This record is for the known wreck of the steamship HENRY BELL on 20 January 1904. The vessel history and circumstances of loss form the record of NPRN 273644

The fragmented remains of the HENRY BELL are located on the foreshore of Whiteford Beach. They are aligned generally north-south, and extend visibly for 22m in length and a 5.5m in maximum width. The remains of the vessel's boiler are in-situ, in two pieces. One piece is preserved in cross-section, 1.3m x 0.95m, sticking out of the pebble beach. The other, to the south, is more complete, and has the same cross-section, a thinkness of 0.4m and a further extension of 1.6m, to the stoke holes. The style of the boiler remains suggests that the ship may have had its boiler replaced.

Part of the stern of the ship is located at the southern end of the site. Sections of the hull are visible and their disposition suggests that further elements of the lower part of the vessel are preserved beneath the pebble foreshore. The hull is formed of iron plates, internal iron frames on a centre-to-centre spacing of c.0.45m, and wooden elements within the iron framing. Further timbers are present around the western side of the wreck that may relate to wales or rubbing strakes.

The vessel is of archaeological interest as an example of a relatively early (built 1857), small iron steamship, mostly engaged in coastal trade, but which had a long-lived life of nearly 50 years. Its construction, making use of iron and wood within the hull is also of archaeological interest.

The site was visited on the 17/08/2023 to confirm its location, and revisited on 17/10/2024 to undertake a photogrammetry survey of the extant remains (link below).

Sources

Glamorgan-Gwent Historic Environment Record PRN 07540w https://archwilio.org.uk/her/chi3/report/page.php?watprn=GGAT07540w

Glamorgan-Gwent Historic Environment Record PRN 07712w https://archwilio.org.uk/her/chi3/report/page.php?watprn=GGAT07712w

RCAHMW Photogrammetry Survey (PGS2024_024), 17/10/2024: https://skfb.ly/prSqw

Science Museum. Single ended return tube marine boiler: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co39825/

J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, October 2024.