Ovington: Upper Firth Of Clyde
Steamship (19th Century)
Site Name Ovington: Upper Firth Of Clyde
Classification Steamship (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) 'Near Toward Point'; Inner Clyde Estuary; Ovington (Probably)
Canmore ID 102753
Site Number NS16NW 8005
NGR NS 14280 66370
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102753
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Maritime - Argyll And Bute
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NS16NW 8005 1427 6637
N55 51.2833 W4 58.05
NLO: Toward Point [name: NS 135 670].
Formerly entered as NS16NW 9388.
29 December 1889. OVINGTON. 16 years of Newcastle on Tyne. Lloyds 90A1. Survey 10/88. Iron steamship. 444 ton. 16 men. Master W. Gorley. Owner W. Hine, Maryport. Glasgow to Hamburg. General and phosphate. Collided steamship QUEEN VICTORIA of Glasgow. 5 dead. Wind NE4. Off Toward Point, Firth of Clyde.
Source: PP Abstracts of Shipping Casualties on Coasts, or in Rivers and Harbours of the UK July 1889-90 (1890-91 [C.6468] LXXVI.485).
NMRS, MS/829/68 (no. 1559).
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 30
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The steamship OVINGTON sank following a collision with the QUEEN VICTORIA near Greenock, whilst en route from Glasgow to Hamburg.
Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
1 May 1981. A large metalic object, possible a wreck, was reported at 55 35 00N, 004 54 30W approximately. Its height above seabed is 4.4 metres.
6 December 1984. Nothing was found during area search using hydrosearch, side scan sonar and echosounder.
Report by HMS BULLDOG.
29 May 1987. The OVINGTON is now reported to have been located at 55 51 15N, 004 58 33W.
Report by W Shergold, 16 May 1987.
25 June 1987. It has been confirmed that the wreck has been located at 55 51 17N, 004 58 03W. The vessel lies on a sand bank with a least depth of 30-32 metres in a general depth of 34-36 metres. It has no superstructure and all the decking, apart from that amidships, has collapsed. The hull is badly corroded and dropping away. The wreck is thought to be OVINGTON due to its size and that it is within 0.25 miles of the reported collision position. The wreck presents no hazard to navigation.
Report by W Shergold, 11 June 1987.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as iron steamship, with cargo of phosphate and general goods: date of loss cited as 29 December 1889). Ovington: this vessel was in collision and sank near Toward Point (Queen Victoria). Capt. Gorley.
Registration: Newcastle. Built 1873. 697grt. Length: 53m. Beam: 8m.
(Location of loss cited as N55 51.23 W4 58.17).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):
A1333 3 portholes, 1 WC bowl: from seabed.
NMRS, MS/829/35.
Toward Point Lighthouse (NS16NW 12.00) is at NS 13623 67226.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 20 February 2007.
Loss (29 December 1889)
29 December 1889. OVINGTON. 16 years of Newcastle on Tyne. Lloyds 90A1. Survey 10/88. Iron steamship. 444 ton. 16 men. Master W. Gorley. Owner W. Hine, Maryport. Glasgow to Hamburg. General and phosphate. Collided steamship QUEEN VICTORIA of Glasgow. 5 dead. Wind NE4. Off Toward Point, Firth of Clyde.
Source: PP Abstracts of Shipping Casualties on Coasts, or in Rivers and Harbours of the UK July 1889-90 (1890-91 [C.6468] LXXVI.485).
NMRS, MS/829/68 (no. 1559).
(Classified as iron steamship, with cargo of phosphate and general goods: date of loss cited as 29 December 1889). Ovington: this vessel was in collision and sank near Toward Point (Queen Victoria). Capt. Gorley.
Registration: Newcastle. Built 1873. 697grt. Length: 53m. Beam: 8m.
(Location of loss cited as N55 51.23 W4 58.17).
I G Whittaker 1998.
External Reference (1995)
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 30
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The steamship OVINGTON sank following a collision with the QUEEN VICTORIA near Greenock, whilst en route from Glasgow to Hamburg.
Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
1 May 1981. A large metalic object, possible a wreck, was reported at 55 35 00N, 004 54 30W approximately. Its height above seabed is 4.4 metres.
6 December 1984. Nothing was found during area search using hydrosearch, side scan sonar and echosounder.
Report by HMS BULLDOG.
29 May 1987. The OVINGTON is now reported to have been located at 55 51 15N, 004 58 33W.
Report by W Shergold, 16 May 1987.
25 June 1987. It has been confirmed that the wreck has been located at 55 51 17N, 004 58 03W. The vessel lies on a sand bank with a least depth of 30-32 metres in a general depth of 34-36 metres. It has no superstructure and all the decking, apart from that amidships, has collapsed. The hull is badly corroded and dropping away. The wreck is thought to be OVINGTON due to its size and that it is within 0.25 miles of the reported collision position. The wreck presents no hazard to navigation.
Report by W Shergold, 11 June 1987.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
External Reference (2001)
Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):
A1333 3 portholes, 1 WC bowl: from seabed.
NMRS, MS/829/35.
Note (20 February 2007)
Toward Point Lighthouse (NS16NW 12.00) is at NS 13623 67226.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 20 February 2007.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 645
Name : OVINGTON
Latitude : 555114
Longitude : 45810
Date Built : 1873
Registration : NEWCASTLE
Type : SS (IRON)
Tonnage : 697
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 53
Beam : 8
Draught : 4m
Loss Day : 29
Loss Month : 12
Loss Year : 1889
Comment : Coll. and sunk near Toward Pt (QUEEN VICTORIA). Capt. Gorley
Cargo : GENERAL AND PHOSPHATE
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 004143
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 55.85472,-4.96750
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.85465,-4.96867
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Position Quality : Approximate
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 30
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : OVINGTON (PROBABLY)
Type : SS.
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 57.0
Beam : 8.5
Draught : 4.3
Tonnage : 697
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : COAL
Date Sunk : 29/12/1889
Bottom Texture : Sand
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Acoustic Sensor
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1981
Last Detection Year : 1987
Original Source : Naval Vessel
Last Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **SANK FOLLOWING COLLISION WITH THE QUEEN VICTORIA, NR GREENOCK, WHILE EN ROUTE GLASGOW TO HAMBURG.
Surveying Details : **H2579/76 1.5.81 LARGE METALIC OBJECT, POSSIBLE WRECK, REPD IN 553500N, 045430W. APPROX. HEIGHT 14.5FT ABOVE SEABED. (COMCLYDE). NCA YET.
**H2885/83 6.12.84 NOTHING FOUND DURING AREA SEARCH USING HYDROSEARCH, DCS3 & E/S. (HMS BULLDOG, HI 165B).
**H1310/87/20 29.5.87 NOW LOCATED IN 555115N, 045833W. (W SHERGOLD, 16.5.87). NCA YET.
**H1310/87/20 25.6.87 CONFIRMED WK LOCATED IN 555117N, 045803W [OGB]. POSN TAKEN FROM TRACING OF CHART. LIES ON A SAND BANK WITH LEAST DEPTH 30 TO 32MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 34 TO 36MTRS. IT HAS NO SUPERSTRUCTURE AND ALL DECKING, APART FROM THAT AMIDSHIPS, HAS COLLAPSED. HULL BADLY CORRODED AND DROPPING AWAY. THOUGHT TO BE OVINGTON DUE SIZE AND WITHIN 0.25M OF REPORTED COLLISION POSN. NO HAZARD TO NAVIGATION. (W SHERGOLD, 11.6.87). INS AS NDWPA. BR STD.
General Comments : INTACT, NO SUPERSTRUCTURE, COLLAPSING
Chart Symbol : NDW PA
Date Last Amended : 25/06/1987
Desk Based Assessment (27 November 2014)
The Ovington is recorded as having been built in 1873 by Osbourne & Graham, Sunderland (Moir and Crawford 2004: 78).
Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 27/11/2014.
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
