Lunesdale

Official Number 83995

The Lunesdale was a three-masted schooner built by Nicholson & Marsh at Glasson Dock, Lancaster in 1884. She was owned by James Fisher of Barrow for the whole of her career.

The Lunesdale was wrecked off Beesands, South Devon, on the 9th March 1891. She was bound between Lancaster and  London (see Sources 1 and 2) and was lost with all hands except for Capt. William Jones, the master. The schooner had struck the beach opposite Beesands at 8.30 pm, and the four crewmen had taken to the mainmast rigging, whilst the master had climbed the mizzenmast rigging on the starboard side. The schooner lay broadside to the shore, and the men on the mainmast, exposed to the wind and waves, succumbed to the cold and were washed away and drowned. The master was rescued by a human chain made up of coastguards and fishermen.Two other ships were lost in Start Bay that night, the Dryad, with 22 crew, and the Marana. The wreck of the Lunesdale was driven right onto the beach, to be left high and dry as the tide ebbed.
 

Name	Year Built	Gross Tons	Length (feet)	Breadth (feet)	Depth (feet)	Masts	Figurehead	Stern	Lloyd's Classn.
Lunesdale	1884	153	102.2	22.9	10.7	3

Sources :

1. Research by Derek Blackhurst - info from BoT Wreck Returns gives place of wreck as Hallsands, and the voyage as London to Lancaster with a fish cargo (whiting).
2. In "The Shipwreck Index of the British Isles, Volume 2" by Richard and Bridget Larn, the final voyage is given as Charlestown to London - gives BoT Wreck Return info, but states that the Times reported her cargo as china clay and the voyage as Charlestown to London, whilst Lloyds Casualty Returns reported her cargo as manure in bags, and the voyage as London to Lancaster.
3. "Great Sea Rescues of the South West" by R.L.Elliott.