Fernlea: Kilmun, Holy Loch, Upper Firth Of Clyde
Motor Vessel (20th Century)
Site Name Fernlea: Kilmun, Holy Loch, Upper Firth Of Clyde
Classification Motor Vessel (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Graham's Point; Inner Clyde Estuary; Fernlea (Possibly)
Canmore ID 102763
Site Number NS18SE 8004
NGR NS 17331 81252
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102763
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Maritime - Argyll And Bute
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NS18SE 8004 1732 8125
N55 59.3667 W4 55.7333
Formerly entered as NS18SE 9399.
NLO: Kilmun [name: NS 176 814]
Graham's Point [name: NS 175 811]
Holy Loch [name centred NS 175 806].
Horizontal Datum = OGB
Buoyage =
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The FERNLEA was used as a liberty boat during World War II. It sank following a collision with a lighter.
Report by S. R. French.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
5 March 1987. The remains of wooden, twin screw, motor vessel believed to be named FERNLEA, lie at the approximate position 55 59 24N, 004 55 42W on a sloping seabed. The depth varies between 7.6 and 12 metres. The hull and superstructure have disintegrated with only the ribs, metal debris and broken porcelaine remaining.
Report by S R French in application to purchase, 16 February 1927.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
The loss of this vessel is not cited by I G Whittaker (1998).
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 14 February 2007.
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 004169
Feature Class : Obstn
Obstruction Category : Foul ground
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 55.98944,-4.92889
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.98935,-4.93007
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 8
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : FERNLEA (POSSIBLY)
Length : 13.7
Contact Description : Notable debris
Original Sensor : None reported
Last Sensor : None reported
Original Detection Year : 1979
Last Detection Year : 1987
Original Source : Unknown
Last Source : Other
Circumstances of Loss : **USED AS LIBERTY BOAT, DURING WWII. SANK FOLLOWING A COLLISION WITH A LIGHTER. (S R FRENCH).
Surveying Details : **15.3.79 FOUL AREA IN 555922N, 045544W [OGB]. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). NE 1994.
**5.3.87 REMAINS OF WOODEN, TWIN SCREW, MV BELIEVED NAMED FERNLEA, LIES IN APPROX 555924N, 045542W ON SLOPING SEABED, DEPTH VARYING BETWEEN 25-40FT. HULL AND SUPERSTRUCTURE DISINTEGRATED AND ONLY RIBS, METAL DEBRIS AND BROKEN PORCELAIN REMAINS. (S R FRENCH, IN APPLICATION TO PURCHASE, 16.2.87 IN NNS 23C/1941). NCA.
POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE
General Comments : ONLY RIBS, METAL DEBRIS, BROKEN PORCELAIN REMAIN
Chart Symbol : FA
Charting Comments : LEGEND: FOUL AREA [NO LIMITS CHARTED]
Date Last Amended : 22/10/2002
Desk Based Assessment (27 November 2014)
The UKHO records a wreck under the name of Fernlea at 55.98935, -4.93007 . No vessel under this name appears on www.clydesite.co.uk [accessed 9 December 2014] which may indicate that the vessel was not Clyde-built **15.3.79 FOUL AREA IN 555922N, 045544W [OGB]. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). NE 1994.
**5.3.87 REMAINS OF WOODEN, TWIN SCREW, MV BELIEVED NAMED FERNLEA, LIES IN APPROX 555924N, 045542W ON SLOPING SEABED, DEPTH VARYING BETWEEN 25-40FT. HULL AND SUPERSTRUCTURE D
Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 27/11/2014.
Desk Based Assessment (28 November 2014)
No further information found on shipbuilder or build-place of the Fernlea . No vessel under this name appears on www.clydesite.co.uk [accessed 28 November 2014] which may indicate that the vessel was not 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
