Linkmoor: Scarfskerry Harbour, Pentland Firth
Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name Linkmoor: Scarfskerry Harbour, Pentland Firth
Classification Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Jedmead; Jedmoor; Lenkmoor; Scarrsferry; Scarfsferry; Brough Bay; Dunnet Head; North Sea; Linkmoor; Linkmoor (Ex. Jedmead, Jedmoor)
Canmore ID 114818
Site Number ND27SE 8003
NGR ND 25900 74700
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/114818
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
ND27SE 8003 c. 259 747
N58 39.3 W3 16.6
NLO: Scarfskerry [name centred ND 267 741]
Scarfskerry Point [name: ND 259 747]
Dunnet Head [name: ND 203 768]
Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].
Formerly also entered as ND27SE 8002 and ND27SE 8489 at cited locations ND 2583 7485 [N58 39.33 W3 16.7] and ND 2590 7460 [N58 39.19 N3 16.62].
Steamer LENKMOOR, of London, Captain Ridley. Liverpool to Blyth. Lost 10 Nov 1930, 2.55am GMT. Scarrsferry, 4 to 5 miles from Dunnet Head Lighthouse. Westerly gale force 8-9, heavy sea, squalls. Visibility 8 miles. Cause, engine trouble & state of weather. 32 on board, all saved. Ballast.
'Sir, I beg to forward above particulars regarding steamer LENKMOOR which drove ashore in gale owing to engine trouble. I received my information at Lloyd's signal station who were in communication with the steamer about 2 hours before she went ashore. I have been unable to visit the wreck owing to stormy weather but I understand she is badly holed & full of water and is expected to become a total wreck. The Captain and crew were all safely landed with the life saving apparatus. I have not been able to find out the value of the vessel or if light was recognised or not, but it was quite clear at the time. Gross tonnage 3175. owner Sir Walter Runciman, Bart., Newcastle'.
[Contemporary] source: Jim Baigrie, Principal Lightkeeper, Dunnet Head Lighthouse.
Location cited [in error] as Scarfsferry.
G Ridley 1990.
[Formerly entered as ND27SE 8002].
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = UND
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
11 September 1972. The cargo vessel LINKMOOR wrecked at Skarfskerry Head, Brough Bay, whilst en route from Liverpool to Blyth.
Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, Vol 1.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, in ballast: former names cited as Jedmead and Jedmoor, and date of loss as 10 November 1930). Linkmoor: this vessel stranded at Brough Bay, Scarfskerry.
Regiastration: Newcastle. Built 1913. 3175grt. Length: 99m. Beam: 14m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 39.33 W3 16.70).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Brough Bay is not noted as such on the 1999 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map. Dunnet Head (Dunnethead) Lighthouse (ND27NW 5.00) is at ND 20273 76775.
The form of the name of this vessel that is cited by Whittaker differs from that cited in the primary account of the loss. The former is preferred.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 7 October 2002.
Loss (10 November 1930)
Steamer LENKMOOR, of London, Captain Ridley. Liverpool to Blyth. Lost 10 Nov 1930, 2.55am GMT. Scarrsferry, 4 to 5 miles from Dunnet Head Lighthouse. Westerly gale force 8-9, heavy sea, squalls. Visibility 8 miles. Cause, engine trouble & state of weather. 32 on board, all saved. Ballast.
'Sir, I beg to forward above particulars regarding steamer LENKMOOR which drove ashore in gale owing to engine trouble. I received my information at Lloyd's signal station who were in communication with the steamer about 2 hours before she went ashore. I have been unable to visit the wreck owing to stormy weather but I understand she is badly holed & full of water and is expected to become a total wreck. The Captain and crew were all safely landed with the life saving apparatus. I have not been able to find out the value of the vessel or if light was recognised or not, but it was quite clear at the time. Gross tonnage 3175. owner Sir Walter Runciman, Bart., Newcastle'.
[Contemporary] source: Jim Baigrie, Principal Lightkeeper, Dunnet Head Lighthouse.
Location cited [in error] as Scarfsferry.
G Ridley 1990.
[Formerly entered as ND27SE 8002].
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = UND
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
11 September 1972. The cargo vessel LINKMOOR wrecked at Skarfskerry Head, Brough Bay, whilst en route from Liverpool to Blyth.
Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, Vol 1.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, in ballast: former names cited as Jedmead and Jedmoor, and date of loss as 10 November 1930). Linkmoor: this vessel stranded at Brough Bay, Scarfskerry.
Registration: Newcastle. Built 1913. 3175grt. Length: 99m. Beam: 14m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 39.33 W3 16.70).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Named Location (Nlo) (26 February 1997)
NLO: Scarfskerry [name centred ND 267 741]
Scarfskerry Point [name: ND 259 747]
Dunnet Head [name: ND 203 768]
Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].
Formerly also entered as ND27SE 8002 and 8489 at cited locations ND 2583 7485 [N58 39.33 W3 16.7] and ND 2590 7460 [N58 39.19 N3 16.62].
Note (7 October 2002)
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Brough Bay is not noted as such on the 1999 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map. Dunnet Head (Dunnethead) Lighthouse (ND27NW 5.00) is at ND 20273 76775.
The form of the name of this vessel that is cited by Whittaker differs from that cited in the primary account of the loss. The former is preferred.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 7 October 2002.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 2483
Name : LINKMOOR (EX. JEDMEAD, JEDMOOR)
Latitude : 583920
Longitude : 31642
Date Built : 1913
Registration : NEWCASTLE
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 3175
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 99
Beam : 14
Draught : 7m
Position : Position Approximate
Loss Day : 10
Loss Month : 11
Loss Year : 1930
Comment : Stranded Brough Bay, Skarfskerry
Cargo : BALLAST
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 000934
Feature Class : Wreck
State : DEAD
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 58.65556,-3.27833
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.65516,-3.27987
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Previous Position : 58.65555,-3.27833
Position Quality : Unreliable
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 10
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : LINKMOOR
Type : SS
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 100.9
Beam : 14.6
Draught : 7.0
Tonnage : 3175
Tonnage Type : Gross
Date Sunk : 10/11/1930
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Original Detection Year : 1930
Original Source : Other
Surveying Details : **11.9.72 WRECKED AT SKARFSKERRY HEAD, BROUGH BAY EN ROUTE LIVERPOOL TO BLYTH. (DODS).
**H2959/83 21.1.85 NOT REFERRED TO IN ROS. (BUE SUBSEA, HI 204). NCA.
Charting Comments : POSN FOR FILING ONLY
Date Last Amended : 21/02/2005
Date Position Last Amended : 21/02/2005
Reference (March 2012)
Sitename : Linkmoor
Altname : Jedmead; Jedmoor; Lenkmoor; Scarrsferry; Scarfsferry; Brough Bay; Dunnet Head; North Sea
Note : Centre point of 1 kilometre buffer at NGR 325900E 974700N.
As Canmore.
Brough Bay lies between Scarfskerry Point and Dunnet Head (UKHO 2009)
Surveying Details
**11.9.72 WRECKED AT SKARFSKERRY HEAD, BROUGH BAY EN ROUTE LIVERPOOL TO BLYTH. (DODS).
**H2959/83 21.1.85 NOT REFERRED TO IN ROS. (BUE SUBSEA, HI 204). NCA. (UKHO)
The lighthouse keeper seems quite clear about the location of the grounding so the location seems highly likely to have been around Skarfskerry Point, although it is unclear how far from the point itself (Canmore).
This site is MHG14767 in the Highland Historic Environment Record. Mr Wortington Ferry House says that the wreck is in the harbour entrance (ND 25981 74526) and is visible at low tide. According to divers the spare propellor is wedged under some rocks on the E side of the harbour. There are photos of the wreck on the rocks - HAW 11/2002.
Sources :
UKHO,Pentland Firth and Approaches: 2162,09/04/2009
UKHO Wreck report,934
