Wallachia: Skelmorlie Bank, Upper Firth Of Clyde

29 September 1895. WALLACHIA, 12 years, of Glasgow. Lloyds +100A1. Survey 9/95. Iron steamship. 1077 ton. 22 men. Master R. Walton. Owner Burrell and Son, Glasgow. Glasgow to Trinidad. General and 1 passenger. Collided Norwegian steamship FLOS. Calm. About ? mile SE of Toward Point, Argyllshire.

Source: PP Abstracts of Shipping Casualties on Coasts, or in Rivers and [record received incomplete].

NMRS, MS/829/68 (no. 1014).

WALLACHIA, sunk 30 Sep 1895 off Toward Point after collision. Inspection to be made by diver.

Source: Glasgow University Business Archives, UGD95/1/1 Glasgow Salvage Association, minutes 7 Oct 1895.

(Classified as iron steamship, with cargo of beer and chemicals: date of loss cited as 29 September 1895). Wallachia: this vessel was in collision and sank 0.75 miles SE of Toward (Flos). Capt. Walton.

Registration: Glasgow. Built 1883. 1724grt. Length: 79m. Beam: 11m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 51.70 W4 57.17).

I G Whittaker 1998.

(Transits illustrated).

G Ridley 1984.

WALLACHIA is still largely intact.

(Source includes illustrations of transits for locating the wreck).

Source: Butland & Siedlecki, BSAC Wreck Register 1987.

Quality of fix = EDM

Evidence = Echo sounder

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 32

Orientation of keel/wreck = N/S

Circumstances of Loss Details

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The WALLACHIA sank in dense fog after either running aground, drifting off and sinking, or after collision with Norwegian steamship SS FLOS. report by R Mccrindle. She was en route from Glasgow to the West Indies.

Surveying Details

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14 January 1977. A wreck was been reported with the least depth of 27 metres in a general depth of 40 metres at 13.40pm on 10 December 1976 (this gives the a low tide clearence of 22 metres in 35 metres). The site was located by HMS SHERATON using sonar, echosunder, and 3 divers. The position was fixed at 55 51 42N, 004 57 11W using compass bearings (no details submitted). The wreck is approximately 300 feet (91 metres) long, upright, and lying with its keel orientated 000/180 degrees. The wreck stands about 30 feet (9.1 metres) above seabed. Only the stern was examined by divers, and one (iron) propeller and rudder were sighted. There is no debris near the wreck.

Report by HMS SHERATON, 14 December 1976

22 March 1977. The wreck appears to be that of a clyde puffer. The bows are to the NE and the stern to the SW. The wreck sits upright with a stump mast rising about 13 metres above the seabed. The wreck is covered with nets, and otter boards have holed the starboard side. The vessels length approx is approximately 30 metres (98 feet). The least depth by the diver's reckoning was 20.7 metres (lowest astronomical tide) in a general depth of 34 metres (using a predicted tidal reduction of 2.3 metres).

Report by divers from CDO Clyde submarine base, 8 March 1977.

18 October 1978. A large wreck, almost intact, is reported in 32 metres of water. It is sitting upright with the keel on a bearing of approximately 165/345 degree (true). The highest point is the bridge amidships, which stands about 8.2 metres off the seabed. The superstructure and funnel have collapsed. The ship was identified by the builders yard number as the WALLACHIA, built in 1883.

Report by R McCrindle.

2 December 1981. There are possibly 2 wrecks in this vicinity.

Report by I G Whittaker, 18 November 1981.

19 November 1982. The hull is relatively intact, except for collision damage at the bows.

Source; BSAC Wreck Register.

12 May 1986. The wreck was examined on 16 July 1985 at 55 51 41N, 004 57 07W. Decca (n brit) red d 22.85, purple a 77.20. The least echosounder depth was 19.4 in general depths of 32 to 33 metres. No scour pits were observed. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 10 metres, and length of 85 metres (278 feet). The wreck is lying upright, orientated 000/180 degrees with high points amidships and at either end. There is no evidence of a second wreck in the vicinity.

Report by HMS GLEANER.

18 February 1987. The site was examined on 27 June 1986 in 55 51 41N, 004 57 08W. The least echo sounder depth was 22.2 in general depths of 32 to 33 metres. No scour pits were observed. The side scan sonar inicated a height of 9.5 metres, and length of 85 metres (278 feet). The wreck is lying with its keel orientated 000/180 deg.

Report by HMS HECCLA.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):

A049 3 beer bottles (from seabed).

NMRS, MS/829/32.

Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):

A429 1 beer bottle: from seabed.

NMRS, MS/829/33.

Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):

A558 each individual letter from ship's name: from seabed

A650 full McEwan's beer bottle and cork: from seabed.

NMRS, MS/829/34.

Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):

A1167 scent bottle, 23 bakelite plates: from seabed

A1222 bottle beer/water: from seabed

A1334 4 stoneware jars, 1 bottle whisky (full), 3 portholes, 1 'stern wheel hub': from seabed

A1983 1 beer bottle: from seabed

A2497 12 bottles: from seabed

A2517 3 bottles, 1 door hinge: from seabed

A2728 2 brass T-connectors, 1 rubber drum, 1 sealed bottle of beer, 1 large bottle of beer, with remains of beer and cork

A3059 2 small beer bottles, 1 large beer bottle

A3083 4 bottles (with some contents): from seabed

A3230 Various bottles (some full, probably contain beer): from seabed

A3239 1 bottle, 1 ship's log: from seabed

A3350 1 beer bottle: from seabed

A3526 1 flagon (material unstated: approximately 2 gallons capacity): from seabed

A3585 1 beer bottle [described in detail]: from seabed

A4165 1 possible acid jar (empty): from seabed

A4257 5 bottles, 4 jars: from seabed

A4289 1 beer bottle: from seabed.

NMRS, MS/829/35.

Whittaker ID : 276

Name : WALLACHIA

Latitude : 555142

Longitude : 45710

Date Built : 1883

Registration : GLASGOW

Type : SS (IRON)

Tonnage : 1724

Tonnage Code : G

Length : 79

Beam : 11

Draught : 5m

Position : Exact Position

Loss Day : 29

Loss Month : 9

Loss Year : 1895

Comment : Collision and sunk 0.75 miles SE of Toward (FLOS). Capt. Walton

Cargo : BEER, AND CHEMICALS

UKHO Identifier : 004097

Feature Class : Wreck

Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.86139,-4.95194

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.86131,-4.95312

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Previous Position : 55.86167,-4.95305

Position Method : Electronic Distance Measuring System

Position Quality : Surveyed

Position Accuracy : 13.0

Depth : 19.4

Depth Method : Found by echo-sounder

Depth Quality : Least depth known

Water Depth : 32

Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : WALLACHIA

Type : SS

Flag : BRITISH

Length : 78.9

Beam : 11.0

Sonar Length : 85.0

Shadow Height : 9.5

Orientation : 0.0

Tonnage : 1724

Tonnage Type : Gross

Cargo : GENERAL

Date Sunk : 29/09/1895

Scour Depth : 0.0

Contact Description : Entire wreck

Original Sensor : Acoustic Sensor

Last Sensor : Acoustic Sensor

Original Detection Year : 1976

Last Detection Year : 1986

The Wallachia is recorded as having been built in 1883 by Mordaunt, Oswald & Co. Southampton (Moir and Crawford 2004: 85)..

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 27/11/2014.

The maritime archaeology of the Clyde has been identified as a focus for a major study of human interaction with the river through time by the RCAHMS following on from recommendations by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). Source to

Sea has been developed as the long-term research programme, of which the research into human connections with the River Clyde forms part. This project has comprised a study of the surviving shipwreck heritage of Clyde-built vessels lost within the Clyde estuary and Firth of Clyde.

This project has collated information from a range of sources and has enhanced knowledge of Clyde-built wrecks within the Clyde. In particular information from recreational divers has proved invaluable and has been the source of detailed information about the current condition of many Clyde-built wrecks, useful for on-going management. A number of wrecks previously recorded as of unknown identity in the RCAHMS database were positively identified during the project and more accurate positional information was established for a number of other wrecks. Additionally, the project identified a potentially significant wreck (Margaret Niven) the remains of which were not previously recorded. This project has also identified a number of other potentially significant wrecks within the Clyde, which reflect both its unique contributions to world-wide shipbuilding and local connections. These wrecks include paddle steamers (Lapwing and Princess of Wales), Clyde Puffers (e.g. Margaret Niven), steam-yachts with military connections (HMS Breda), a dredger (Greenock) and an 18th-century West Indiaman (Lady Margaret). Numerous other wrecks have been identified by this project, and all display some degree of significance.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology) April 2015