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

Event and Historical Information:
The ETHEL MAY was a wooden schooner built by Robert Jones at Rhyl in 1868. Technical and configuration specifications are given as: 20.08gt, 65/07rt; 80.5ft length x 20.5ft breadth x 8.5ft depth in hold; 1 deck, 2 mast, rigging schooner, stern elliptical, built carvel, head scroll, framework wood; official number 7655. It was placed on the Port of Chester Shipping Register in December 1878 by John Pincher Faunthorpe of Wandsworth Common, clerk in Holy Orders (16 shares); George Roberts of Clapham, London, clerk (16 shares); Richard Copps of Connah's Quay, master mariner (8 shares); David Jones of Connah's Quay, grocer (8 shares); John Gorman Roberts of Connah's Quay, tailor and draper (8 shares); Samuel Vickers of Shotton, master mariner (4 shares); and Henry Roberts of Connah's Quay, post master (4 shares). The schooner was partly owned by the Coppack family from April 1888 to January 1894. By time of loss, ownership had passed to John Kearney (48 shares) and John Gordon (16 shares) of Annalong, Co Down, both master mariners. The schooner stranded on the Black Rock, Dale Bay, on 5 January 1936. The schooner's crew were saved by the local rocket apparatus rescue team. John Kearney gave his deposition regarding the loss to the Receiver of Wreck on 17 January 1936.

Sources include:
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1936 Appendix C Table 1
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Port of Chester Shipping Register 1874 -1913, Flintshire Record Office S/5, folio 45
Port of Chester Shipping Register Transactions Book 1850-1903, Flintshire Record Office S/4, folio 186
Records of the Receiver of Wreck Milford December 1929 - June 1936, Pembrokeshire Records Officer, T/SHIP/3/3
West Wales Guardian, 10 January 1936

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, March 2008.