Archaeology Notes

Event ID 858257

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/858257

HU44SE 8010 c. 483 407

N60 8.9 W1 7.8

NLO: Twageos Point [name: HU 483 407]

Bressay [name centred HU 50 40]

Bressay Sound [name centred HU 485 415]

Lerwick [name: HU 475 415].

See also HU41NW 8001.

Queen of Sweden: [max date] 12 Jan 1745

Crew saved

Archive Ref: D.6/292/1 p.30; Scottish Diver 81/1982.

Source: Shetland Archive Service [undated].

MS/3025, no. 12.

[Tentative equation]

Drottinge Svenge: [max. date] 1 Dec 1744.

Vessel outward bound, crew saved. Plundered of 'many cases of spirits' by people of Lerwick. Ship's bell presented to Kirk Session on 12th Jan. 1745

Archive Ref: TH p. 208; G.D. 144/130/30; Joffre 1982

Source: Shetland Archive Service [undated].

MS/3025, no. 15.

The Drottningen af Swerige ['Queen of Sweden'] and the Stockholm [HU41NW 8001] left Gothenburg on 9 January 1745, passing through the Skaggerak to be wrecked (in separate locations but on the same day) on the Shetland Islands in strong ENE winds. After witnessing the wreck of the Stockholm, the Drottningen sailed upwind for the shelter of Bressay Sound, only to strike a rock and sink in less than 10 fathoms [18.3m] of water on 12 January. No lives were lost in either ship. The next morning only scattered wreckage could be seen along the shore of the South Ness of Lerwick. The salvage goods recovered were sold at roup and are listed in the papers of the Vice-Admiral Court; little of the cargo was recovered.

In view of the presence of lead bars (used as ballast), the salvage of the Drottningen was attempted by William Elliot, Robert Hunter and Co, the (French) Eschauzier Brothers and George Innes and Co. During the summer of 1746, Robert Hunter and George Innes recovered 154 and 266 bars or pigs of lead respectively, while the Eschauziers recovered 1330 leads bars, four anchors and a gun of unstated size, all the property of the Swedish Asiatick Co.

The premium for the insurance of the Drottningen was only paid on 30 April 1745, the Royal Exchange Insurance in London paid out to the extent of 90% of the loss in November of the same year. Neither the captain (Carl Johan Treutiger), the first pilot (Carl Gustaf Lehman) nor the supercargoes were held to blame, and all made further voyages for the company.

The Drottningen was built in Stockholm for the Chinese trade of the Swedish East India Company, and left the yard in September 1741. With dimensions of about 147ft (44.8m) by 39ft (11.9m) and 18.5ft (5.6m), she weighed 950 tons and was the biggest ship built for the company since its inception in 1731. She carried 130 men and 32 guns, and cost 152,480 silver daler (12,500 pounds sterling).

The wreck was rediscovered by J-C Joffre on 16 October 1979 in 50ft [15m] depth of water, being distinguished by the many lead ingots lying in a hollow in the rocky bottom. The remains lie within the limits of Lerwick harbour and detailed study ('excavation') of about 5% of its area has revealed over 350 artifacts, which were recovered for conservation. The include cannon, lead ingots, complete wine bottles, gin jars, navigational instruments, pewter plate and china, and a wooden block.

[The location of the wreck is not accurately stated, and further operations are said to be projected].

J-C Joffre 1982 (NMRS, MS/829/41).

(Classified as East Indiaman: date of loss cited as 12 January 1745). Drottningen af Sverige (Queen of Sweden): this vessel was lost at Twageos, Lerwick Harbour.

Registration: swedish. 950 tons [unspecified]. Length: 44m. Beam: 12m.

(Location of loss cited as N60 9.5 W1 8.5).

I G Whittaker 1998.

Pre-disturbance survey of this wreck indicates guns, ingots and scattered artifacts near a flint ballast mound at what appear to be the entrances to two gullies. No structural remains are indicated as apparent beneath a cover of sparse kelp; the depth and accurate location are not cited.

Visited by S Liscoe (ADU) and Shetland ScotSAC, 17 October 1990.

NMRS, MS/829/9 and MS 5456.

(Name cited as Drottiningen af Sverige). The Shetland Museum has acquired all ('many hundreds') of the artifacts raised from this wreck. These await listing and formal accession.

NMRS, MS829/65.

The location that is assigned to this record is essentially tentative, but falls within the ill-defined area of Lerwick Harbour (HU44SE 32: centred HU 47722 41345). This takes the form of an extensive roadstead which comprises the waters of Bressay Sound between the narrow Northern entrance (around HU 475 445) and the broader Southern entrance (around HU 483 400). The main facilities are to be found around HU 477 414, on the W side of the Sound; recent development extends Northwards from this point.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 5 October 2007.