Steam yacht: iron screw, built Barrow Ship Building Co. 1873, registered
Barrow 1875, ON 70477
145 grt, 99 nrt, 135.1 ft x 18.1 ft x 9.1 ft, 3 masts
Engine: Comp. 2cyl, 1 screw, 40hp
Owned (and designed by) Sir John Ramsden (co-owner of Barrow S. B. Co.)
30 March 1880, at 1 am, struck coast near Porth y Post in fog, wrecked.
Captain George Clark and all crew saved, also yacht Freda (towed) saved.
An extremely fine and detailed builder's model of the steam yacht Aries built
by Barrow Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for Sir James Ramsden, 1873 [from Dock Museum, Barrow]
John Ramsden (later knighted), with others, set up the Barrow Shipbuilding Company
in 1873. The first vessel launched was the steam yacht Aries, designed to his
specifications and which he owned. The nearby iron works at Barrow was a
source for the shipbuilders. The company later became Vickers after 1897.
Sir John Ramsden encouraged yacht racing and used his yacht
to attend events, such as at Cowes, Isle of Wight.
In 1880, the yacht was returning from Cowes to have a refit at Barrow when it ran aground on Anglesey and was wrecked. Details below.
A second Aries (ON 83973, Iron, 145.0 x 20.1 x 10.3 ft, 107nrt, 187grt, 50 hp screw engine) was built and registered at Barrow to very similar specification and launched in 1881. She was owned by James Ramsden until 1887; then W. C. Clarke of Liverpool from 1888-1895, Edward Hore of London from 1896-1904, and the Duke of Leeds from 1906. This vessel was eventually used in World War I and lost in action in 1915, sunk by a mine in the English Channel.
A third Aries was built by Ramsden at Barrow in 1889, (ON 93415, steel, 85 x 14 x 7.4 ft, 67grt, 32 nrt, 20 hp screw engines), owned by Sir James Ramsden 1890, registered London 1896, [MNL wrongly reports built Glasgow] owned Sir Alfred Cooper, Surbiton; then Hudson Lutwyche, Wilmslow, from 1901, [subsequently let out in 1902 to Mr Wilson], register closed 1904, when sold by Lutwyche to a German from Hamburg.
From The Field, Saturday 10 April 1880
THE STEAM YACHT ARIES.
Report of George Clark, master of the
three-masted, schooner-rigged steam yacht Aries, of Barrow, 210 tons, owned
by Sir James Ramsden, from Cowes, March 20, at midnight, for
Barrow in Furness. Proceeded, all well. On the 21st, at 2 p.m., put into Plymouth
for the yacht Freda, and left on Friday, the 26th, at 1 p m., with the yacht
Freda in tow. On the 27th, at 9.30 p.m.. wind S., and having experienced
strong winds from that quarter, put into Milford for the night. On the 29th,
at 9.30 a.m. tide being ebb, weather hazy, wind N. E., blowing light
airs, with a smooth sea, the ship proceeded under steam, towing the small
yacht Freda. At 9.15 p.m. passed Bardsey Island, light bearing S.E. about
three miles, steering N.N.E. 0.5 E. At 11 p.m. altered course to N.N.E., weather
at the time being very foggy. Slowed to half speed, going about five knots,
and nothing further occurred until 1 a. m. on the 30th, when vessel
suddenly struck on the rocks. Went full speed astern, but found that I could
not move the ship. I at once cast off yacht Freda, and moored her off, then
lowered all the three boats, and commenced getting things of value into the
Freda.
Landed at 5.30 a.m., found the Customs and Coastguard officers who
informed me that the exact spot where vessel struck is Isallt Rocks, near
Towyn-y-Capel [old name for Trearddur Bay]. The vessel is
lying in a bad position, with stern under water,
and likely to become a total wreck. The vessel was drawing 7ft. 6in. forward and
8ft 6in aft. Had three boats in good condition belonging to the Aries, and
one belonging to the Freda; had four anchors, two bowers, one 6 cwt.[300Kg], and
one 5.5 cwt., two kedges, one about 3 cwt. and one 2 cwt., 180 fathoms of
studded chain, 7/8 inch, and 60 fathoms of stream chain, 5/8 inch. Did not heave
the lead, as I supposed myself further out. Towyn-y-Capel, March 30.
From North Wales Chronicle 10 April 1880
SALE OF WRECK. IMPORTANT TO SHIPWRIGHTS, FARMERS, MARINE STORE DEALERS, AND
OTHERS. MR. W. RIVA has received instructions to SELL BY AUCTION, on
Monday, the 12th April, 1880, at 12-30 p.m. (for the benefit of whom it may
concern ) at Porth y Post (distance of two miles from Holyhead), the
IRON STEAM YACHT "ARIES," ,
210 Tons Gross Register, as she lies stranded on the Rocks at
Porth y Post. She is fitted with Compound Engines of Forty-Horse Power, 18
Tons Lead Ballast, and about Twenty Tons of Iron; also the Materials Salvaged
from the said Vessel, consisting of Gig, Cutter, and Dingy, nine Sails,
Awnings, Brass Guns, Harness Casks, Lamps, Compasses, Carpets, Cabin
Furniture, upholstered in Green Velvet, Chains and Anchors, Running and
Standing Rigging, and numerous other Effects.
For Catalogues and further
particulars apply to R. Cooper Rendel, Esquire, Underwriters' Rooms,
Glasgow; Captain R. R. Jones, Lloyd's Agent, or to the Auctioneer, both of
Holyhead.
From North Wales Express, 23rd April 1880
HOLYHEAD. THE GALE. It was blowing a hurricane here all day on
Wednesday, and cross channel steamers were considerably delayed. The yacht
Aries has become a total wreck.
Postscript Isallt Rocks is an area between Porth y Post and Trearddur Bay [called Towyn y Capel at that time]. In the 1880s, there were farms called Is-allt Fawr inland of Porth y Post and Is-allt Bach inland of Porth Isallt Bach. Porth Isallt Bach is the cove nearest to Trearddur Bay. The coast road from Trearddur Bay to Porth y Post is called Lon Isallt. This points to the rocky offshore reef, now known as Craig y Môr, as being the location of the wreck. I have done many dives in this area and have seen quite a lot of isolated bits of wreckage.