Edith Crossfield

Official Number 83997

Barrow shipowners James Fisher &Son bought twelve three-masted schooners from the Carrickfergus shipyard of Paul Rodgers, which later also supplied the Ashburners with the Result. The Edith Crossfield was the last of the six wooden schooners built by Rodgers for Fishers. She was launched on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, 1885.

The Edith Crossfield was lost on the 23rd May 1904 on the North Bishop Rock, bound from London to Lancaster. The crew spent forty hours stranded on the rocks, surviving on biscuits and water, before they were sighted by a steamship. They were eventually rescued by the St.David's lifeboat Gem, which had been alerted by telegram sent after the steamer arrived at Swansea.
 
 

Sources :

1. Michael McCaughan "Paul Rodgers, an Ulster Shipbuilder" Maritime Wales (1983) pp46-63.
2. Research by Derek Blackhurst
3. Loss reported in Pembrokeshire Wrecks at http://www.dive-pembrokeshire.com/wreck1.html
4. Wreck info from "Welsh Shipwrecks, Vol.2" (Laidlaw-Burgess Publishers) by Tom Bennett.