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HER Number:MDV57180
Name:Rapparee Cove Burials, Ilfracombe

Summary

Human bones were found at the back of the beach at Rapparee Cove in 1997. The recovered bones represent at least three individuals, two adults and a child. The bones were found in loose material deriving from an area of slippage, formerly retained by a stone wall that collapsed some years ago. It is thought that the bones may be the remains of local fishermen or victims of a wreck, possibly the London which was wrecked there in 1796.

Location

Grid Reference:SS 528 477
Map Sheet:SS54NW
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishIlfracombe
DistrictNorth Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishILFRACOMBE

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SS54NW/147/1

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • BURIAL (XVIII - 1796 AD (Between) to 1796 AD (Between))

Full description

Coles, S., 1997, Bid to unearth bones mystery (Article in Serial). SDV366462.

The bones found at Rapparee Cove have been taken to Bristol and Oxford for scientific analysis to establish their identity. The discovery of the bones has sparked international interest.

Mills, A., 1997, Bones found at Rapparee Cove. Summary of Historical and Archaeological Evidence (Un-published). SDV366457.

Human bones were found at the back of Rapparee Cove beach in February 1997. A number of bones were recovered together with nodules of lime and an iron object. The latter was found in a cleft in the cliffs some yards from the bones. Reports in the media for a black racial identity have yet to be proven. It has also been implied that 60 bodies have been found, rather than c. 40 bones and fragments. The recovered bones represent at least three individuals, two adults and a child. The bones were found in loose material deriving from an area of slippage, formerly retained by a stone wall that collapsed some years ago. There is no evidence of archaeological remains in the face of the slippage. It is thought that the bones may be victims of the London which was wrecked in October 1796. A number of jumbled bones were also found at Rapparee Cove in 1856. [See SDV346521 for the summary of contemporary reports referred to.]

Staddon, G., 1997, Bones on beach poser is close to a solution (Article in Serial). SDV366461.

Following an archaeological dig and further discoveries the bones recovered from Rapparee Cove are to be taken to Bristol University for scientific tests to establish their identity.

Gibbs, G., 1997, 'Caribbean rebels' await heroes' burial (Article in Serial). SDV366463.

The results of DNA and carbon isotope tests will not be known until later in the year. But if the human remains are proven to be from the Caribbean they could be returned there for burial.

Blue, L, 1997, Maritime archaeology in Britain and Ireland 1996 (Article in Serial). SDV361583.

Rapparee Cove near Ilfracombe. Graves, bones and fetters exposed on the shore. Thought to belong to The London.

Horton, M., 1997, Rapparee Cove Bones. Some brief notes (Un-published). SDV366458.

The bones recovered from Rapparee Cove include parts of two burials and possible evidence for a third. There is no direct evidence at present to link it to the London but this remains a possibility. Scientific testing is to be undertaken in order to help with identification.

Constable, N., 1997, Shipwreck slaves' grave unearthed (Article in Serial). SDV366459.

Article on the grave containing the bodies of shipwrecked slaves found on the beach at Rapparee Cove.

Mills, A., 1997, The Wreck of the London at Rapparee Cove, Ilfracombe - Summary of Historical Evidence (Un-published). SDV346521.

A list of historical evidence for the wreck of the London from 1796 to 1995. The London went aground on 10th October 1796. Early newspaper reports say she was bound from St. Kitts with a considerable number of French prisoners of war from the Caribbean campaigns on board. Around 50 prisoners were drowned. Lloyds List (No. 2863) refers to the London sailing from St. Lucia. The reported number of people drowned vary between the news reports. Some of the reports also indicate that smugglers were responsible for the ship being wrecked rather than the bad weather. According to a venerable witness, everything that could be saved was duly accounted for to those whom it concerned. As well as can be now ascertained, the valuables on board were contained in five boxes, there was specie, in doubloons, dollars etc -one of which was lost in the transit from the ship and was no doubt broken up at the bottom of the sea, as dollars and doubloons continued to be found in the sand years after the ship was lost.

Petre, J. + Constable, N., 2001, Devon in three-way battle over bones of shipwrecked slaves (Article in Serial). SDV366460.

Human bones washed up on a Devon beach after a shipwreck 200 years ago are now at the centre of a custody battle.

Whitney, A., 2001, St Lucia stakes its claim to the bones of the 'heroic rebels' of Rapparee Cove (Article in Serial). SDV366464.

The confusion over the bones from Rapparee Cove has led to an international custody battle. Isotope analysis has been undertaken to establish if the victims consumed a local or sub-tropical diet.

Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J., 2007, The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report, No. 1458 (Report - Assessment). SDV339712.

Human bones of at least three individuals, two adults and a child found at the back of Rapparee Cove beach in 1997 in area of slippage. Possible victims of wreck Londoner which foundered 1796. Many bones found in the same cove in 1856.

National Monument Record, 2014, Pastscape, 878080 (Website). SDV355682.

A number of contemporary newspaper reports including the Exeter Flying Post, the Sherborne Mercury and the Chronical reported on the wreck of the London in 1796. One such report wrote, 'This evening a very melancholy accident happened at Ilfracombe: a ship called the LONDON, from St. Kitts [sic] having on board a considerable number of blacks (French prisoners) was driven on the rocks, near the entrance of the pier, by a violent gale of wind, by which about 50 of the prisoners were drowned; those who got on shore exhibited a most wretched spectacle; and the scene altogether was too shocking for description'.
Two hundred years later, in 1997, newspapers reported that human bones were discovered when part of a sea wall at Rapparee Beach collapsed. The bones are undergoing DNA analysis by Bristol University archaeologists in the hope they can identify where the people originated from and if indeed they belonged to the London, other wrecks, or local fishermen. Please see the report for further details.

Historic England, 2022, Historic England Research Record, 1078671 (Website). SDV365221.

A number of human bones were found on the beach at Rapparee Cove in 1997. It has been suggested that they belong to the victims of the wreck of the London, wrecked at Rapparee Cove in 1796, a cartel or prisoner-of-war exchange ship, bringing French prisoners back from St. Lucia or St. Kitts during the Napoleonic Wars. Subsequent DNA testing, which remains unpublished was inconclusive but sugessted that the bones were those of white European origin and may be the remains of local fishermen or from other known wrecks at Rapparee Cove such as the wreck carrying the original 'rapparees' (Irish Jacobite soldiers), lost in 1691, or the wreck of a Portuguese vessel, the Bom Successo, wrecked in 1780. Please see the report for further details.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV339712Report - Assessment: Collings, A. G. + Manning, P. T. + Valentin, J.. 2007. The North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phase 1. Archaeological Survey. Summary Report. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.22 (rev.1). A4 Stapled + Digital. No. 1458.
SDV346521Un-published: Mills, A.. 1997. The Wreck of the London at Rapparee Cove, Ilfracombe - Summary of Historical Evidence. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV355682Website: National Monument Record. 2014. Pastscape. http://www.pastscape.org.uk. Website. 878080.
SDV361583Article in Serial: Blue, L. 1997. Maritime archaeology in Britain and Ireland 1996. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 26.3.
SDV365221Website: Historic England. 2022. Historic England Research Record. https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Digital. 1078671. [Mapped feature: #143854 ]
SDV366457Un-published: Mills, A.. 1997. Bones found at Rapparee Cove. Summary of Historical and Archaeological Evidence. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV366458Un-published: Horton, M.. 1997. Rapparee Cove Bones. Some brief notes. A4 Single Sheet + Digital.
SDV366459Article in Serial: Constable, N.. 1997. Shipwreck slaves' grave unearthed. ?Daily Telegraph. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV366460Article in Serial: Petre, J. + Constable, N.. 2001. Devon in three-way battle over bones of shipwrecked slaves. The Sunday Telegraph. Newspaper + Digital.
SDV366461Article in Serial: Staddon, G.. 1997. Bones on beach poser is close to a solution. The Gazette & Advertiser. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV366462Article in Serial: Coles, S.. 1997. Bid to unearth bones mystery. North Devon Journal. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV366463Article in Serial: Gibbs, G.. 1997. 'Caribbean rebels' await heroes' burial. The Guardian. Photocopy + Digital.
SDV366464Article in Serial: Whitney, A.. 2001. St Lucia stakes its claim to the bones of the 'heroic rebels' of Rapparee Cove. The Independent. Newspaper + Digital.

Associated Monuments

MDV57179Related to: Wreck of the London, Rapparee Cove, Ilfracombe, North Devon (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded


Date Last Edited:Apr 16 2025 7:03PM