Constructed from English oak in 1846 at Knottingley, she was owned and captained by William Green. She sank during a storm on 17-10-1862 while the captain, his wife, six children and some crewmen were on board. All managed to escape.
We lack definitive identification for the Wesleyan, but it's our best guess based on the cargo and location. Despite David Reno's book 'Beachy Head Shipwrecks of the 19th Century' placing it near Cuckmere Bay, about 5 miles from Beachy Head, we take given positions with a very large pinch of salt.
The site is roughly 2 miles south of Beachy Head, near the George B Balfour (also known as SS Millgate). The mast found alongside the stone blocks seems to be iron, though I had assumed it would be wooden. Jamie believes it might not belong to this wreck and could have drifted there, quite possibly from the George B Balfour, in which case it would be steel, not iron. The only information I have about the Wesleyan's masts and spars is that they were reportedly in good condition!
Another pile of stone blocks lies east of this site, adjacent to the SS Midsurrey, and there's yet another pile further east still, but nearer to the shore. See Unknown-Stone Blocks
In February 1849, fishermen spotted a mast protruding from the water at a depth of 12 meters during a spring low tide, one and a half miles southwest of Beachy Head.
I thought this may have been the Sea Flower but that was September 1849 and , I think nearer to Eastbourne pier. However, this turned out to be from the Alfred, which had collided with the brig Argus. The Alfred's master, Robert Hopkins, was en route from Portsmouth to Sunderland, in ballast, so it cannot be this wreck or the others. When the Argus, laden with coal from South Shields bound for Gibraltar, struck the Alfred about a mile off Beachy Head at 5 am, it damaged her bow. The crew of the Alfred had time to escape to their lifeboat before the ship sank, but Captain Hopkins confronted the captain of the Argus before joining his crew.
Unsatisfied, Captain Hopkins chose to join his men in the lifeboat, and given the calm sea, they headed to Brighton. They landed on the beach outside the Customs house. It is strange that they did not head into Newhaven!
I doubt Captain Hopkins mood improved much in June, later that year, when a court found he was to blame!!
The storm that caused the Wesleyan to be lost also did a lot of damage to other ships, too many to list, but one called Cupid is also reported lost off Beachy Head after a collision with the 'City of Pekin'.. (Peking!?)
Other reports say between Folkstone and Dover.
There are other stone boats lost but they are listed as 'Off Beachy Head' and from our experience 'Off Beachy Head' can be between Dover and the isle of Wight!!
They didn't have GPS in Ye Olde days so positions are very vague.
Wesleyan seems to be the best guess but is it by the Midsurrey or the George B Balfour..
More diving needed.
