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 IDA was a sailing vessel on passage from Cardiff to Teneriffe in late December 1879 or early January 1880. After departing Cardiff the vessel had sailed for a few days when it was caught in very bad weather below Lundy. An attempt was made to put back to Cardiff, but the IDA ran onto Breaksea Point in the darkness. The vessel broke up and the captain and eight crewmembers remained with the wreckage. One crewmember (J Feherman) succeeded in getting ashore. He identified five bodies in a barn and four at Porthkerry as being his fellow crewmembers. The jury at the inquiry held at Aberthaw found that the men 'had been drowned in consequence of the wrecking of their vessel'.

Sources include:
Bristol Mercury, 6 January 1880, issue 9872

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, February 2012.