Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Rhoda Mary was built in 1868 at Point, near Falmouth in Cornwall. She was designed by William Foreman Ferris. The Rhoda Mary was the first of his designs, being 109 foot on deck, 95 foot at the waterline, with a 21 foot beam, 10 foot draught, and a displacement of 130 tons

In the late 19th century, at a time of explosive growth in national and international commerce, the merchant schooner with its distinctive square topsails became the pre-eminent cargo vessel in the age of sail. Of the hundreds of vessels servicing this trade, throughout Europe and as far afield as Newfoundland, two were regarded by mariners as the fastest examples of the type - the Rhoda Mary and the Katie Cluett. Today, there are no surviving working examples of the two-masted merchant schooners which were the mainstay of international trade during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Monument Types

• WRECK (Modern - 1958 AD to 1958 AD (pre))
• WRECK (Date unknown, 1990 airphoto, Modern - 1990 AD to 1990 AD (pre))

Full description

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Vertical Datum: LAT Orientation: NWSE 02-DEC-1958 Stranded wreck shown in 51 24 41N 000 33 19E on k 1576. 07-MAR-1968 Stranded wreck not shown on k3480. 24-SEP-1971 Stranded wreck still visible at LW in position 273.5 Degs 1300ft from Hoo Marina FS. 30-JUL-1975 Shown as stranded wreck dries 4.5m On k7238. 24-MAY-1990 Stranded wreck shown in 51 24 41.5N 000 33 19.5E orientation NW/SE on photoplot (1). Additional photographs (2-4). Vessel seen in 2004 and lies in deep mud preventing further access and examination.(5)

Description from record TQ 77 SE 90:
Method of Fix: Aerial Photograph Interpretation Photograph Number: KCC 1961 Line 7: 3963 Photograph Number: KCC 1985 Line 9: 0117 000 Photograph Number: KCC 1990 Line 8: 0156 (1-4). A barge lying against the obliquely to the shore, orientated south-east north-west. The low-tide 1990 photograph suggests that it sunk well into the mud. In 2004, the barge's remains were noted to be almost flush with the level of the intertidal mud flats. (8)

The Rhoda Mary was built in 1868 at Point, near Falmouth in Cornwall. She was designed by William Foreman Ferris. The Rhoda Mary was the first of his designs, being 109 foot on deck, 95 foot at the waterline, with a 21 foot beam, 10 foot draught, and a displacement of 130 tons

"In the late 19th century, at a time of explosive growth in national and international commerce, the merchant schooner with its distinctive square topsails became the pre-eminent cargo vessel in the age of sail. Of the hundreds of vessels servicing this trade, throughout Europe and as far afield as Newfoundland, two were regarded by mariners as the fastest examples of the type - the Rhoda Mary and the Katie Cluett. Today, there are no surviving working examples of the two-masted merchant schooners which were the mainstay of international trade during the late 19th and early 20th centuries." A 2015 project - the Rhoda Mary project- aims to raise her, return her to Cornwall and conserve her.(9)

<1> Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 20-JAN-1993, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

<1> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10333.

<2> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11145.

<2> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10372.

<3> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11140.

<3> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11146.

<4> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11145.

<4> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11193.

<5> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11146.

<5> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year One report (Unpublished document). SWX12121.

<6> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11181.

<7> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11193.

<8> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year One report (Unpublished document). SWX12121.

<9> Rhoda Mary Project Team, 2015, Rhoda Mary Shipwreck: Proposals - Surveys, Salvage & Conservation - revised report (Unpublished document). SKE30623.

Sources and further reading