Site Record

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 GOLDEN FLEECE was an iron-hulled steamship built in 1854. At time of loss on 10 September 1869, the vessel was carrying a cargo of 2445 tons of Powell Duffryn coal from Cardiff to Alexandria under the command of master Walter Fisher. The Inquiry into the loss was told that the ship had left Cardiff and paused in the Roads, laying out anchors, to ensure that the ship was well-battened down for the fresh southwesterly winds it was going to encountered ahead. At 9.30pm the Second Engineer reported water overflowing from one of the starboard coal bunkers and that the ship was filling fast. The anchor cables were slipped and the engine put ahead to run the vessel ashore near Sully Island. The boats were all got ready and all hands called on deck. The ship suddenly heeled to starboard and began to settle. The crew took to their own boat, and escaped with the exception of the cook's assistant who was missing and went down with the ship. A pilot vessel owned by Messrs Evans and Davies helped transfer the crewmembers to safety. The GOLDEN FLEECE sank by the bow at around 10pm. The master was acquitted of any blame for the incident as it was caused by one of the coal ports in the bunker coming adrift.

Sources include:
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1869 Appendix Part II pg3 (781) and Inquiry 1869 pg39 (707)
Cardiff times 11 September 1866
Jones, G M and Scourfield, E, 1986, Sully: A village and parish in the Vale of Glamorgan, pg140
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, March 2009.