North West Shipwrecks [Morecambe Bay, Barrow, Duddon]

This is an index to wrecks discussed on other pages. It is not comprehensive - just a list of some interesting wrecks that I have found in my researches.

Introduction: Morecambe Bay is a large area into which several rivers flow: the Crake, Leven, Kent, Lune and Wyre. At low tide there are shifting sandbanks with narrow deeper channels.

Even in Roman times this area was important: Portus Setantiorum occurs on Ptolemy's Map and one theory is that it was in the Wyre River.
  Before the 1800s, shipping was carried in small wooden sailing vessels (schooners, flats,..) which could "bump" their way up the channels to reach the head of navigation: Pennybridge (Crake); Haverthwaite and Greenodd (Leven); Milnthorpre and Arnside (Kent); Lancaster (Lune) and Poulton-le-Fylde (Wyre). There were also sheltered anchorages: Piel Island, Poulton-le-Sands (later called Morecambe), behind Sunderland Point, in the Wyre.

In order to improve marine navigation, sheltered docks were constructed: Ulverston Ship Canal (1768); Glasson Dock (1787); Barrow (1867 on); Fleetwood (1877).
A sheltered harbour was built at Morecambe - which became disused when Heysham was opened in 1904 (as well as a pier 1869-1992).
Morecambe with naval vessels being scrapped:

As the railway reached the various parts of Morecambe Bay, small wooden boats were largely superseded by Railway trucks. Moreover the railway crossed the Leven and the Kent estuaries on viaducts that limited access to the upper reaches. Railway access meant that passengers could be brought to ferries to the Isle of Man and to Ireland and fish (for example) speedily moved out.

For many years there was a passenger trade from Morecambe to the Isle of Man and to Ireland. That still survives - using Heysham instead. For a while, Fleetwood had an in-river RoRo terminal, although that is now closed. Fleetwood, however, had developed to be the largest trawler port on the west coast - although now there are few commercial fishing vessels using it.
  The remaining commercial trade is now coasters from Glasson Dock (using the quays outside the Dock) to the Isle of Man and mixed trade from Barrow (Ramsden Dock). Offshore wind farm support is also a major source of employment.

Shipbuilding has been important - wood was available locally and there were iron works at Barrow and near Millom using local iron ore. Barrow remains the location where submarines are built (in the giant "shed").

An affront to the Board of Trade regulations: Barrow paddle tug Walney (built S. Shields 1904) bringing football supporters from Blackpool back from a game at Barrow in September 1913..


Brig Mary Ann 1867   Duddon Spit, 5 lost
SS Ariel 1904   Duddon, 0 lost
Schooner Coniston 1917   Duddon, 5 lost, image
SS Anastasi 1946   Duddon, 0 lost, image

HMS Enterprise 1707   Thornton, Blackpool, all (up to 115) lost.
Trevor 1775   Blackpool, 30 lost (also Charming Mary ashore)
New Liberty 1819   Morecambe Bay, all crew lost
Mary 1831   Rossall Point, 0 lost.
Crusader 1839   Crusader Bank, St. Annes, 0 lost. (also Favourite and Ann Paley; many lost)
Denison 1852   Fleetwood; 2 lost.
PS Lyra 1861   Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
Barque Pudyona 1862   Lune Deep, 18 saved.
Milford 1863   Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
Knott End Ferry 1863   capsized Fleetwood, 9 saved, 1 lost
Favourite 1865   Blackpool, 10 lost
Zion Hill 1877   King Scar, 0 lost
SS Urania 1880   Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
Sirene 1892   Blackpool Beach, 0 lost
Abana 1894   Blackpool Beach, 0 lost
Morecambe LV 1894   ashore Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
Matchless 1894 capsized Morecambe Bay, 25 lost, image
HMS Foudroyant 1897 Backpool Beach, 0 lost
SS Hebe 1897   off Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
Morecambe LV 1903   ashore Morecambe Bay (refloated), 0 lost
LV no. 70 1903   off Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
Vanadis 1903   Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
FV Spray 1912   Aldingham, 3 lost
SS Vedra 1914  fire, Mort Bank, 35 lost
FV Sunbeam 1916  Morecambe Bay, 0 lost
Leisure trip FV 1918  Piel to Ulverston, 17 lost
SS Marguerite 1919   0.4nm at 17° from Fleetwood no.4 buoy, 0 lost.
SS Glencona 1926, fire, N of Lune Deep, 0 lost
Commandant Bultinck 1929   Rossall, 3 lost, image
SS Lough Fisher 1935; Jean Marcel 1968   off Walney, 0 lost
Stella Marie 1941   King Scar, 0 lost, image
SS Saltaro 1956   Walney Channel, 0 lost
Riverdance 2008 Blackpool, 0 lost.
FV Globetrotter 2020   Off Rossall Point, 1 lost.
Unknown wreck: Obstruction (charted as Foul at 53 55.507N, 3 16.041W) from survey in 2008. Lies 070/250, 5m x 3m, 0.4m above seabed, rounded, probably remains of a boiler. Possibly from SS Urania 1880. More

Updates to Wrecks of Liverpool Bay Vol II PSS Leeds 1852 (off Blackpool)
Updates to Wrecks of Liverpool Bay Vol II SS Murielle 1941 (off Blackpool)
Updates to Wrecks of Liverpool Bay Vol II SS Peru 1899 (off Blackpool)
Updates to Wrecks of Liverpool Bay Vol II SS Blanche 1901 (off Blackpool)
Updates to Wrecks of Liverpool Bay Vol II SS Montreal 1918 (off Blackpool)
Updates to Wrecks of Liverpool Bay Vol II U1024 1945 (off Morecambe Bay)

Some additional wrecks (quoted in Wrecks of Liverpool Bay Vol II) - as listed by wrecksite.eu
SS Lyra 1922 (also here) Lune Deep
SS Glencona 1926 (also here) Lune Deep

For wrecks from St Annes to Southport, including the Ribble see here.

A List of wrecks, also here.

Main Index