Spray [possibly]: Tail Of The Bank, Upper Firth Of Clyde
Barge (20th Century)
Site Name Spray [possibly]: Tail Of The Bank, Upper Firth Of Clyde
Classification Barge (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Whiteforeland Point; Greenock; Inner Clyde Estuary
Canmore ID 102748
Site Number NS27NE 8003
NGR NS 2760 7851
Datum Datum not recorded
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102748
- Council Inverclyde
- Parish Maritime - Inverclyde
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NS27NE 8003 2760 7851
N55 58.12 W4 45.755
NLO: Whiteforeland Point [name: NS 258 780]
Greenock [name: NS 280 765].
See also NS27NE 8041.
Quality of fix = 0010
Evidence = Echo sounder
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 28
Orientation of keel/wreck = 340/160
Surveying Details
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4 March 1947. This dumb barge (possibly the SPRAY) sank at 55 58 06N, 004 46 27W approximately. It is not a danger to shipping and will not be salved.
14 March 1967. The site was not located by echosounder. No sonar search was carried out.
Report by HMS VIDAL, 2 December 1966.
6 July 1993. The wreck was examined on 9 May 1993 at 55 58 07.2N, 004 45 45.4W. NGR eastings 227605, northings 678515. The least echosounder depth was 24.4 in a general depth of 27.5 metres. No scouring was observed. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 1.4 metre, and a length of approximately 8 metres. The sonar trace indicates a boat-shaped contact lying on an oreintation of 340/160 degrees on a mud seabed.
Report by HMS GLEANER.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
The UKHO chart (no. 1994, published 1974, revised 1994) notes Tail of the Bank to the E of the outer end of the defined channel of the River Clyde, off the Clydeport Ocean Terminal (NS27NE 56), Greenock. The name is centred at N55 57.4 W4 45.1 [NS 282 771].
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 6 December 2004.
Desk Based Assessment (28 November 2014)
No further information found on shipbuilder or build-place of the Spray. The vessel is recorded as a dumb barge, sunk in 1947 . There is no record of a vessel under the name of Spray which fits with these descriptions on www.clydesite.co.uk [accessed 01 December 2014] suggesting vessel may not be Clyde-built.
Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.
Project (October 2014 - April 2015)
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
