Archaeology Notes

Event ID 876670

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/876670

NT39NE 8011 c. 369 986

N56 10.6 W3 1.1

NLO: Methil [name: NT 37 99]

Buckhaven [name: NT 360 980]

Denbeath [name centred NT 361 988]

Largo Bay [name centred NO 42 01].

Location formerly entered as NT c. 375 995 [N56 11 W3.04] and NT c. 36 98 [N56 11 W3.04].

There are 16 vessels ashore in the Firth of Forth, east and west of Kirkcaldy.

At Methil: Gripen, totally wrecked. Swedish barque, 362 tons burden, ran ashore to the west of Methil pier [Methil harbour: NT39NE 11].

Source: Fifeshire Advertiser, 24 September 1898.

Gripen of Ystad, 362 tons burden, bound from Hermsand to West Hartlepool with a cargo of pit props, came ashore opposite Denbeath Colliery, Buckhaven. Crew saved. Ship a total wreck.

Source: Fife Free Press, 22 October 1898.

19 October 1898. GRIPEN, 41 years, of Sweden. Wood barque. 362 ton, 10 men, Master B. Johnsson, Owner A.J. Rundgvist, Ystad, Sweden. Hernosand to W. Hartlepool. Pit props. Wind E8. Near Methil. Casualties involving total loss of vessel during year end 30 June 1899.

Source: PP Abstracts of Shipping Casualties on Coasts, or in Rivers and Harbours, of UK July 1898-99 (1900 [Cd. 318] LXXVII.531).

NMRS, MS/829/67 (no. 713).

(Classified as wooden barque, with cargo of pit props: former name cited as Griffin, and date of loss as 19 October 1898). Gripen: this vessel stranded near Methil. Capt. Johnsson.

Registration: Ystad. Built 1857. 391grt. Length: 37m. Beam: 7m.

(Location of loss cited as N56 10.50 W3 1.00).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The location assigned to this record is essentially arbitrary. 'Methil Pier' is possibly to be equated with the breakwater (NT39NE 11.02) that extends from NT 37520 98972 to NT c. 37739 99467, along the SE perimeter of the Methil dock system (NT39NE 11.00).

The location of Denbeath Colliery cannot be ascertained, but Denbeath (NT39NE 46) is centred at NT 3616 9891.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 7 October 2010.

Per contra the above, a location at NT c. 369 986 may be suggested for this stranding. The name Denbeath Colliery has been applied to Wellesley Colliery, Buckhaven (NT39NE 55) which is centred at NT 3666 9875.

The suggested location falls about 0.6km SSW of the S limit of the Methil dock system (NT39NE 11.00).

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 18 October 2010.