Another one of those ships carrying stone blocks to London, maybe! There are a few about and for the most part, impossible to identify.
It was suggested that the steel mast may have washed up next to the blocks from the George B Balfour, as It's only about 800m away, as the ship transporting the blocks would undoubtably have been wood.
It's a dark and not very nice dive.
N50 42 675 E 00 10 416
On Thursday, 18th February 1904, the barque—or possibly barge—named Mabel Maud from Rochester, captained by Smith, was en route from London to Chichester. Following a brief stop at Newhaven, it departed in the morning but swiftly returned to Newhaven with the crew of the fishing lugger Sanfoin, S41, owned by Captain E. Gillam of Shoreham.
The Sanfoin had collided with the Mabel Maud and sank at 10:15, approximately three miles west of the harbour and about two miles off Portobello. The Sanfoin's three-man crew managed to board the Mabel Maud before their vessel went down. The Mabel Maud incurred only minor damage.
Although the Shipwreck Index records the 'Sanfoim' (sic) as having sunk near Cuckmere, all reports indicate its sinking occurred to the west of Newhaven.
Nothing more than some scraps of metal left scattered about. They did a good job blowing it up!
Owned by Mr. Martin Hitchens of Plymouth, the Benevolent was already in difficulty after developing a leak while transporting iron from Cardiff to Hamburg. Then to really ruin their day, collided with another unknown vessel. A pilot lugger rescued the crew and brought them ashore at Hastings beach.
There was a survey held on the Benevolent in 1842 which states it was built in 1802 by a Mr Dennis in Ilfracombe and 89 tons.
The Benevolent doesn't show up in Lloyds until 1808, owned, and I think Captained, by a Mr Livoring of Ilfracombe. Changed ownership around 1821 to someone called Hooper who then sold on to its final owner, Mr Hitchens in 1845.
I can find no information on the Benevolent and possibly there were two ships with the same name as it's listed as 89 tons and also 103 tons, although still listed as built 1802 Ilfracombe!?
It had a few miles on the clock by the time it sank in 1853 and possibly it was on it's last legs by that point.
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Trawler taken over by the Admiralty as an armed trawler WW1. Sank after hitting a mine. Said to have been identified by an oil lamp with the ships name.
No information that I can find due to war time censorship.
*Update 2025
Magnum was kind enough to send me some information he found in the Public Records Office in the pre internet days..
He also states, "Think an old ex clubman may have the bell, found away from the wreck, on drift dive near the RSLT , worn away on one side if I remember."
From Captain Trawler Patrol Dover.
HMAT 1627 Taipo. Skipper G.J. Sleath RNR , mined this morning 24 June 1917 in position
50-41-30 00-19 E when sweeping in company with Prince Leo at 6.15 am .
The prohibited time for sweeping was 6.40 am when they would have stopped.
She was sweeping to the eastwards with Prince Leo to the south.
She appeared struck on the port side in the fish hold 10ft afterside of the main deck? And sank almost immediately. The boat and raft floated off.
Chrysolite, Prince Leo, Sabreur and Glenesk to the rescue, 5 ratings died 8 survived.
Skipper of the Taipo has done excellent work here and is in line for Group Skipper. I recommend his
Promotion to rank of Chief Skipper.
The enquiry noted that the order for men to remain abaft the midships when sweeping dangerous waters was not carried out. 4 men in the forecastle having breakfast when the explosion occurred
And there was no proper lookout.
Lives of the First World War Webpage commemorating the following men.
Aird, John
Anderson, George
Leadley, Fred
Wake, John Lancaster
Wills, John Alfred
