| Summary : 1691 wreck of English Third Rate Ship of the Line which stranded in Barn Pool, near Mount Edgcumbe, in the same gale in which the CORONATION [1082129 / 1082130] was lost, having just returned to Devonport to shelter from the gale after a fruitless patrol off the coast of France. She was so badly damaged that she was sold for breaking up where she lay. Constructed of wood, and armed with 70 guns, she was a sailing vessel. |
More information : Date of loss given as 03-SEP-1691.
In 1690 England and Holland were again at war with France, and the Royal Navy were maintaining a Channel patrol, in an attempt to lure the French fleet to sea to do battle. Against Admiral Russell's advice, the Admiralty insisted on keeping the fleet at sea for long periods without refit, and very late in the season. In early September 1691, after another fruitless patrol, the combined fleets were caught in a severe gale from the SE, which caused the Admiral to signal the fleet to return to Plymouth. A total of 11 ships of the line were driven into each other and pushed ashore under Mount Edgcumbe, whilst trying to enter the Hamoaze. Of these only the HARWICH was a total loss. The dockyard staff were able to remove all her guns, stores and rigging, after which the remains were sold to a Joseph Bingham on 20.02.1693 for breaking up. (1)(2)
Date of loss stated as 03-SEP-1691. In the same storm that wrecked the CORONATION, the HARWICH attempted to run into the shelter of Plymouth Sound and anchor. The gale-force winds, however, proved too strong and she ran aground in the Hamoaze and was wrecked. The remains were sold to a Mr Joseph Bingham for breaking up, 20.02.1693. (3)
...Wrecked at Plymouth 25 September 1691. (4)
The warship HMS HARWICH, became a total wreck and broke up on shore. (5)(6)
She was lost in the same gale as the CoRONATION. (6)
03-SEP-1691: During a gale HARWICH ran aground in Barn Pool and was so badly damaged she was broken up where she lay. (7)
HARWICH, 3rd rate wrecked off Plymouth, 03-SEP-1691. (8)
The HARWICH was lost in Plymouth harbour on 03-SEP-1691, the same night the CORONATION was lost. (9)
03-SEP-1691, wrecked at Plymouth. (10)
'A list of the men of war that have been taken, sunk, burnt, or stranded, since the year 1688...HARWICH, Robinson, 987 [burthen], 70 [guns], 420 [men], run ashore at the entrance of Hammoze, Sept. 1691, lost most of the men...' (12)
Wrecked 1691. (11)
Built: 1674 (2)(3)(10)(11)
Builder: Deane (2)(10)
Where Built: Harwich (2)(3)(10)(11)
Armament: 70 guns (2)(3)(10)(11)
Commanding Officer: Captain Henry Robinson, RN (2)(3)
Crew: 420 (2)(12)
Crew Lost: Most of the men (12)
Owner: Royal Navy [all sources]
Date of loss qualifier: Reporting date of loss
Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles and other sources:
Great Shipwrecks, Nelson, 1880, p630
Sunday Times 20-NOV-1977, p13 |