Britannia

Official Number
17295

The Britannia was a single-masted flat built at Britannia Bridge, Anglesey in 1847. She was owned by Barrow's James Fisher from March 1852 until her loss.

The Britannia was lost on the North Wharf sandbank, off Fleetwood, in a N force10 gale on the morning of Saturday, 2nd November 1861. The heavy sea prevented the lifeboat being launched, and by the time a steam tug had been made ready to tow the lifeboat out, a one hour delay, the Britannia had capsized and her crew, two of whom had taken to the rigging, had disappeared. The decapitated body of one of the crew, William Townson, was washed ashore on the Saturday afternoon. It was believed two others had been aboard.
 
Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Britannia
 1847
 29
 
 
 
1
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. Research by Derek Blackhurst
  2. Mercantile Navy List 1857: Britannia, 29 tons, official number 17295, signal letters MGBW, registered at Lancaster.
  3. Loss reported in the Preston Guardian newspaper, Weds., 6th Nov. and the Lancaster Gazette, Sat., 9th Nov.1861.
  4. Loss reported in "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles" Vol. 5 by Richard and Bridget Larn, citing BoT Wreck Returns.