Title
Brankelow, wrecked at Gunwalloe, Lizard, April 21st 1890.
Subject
Coal
Shipwreck
Wreck
Description
The 1, 661-ton brigantine-rigged Brankelow of Liverpool was under charter to the Russian government, laden with coal from Cardiff to Kronstadt, when she grounded near Gunwalloe in a light south-westerly breeze and slight haze at 12:30 a.m on April 21st 1890.
The Brankelow was owned by the Brankelow Steamship Company and was built by M Pearse of Stockton in 1882.
Porthleven LSA soon fired a rocket line aboard but it was mysteriously severed, a boat trying to pull ashore capsized and confusion reigned for some time. Finally her crew of twenty-nine did come ashore, except for Captain Stewart who remained on board until late afternoon, by which time the Brankelow was settling deep into the sands.
Tugs and salvage gear were rushed to Gunwalloe, but a strong south-west gale on April 26th put an end to operations, and on May 9th the underwriters, via Edward Mitchell, auctioneer of Lelant, offered her for sale. Prices were ridiculous even for those days: the coal cargo, valued at £825 brought a top bid of £1 before it was withdrawn, and the Brankelow, worth £25,000 afloat, was sold at a London firm for £405.
They re-sold her that evening for £840, but further storms caused her new owners to abandon hopes of refloating her, and the engines and all fittings were removed. On June 11th, again under new ownership, the now empty hulk broke up completely that autumn.
Description from Richard Larn and Clive Carter, Cornish Shipwrecks: The South Coast (Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1971), p.161-162.
The Brankelow was owned by the Brankelow Steamship Company and was built by M Pearse of Stockton in 1882.
Porthleven LSA soon fired a rocket line aboard but it was mysteriously severed, a boat trying to pull ashore capsized and confusion reigned for some time. Finally her crew of twenty-nine did come ashore, except for Captain Stewart who remained on board until late afternoon, by which time the Brankelow was settling deep into the sands.
Tugs and salvage gear were rushed to Gunwalloe, but a strong south-west gale on April 26th put an end to operations, and on May 9th the underwriters, via Edward Mitchell, auctioneer of Lelant, offered her for sale. Prices were ridiculous even for those days: the coal cargo, valued at £825 brought a top bid of £1 before it was withdrawn, and the Brankelow, worth £25,000 afloat, was sold at a London firm for £405.
They re-sold her that evening for £840, but further storms caused her new owners to abandon hopes of refloating her, and the engines and all fittings were removed. On June 11th, again under new ownership, the now empty hulk broke up completely that autumn.
Description from Richard Larn and Clive Carter, Cornish Shipwrecks: The South Coast (Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1971), p.161-162.
Date
21-04-1890
Rights
Morrab Library
Format
Negative
Type
Photograph
Identifier
COLLINS.030
Coverage
Gunwallow
Original Format
Print and negative