More information : ' . . . during a violent storm, was forced ashore whilst carrying 600 tons of armour plate, taken from the gun turrets of obsolete French battle ships broken up at Cherbourg.' (1)(3)
Wind SSW force 10. (2)
Described in sources (1) and (3) as built of steel, and as French, although (2) shows that the vessel's master was also her owner and that he was based in Plymouth, suggesting that she had transferred to English ownership. This seems to be borne out by (4):
'PRAA SANDS . . . Here the iron barque NOISIEL, of Plymouth, was driven ashore in a storm on the night of Friday, August 4th, 1905, and became a total wreck. She was on her way from Cherbourg with 600 tons of armour-plate, and weathered Rinsey Head only to become embayed off Praa Sands. Anchors were let out, but failed to hold on the sandy bottom, and the NOISIEL was driven in, broadside on, and the waves speedily broke her back. The crew mostly jumped overboard and struck out for the shore. Two of the nine aboard were drowned. The vessel was a total loss. Some of the armour-plates still remain, half-buried in the sand.' (4)
Photograph of the wreck showing her with a fallen mast, broadside on to the shore. (4)
Built 1890, wrecked 7 miles east of Penzance, 04.08.1905; 451 tons, 42m x 8m. (5)
A magnetometer survey [to attempt to locate a late medieval wreck, for which see 1527009 for the wreck site, and 919993 for the documentary evidence relating a wreck which may provide a potential identification for the site] located isolated anomalies over a large area more consistent with scattered modern debris than a late medieval wreck; though the spike could mask evidence of earlier sites. Most of this modern debris is believed to be the remains of a French ship carrying armour plating that had been dispersed after WWII. 17 tons of the plating is said to have been removed from the upper beach by the council some years prior to 2001 [the date of the report]. (6)
Not charted on SeaZone: no UKHO record. (7)
Built: 1890 (1)(2)(3)(5)
Builder: A Dubigeon (1)(2)(3); Dubigeon (5)
Where Built: Nantes-Chantenay (5)
Master: T Symons (2)(3)
Crew: 9 (1)(2)(3)
Crew Lost: 2 (1)(2)(3)
Owner: T Symons, Plymouth (2)(3)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles:
SMB.p22-24(phots.); LR.1903-4, No.248(N) |