Not Set

A small section of timber ship buried in the beach.

Type

Unknown timber-built vessel, probably post-1832.

History

Nothing is known about this small section of timber ship's side found buried on Whitsand beach.

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Description

This small section of timber hull measuring 8.9m by 1.5m was recorded by The SHIPS Project in 2014. The timber was part of a ship's side, it is fairly flat so would have come from above the waterline. The remains consist of seven strakes of outer planking 210mm wide with the remains of frames underneath,160mm sided and 140mm moulded, spacing 60mm. The timbers are held together with 1in / 25.4mm trenails, copper alloy round nails and square ragbolts, from their colour the copper alloy fasteners appear to be made of Muntz metal , patented in 1832. The outside of the planking has the remains of hundreds of copper alloy sheathing tacks with the sheathing and the tack heads now missing, the tacks appear randomly placed and in some cases are very close together. This radom pattern suggests that this was a merchant ship as on warships the application of copper sheathing tacks was regular and ordered.

Location and Access

Whitsand Beach, under Whitsand Fort, near Ninney Rock.

Nearby hulks include the Ema Christ , steamship Daisy and the trawler Chancellor

Last updated 03 Jan 2021

Position OS: SX 50155 52817
Position GPS: 50.338317, -4.238983

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