This record consists of a documentary reference to a shipping casualty which has been assigned to the maritime named location CARDIFF GROUNDS pending more information which may allow a more precise location for the loss to be assigned.

Event and Historical Information:
The CARDIFF CASTLE was built as a paddle-tug in 1865 by John Payne, Bristol. Technical and configuration specifications are given as 57nt; 77ft length x 16ft breadth; official number 50436. In 1880, the tug had been converted to sail and rigged as a ketch. At time of loss, the vessel was owned by Mrs R Shelton, Bristol, and registered at Cardiff. The CARIDFF CASTLE was on passage from Barry docks to Bristol under the command of C Bell on 15 April 1897. The yacht encountered a westerly force 6 gale and ran aground on the Cardiff Grounds.

Sources include:
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1897 Appendix C Table 1 p142 (581)
Larn and Larn shipwreck Database 2002
Port of Cardiff Shipping Register 1881-1885, Glamorgan Archives DRBS1/5, folio 121
Port of Cardiff Shipping Register Transaction Registers 1871-1875, folio 27, Glamorgan Archives DRBS2/2

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, January 2009.