Archaeological remains associated with the loss of this vessel are not confirmed as present at this location, but may possibly be in the vicinity.
Event and Historical Information:
The OCEAN QUEEN was built as a wooden brigantine by J Tredwen at Padstow in 1858. Technical and configuration specifications are given as 121nt; 83ft 2in length x 20ft 5in breadth x 11ft depth; square stern; female figurehead. The vessel was re-registered in 1885 and it was reported that a gammon knee had taken the place of the figurehead and also that the vessel had been re-rigged as a schooner. The OCEAN QUEEN's first owner was James Richards of Port Issac. The vessel was sold in 1884 to A B Hutchins. Masters included W Day, J Osbourne and at time of loss, J Chappell. The OCEAN QUEEN was carrying a cargo of coal from Runcorn to Padstow on 7 November 1890 when it was caught in a northwesterly force 10 gale. The schooner's sails were blown out and it became unmanageable drifting to strike on Penmaenhead. It floated off and subsequently foundered 150yards offshore from the old quarry at Llanddulas. Four men were seen to climb the rigging. The quarrymen waded into the water five times in three hours in an attempt to launch a small rowing boat. A message was sent to the Llanddulas lifeboat station which brought the reply that the lifeboat was already attending the PLANET (see NPRN 271339). A second appeal brought the reply that the lifeboat was unfit for launching and that a volunteer crew would be sent by train. On the sixth attempt the quarrymen managed to get the rowing boat launched and rescued the OCEAN QUEEN's crew. Three quarrymen and a shopkeeper were awarded RNLI silver medals.
Sources include:
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1890, Appendix C, Table 1, p.125 (651)
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Lloyd's Register Casualty Returns, 1 October - 31 December 1890, p.11 (h)
Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, 1 July 1890 - 30 June 1891, number 66 in O
The Pontypridd Chronicle, 14 November 1890, p.6
Wynne-Jones, I, 2001, Shipwrecks of North Wales, 4 ed, p.132
Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, August 2008.
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