The iron steamship Gwendoline was launched from the Middlesbrough yard of Raylton Dixon and Co Ltd on 8th June 1876 as Redcar but was immediately renamed before she started service for her owners, Swan Brothers of Middlesbrough. She measured 165.7′ x 24.8′ x 14.3′ and weighed 525 gross tons, 328 net tons. She was powered by a 2 cylinder compound steam engine by Blair and Co, Stockton delivering 80 horse power.
The details surrounding her loss on 18th November, 1893 are limited as all her crew were lost when she sank in a storm en route from Middlesbrough to Grangemouth with a cargo of coal.
Initially the only evidence of her loss was some wreckage washed ashore near Bamburgh in north England. Two ship’s boats and other minor flotsam were discovered ashore near Berwick the following day and then a wooden box with the name ‘Gwendoline’ written inside in pencil revealed the name of the lost ship. Finally a body, which was later identified as Captain Mallet of the Gwendoline, was found on Wednesday 22nd confirming that the ship and it’s thirteen crew had been lost somewhere north east of the Farne Islands on the night of the 17/18th.
The exact location of the loss was unknown until 2006 when divers exploring an unknown wreck off St Abbs Head recovered the ship’s bell inscribed with the name of the ship. Crockery with the crest of the Swan Brothers was also recovered.
The wreck of the Gwendoline lies in position 55° 57.129’N, 002° 04.422’W (WGS84) oriented 120°/300°, in general depth of 69 metres with a least depth of 62 metres. Despite her age the wreck in still fairly in tact and sitting upright.
