The iron steamship Briton was launched from the Townhead Bridge yard of J and J Hay Ltd, Kirkintilloch on 4th March 1905. She measured 66.3′ x 17.95′ x 8.5′ and her tonnage was 68 gross tons, 32 net tons. She was powered by a compound steam engine by her builders delivering 17 nominal horse power. She was the fourth vessel of this name built by J and J Hay and was a typical Clyde puffer used to convey varied cargoes around the Clyde estuary and between the ports and islands of the south west Scottish coast and Northern Ireland. The name of the vessel followed the Hay Company tradition of using tribal names for their vessels with her sister ships Trojan and Druid also being launched in 1905. These small vessels, sized to navigate the Crinan and Forth/Clyde canals, were side launched because of the narrow channel beside the shipyard.
Briton on slipway and Hay’s yard
Briton launch at Kirkintilloch
The Briton was lost on the evening of 18th March, 1931 after a collision with the Fleetwood trawler Ernesta east of Sanda. At the time the Briton was inward bound from Carnlough to Glasgow with a cargo of limestone under command of her skipper Angus Mcmillan. The weather at the time as clear and calm and, luckily, although the Briton sank very quickly, the crew of four jumped into the sea and were picked up by the Ernesta none the worse for their ordeal. They later transferred to the motor vessel Eagle and were landed at Campbeltown making their way home to Glasgow the following day.
The wreck of the Briton lies upright in 52 metres in position 55° 18.750’N, 005° 27.798’W (WGS84) oriented 120/300 degrees. The wreck is almost completely intact with only the wheelhouse superstructure, which was most likely wooden, missing. The top of the engine casing is clearly visible and is the highest part of the wreck reaching a depth of 48 metres at the shallowest point. She lies with her bows facing south east on a gently sloping muddy seabed which drops away into deeper water to the north west of the wreck. She was positively identified when divers recovered her engraved bell some years ago.
