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Selby River (Possibly): Bowling Harbour, River Clyde
Motor Ship (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Selby River (Possibly): Bowling Harbour, River Clyde
Classification Motor Ship (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Bowling Harbour Ship Graveyard, Wreck 1
Canmore ID 280013
Site Number NS47SW 8002.01
NGR NS 44505 73600
NGR Description NS c. 44505 73600
Datum Datum not recorded
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/280013
- Council West Dunbartonshire
- Parish Maritime - West Dunbartonshire
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NS47SW 8002.01 c. 44505 73600
N55 55.819 W4 29.355
(Location: NS c. 44505 73600). Bowling ship graveyard, no. 1. Situated within the W end of the harbour, and on the S side (close to the wall) there is the coherent and near-intact hull of a steel motor coaster measuring about 100ft [30.5m] in length. She lies parallel to the outer wall of the harbour, with her bows to the W and leaning slightly to starboard (into the centre of the harbour). The greater part of the vessel is visible at High Water.
The vessel has a raised foc's'le, a single large hatch amidships and a superstructure aft. There is a single boat davit above the narrow transom stern, but no other cargo handling equipment.
The painted name on the bow reads '----LBY RIVER', which may be tentatively interpreted as Selby River. A date within the 1950's or 1960's appears probable for this vessel.
Visited by RCAHMS (RJCM), 26 March 2006.
Desk Based Assessment (27 November 2014)
No further information found on shipbuilder or build-place of the Selby River. No vessel under this name appears on www.clydesite.co.uk [accessed 2 December 2014] which may indicate that the vessel was not Clyde-built.
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
