The steel steamship Weston was launched from the Selby yard of Cochrane and Sons Ltd (Yard no 743) on 17th June 1920. She measured 158.0′ x 25.2′ x 11.8′ and her tonnage was 485 gross tons, 210 net tons. She was powered by a a triple expansion steam engine by C. D. Holmes and Co. Ltd., Hull delivering 85 registered horse power. Her official number was 143670. Ordered by Overton S.S. Co. Ltd. (R. Clark), Liverpool she operated for this owner until she was sold to I.C.I. (Alkali) Ltd., Liverpool in 1942. In 1948 she was sold to the Coe Line Ltd who changed her name to Coe-Pam continuing to from the Merseyside port. Finally, in 1952 she as sold to W N Lindsay Ltd of Leith who renamed her Mistley and moved her base of operations to the Forth.
Mistley (as Weston) under way
Lloyd’s register 1957
On 19th June 1957 Mistley east off the east coast of Orkney under the command of her skipper James Stewart who had a crew of nine men aboard. They had offloaded part of their cargo of coal for the lighthouse on North Ronaldsay and were en route to Fair Isle when disaster struck. Mistley had run aground on Reef Dyke, a treacherous rocky outcrop off Bride’s Ness, North Ronaldsay on the east coast of the island. The trawler Rossella and the Dutch Motor vessel Dronning Alexandrine picked up the distress call and radioed that they would be a the site within one hour. In the end their assistance would not be required. Meanwhile, the North Ronaldsay island’s doctor, Dr Sidney Peace, who was fishing close by in his small motor boat also picked up the distress call and headed to the wreck. The skipper, alarmed by the Mistley’s exposed position, ordered his crew into the ship’s boat and shortly after they disembarked Dr Peace arrived and took the boat in tow and safely to the island.
Mistley aground on Reef Dyke
On 23rd June the Salvage Association representative arrived on North Ronaldsay and reported that the Mistley was aground on Reef Dyke. Her bridge was completely destroyed and the vessel decks awash but he was unable to approach due to adverse weather. His view was that salvage was unlikely. The following day he managed to reach the wreck and reported that the sea level was up to 2 feet from the cookhouse top and level with the raised forecastle deck. Bridge house lost and deck and holds awash. There are no further reports of salvage but she became a total wreck. It seem likely that some remains, perhaps substantial, must lie on the south east side of the reef. We have assigned a position of 59 20.770’N, 02 22.240’W to the wreck.
Scotsman 20th June 1957
