Archaeological remains associated with the loss of this vessel are not confirmed as present at this location, but may be in the vicinity.

Event and Historical Information:
The DUKE was a 55nt wooden schooner built in 1855 belonging to the port of Wicklow. At time of loss, the vessel was owned by W Darragh of Wicklow. Under the command of W Morgan, it was on passage from Runcorn to Cardigan with a cargo of coal assigned to Cardigan Brickworks Company. The schooner arrived at the mouth of the river at around midnight during a frightful gale and, at around 4.15am, started to fire signals of distress. The signals were answered by the star rocket from the lifeboat station at Penrhyn Castle. The lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Mr David Rees, was launched. The schooner was driven onto rocks close to Black Rocks near Cemaes Head. The rocket apparatus was deployed, but the lifeboat coming up took off the crew. The schooner was reported likely to become a total wreck.

Sources include:
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1892 Appendix C Table 1 pg127 (665)
Cardiganshire and Tivyside Advertiser, 9 December 1892
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Merchant Navy List 1888, pg26
Troughton, W, 2006, Ceredigion Shipwrecks, pg22

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, September 2010.