend' Goodwill.
Sarah 02/06/1852 A Sloop lost in the Ribble in force 5 winds.
Clifton 01/10/1852 A Lifeboat on exercise. Capsized at Lytham with the loss of most of her crew.
Carolina 25/12/1852 Sailing between Liverpool and Havannah. Lost in force 11 at Southport.
Denison 25/12/1852 Fully rigged ship outbound for Antigua. Lost in a gale off Lytham.
Hope 27/12/1852 A Barque at anchor. Capsized at Canshe Hole in a hurricane.