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Mersey: Eilean Nan Ron, Atlantic
Schooner (19th Century)
Site Name Mersey: Eilean Nan Ron, Atlantic
Classification Schooner (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Cape Wrath; Kyle Of Tongue; Tongue Bay; Roan Island; Island Of Roan; Pentland Firth
Canmore ID 220937
Site Number NC66NW 8001
NGR NC 64 65
NGR Description NC c. 64 65
Datum Datum not recorded
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/220937
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NC66NW 8001 c. 64 65
N58 33 W4 20
NLO: Eilean nan Ron [name centred NC 640 655]
Tongue Bay [name centred NC 606 615]
Kyle of Tongue [name centred NC 58 58]
Cape Wrath [name: NC 256 750]
Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].
Possibly on map sheet NC 66SW.
9 September 1878, MERSEY, 39 yrs old, of Fowey, Lloyd's AE 1, last survey 5.77, wooden schooner, 188 tons, 7 crew, Master Mencar, Owner W. Smith, Polruan, Cornwall, departed Liverpool for Newcastle, carrying salt, 5 lives lost, wind SW5, stranded, total loss, Roan Island [Eilean nan Ron], Co. Sutherland.
Source: PP Abstracts Returns of Wrecks and Casualties on Coasts of the UK 1878 - 79 (1880 [C.2519] LXVI.47).
Wick, 11th Sept., the MERSEY (schr.), of Fowey, from Liverpool to Newcastle, with salt, was totally wrecked at Island Roan [Eilean nan Ron], 10 miles South-west of Cape Wrath, 9th Sept. The master and four of the crew are lost.
Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 20,089, London, Saturday September 14 1878.
Loch Eribol, 13th Sept., the MERSEY (schr.), of Fowey, Mencar, from Liverpool to Newcastle, with salt, was totally wrecked, 9th Sept., at the island of Roan [Eilean nan Ron], 10 miles SW of Cape Wrath: 5 of the crew were drowned 2 saved. Only a very [Record received incomplete].
NMRS, MS/829/69 (no. 2888).
(Classified as wooden schooner, with ballast: date of loss cited as 9 September 1886). This vessel stranded, and was later sold as a wreck at Brora.
I G Whittaker 1998.
The account given by Whittaker suggests that this vessel was recovered. The distance of Brora from the location of wreck may, however, suggest that the sale took place away from the location of wreck.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 2 September 2002.
I G Whittaker 1998.
Diver Inspection (13 August 2013)
A possible wreck site at Eilean an Ròin was reported to the SAMPHIRE project by recreational divers Derek and Kay Dillon. They described the discovery of copper bolts on the seabed.
The coordinates provided were estimated to be accurate to within 5 metres and place the findspot within the southern part of the gully between Eilean an Ròin Mor and Eilean an Ròin Beag. A number of copper pins/nails of various were recovered during the dive. The largest object is 750mm long by 23mm diameter. A total of three were collected, a further two or three were left in situ.
The dimensions of the pins were:
1) 260mm long X 26mm diameter.
2) 470mm X 20 – 23mm.
3) 760mm X 22 – 24mm.
No deliberate markings were visible on any of the objects. They were recovered from a depth of 3 to 5 metres. The site was noted as having no current, and the seabed was described as being made up of boulders and thick kelp.
The presence of copper pins suggests that there is likely to be a wreck of a wooden vessel somewhere in this vicinity. There are two unlocated recorded losses in the RCAHMS database in this area, the Mersy, a wooden schooner of 188 tons built in 1839 and lost in 1878 and the Gem, also a wooden schooner, of 60 tons built in 1852 and lost in 1874. Copper bolt were used below the water line in 19th century wooden hulled ships but the diameter of the bolts suggests they may be from a larger vessel than either of these.
Coordinates: 217674, 958242
Accuracy: 5m
Project (2013 - 2015)
Project SAMPHIRE was designed to bring professional marine archaeological expertise into local maritime communities. The central focus of the project was to record the unique knowledge of maritime cultural heritage sites on the seabed (and intertidal zone) that is held within local communities. This was done through a programme of face-to-face community engagement, allowing knowledge exchange in both directions. The reported sites were then investigated by the SAMPHIRE Project team with the maximum involvement of local community members at every level, including fieldwork and desk-based research. The project aimed to foster a wider understanding of and interest in local maritime heritage and to promote the stewardship of this valuable local resource.
