Maritime record MDO20225 - Stancrest

Remains of the 1937 wreck of an English cargo vessel located 5.1 nautical miles south-west of Portland Bill. The STANCREST was a steel-hulled steamer which went missing after passing St Catherine's Point, while en route from London to Bridgwater. The wreck has been positively identifed by the recovery of her bell. Status: Site

Sailing from London to Bridgewater she was last seen off the Isle of Wight. How she was lost is unknown.

Position 50 26.80 N 2 32.50 W taken from (6)

Wreck site and archaeological remains:

Horizontal Datum: OGB
Vertical Datum: LAT
Quality of Depth: SWD
General Depth: 46 metres
Method of Fix: D

23-MAR-1945: Good sonar contact, position 50 26 30N 002 32 36W, length 180 feet, height 30 feet, breadth 150 feet rock.

04-FEB-1960: Wire drift sweep clear at 19 fathoms foul at 20 fathoms. Least echo sounder 121 feet general depth 25 fathoms appears to be lying on its side and to be somewhat dispersed. The shallowest part is in the middle.

26-JAN-1983: Wreck shown in 50 26 40N 002 32 27W. (1)

26-NOV-1997: Confirmed as the 'STANCREST'. Bell recovered marked 'G S N CO'. Builder's plate recovered marked 'COLBY BROS, LOWESTOFT, YARD NO 120'.

15-JAN-1998: Lies on its port side. Intact. Bow damaged.

02-DEC-2003: Not examined. Lies in an area of static fishing gear. (2)(3)

Charted by the UKHO as 'STANCREST' in 50 26.802N, 002 32.512W (WGS84). (2)(3)

Wreck event and documentary evidence:

Ex. GLANMOR, Ex. SHELDRAKE (4)

Sank west of Portland Bill while en route from London to Bridgewater. Crew of 8 lost. (4)

'BRITISH STEAMER FEARED LOST. Plane’s Vain Search. VESSEL LAST SEEN OFF ISLE OF WIGHT. Making her “ maiden voyage " for new owners, and using her new name, the STANCREST, a 462-ton steamer disappeared in the Channel on Febraury 28, and is feared lost with her crew of nine. The vessel, formerly the SHELDRAKE, set out from London on February 27 for Bridgwater, Somerset, two days after she had been acquired by her new owners, the Stanhope Steamship Co., of London, carrying cargo and cement. The gale was very wild In the Channel, and when the STANCREST passed St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, the next day, she signalled to the Island. She was battling against a blizzard and high seas. Since her signal no more has been heard of the STANCREST, which should have arrived at Bridgwater on March 3. It is feared that she has been lost with all hands.' (5)

Built: 1920 (4)
Builder: Colby Bros (4)
Where built: Lowestoft (4)

Ownership history:
GLANMOR (1920-1922): Glanmor Shipping Co Ltd, Llanelly
SHELDRAKE (1922-1937): General SN Co Ltd, London
STANCREST (1937-): Stanhope SS Co Ltd. London (4)

<1> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1992, Hydrographic Office wreck index (Index). SWX4837.

<2> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Wreck report, 18564 (Monograph). SDO20514.

<3> SeaZone Hydrospatial, Digital marine geographic information derived from SeaZone Hydrospatial, 01-Sep-17 (Digital archive). SDO20540.

<4> Miramar Ship Index www.miramarshipindex.org.nz, Accessed 04-SEP-2017 (Digital archive). SDO20161.

<5> Portsmouth Evening News, Thursday 11-MAR-1937, No. 18,619 p9 (Serial). SDO20684.

<6> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1999, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (3rd Edition) (Monograph). SWX1.

<7> Trim, P, 1985 about, Shipwrecks, Abbotsbury to Portland. (Monograph). SWX8061.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 832474 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 11 2024 3:30PM