Helvetia

Last Updated on Friday, 14 January 2011 15:40

1887 - The Helvetia was one of two timber-built Norwegian barques laden with timber, lying off Mumbles Head in a south-easterly gale.    They were driven from their anchors and sailed before the wind down-channel in the increasing gale.  The other ship made safely for Lundy but the Helvetia was blown on to and then across the Helwick Bank and on around the Worm where she sought to shelter inside the Inner Head. The rocket crew were alerted and managed to get a line to her.   However night fell and the wind veered and she was blown on to Rhossili beach.   When the tide went out the crew were able to step ashore, shaken but unharmed.   Her cargo of 500 tons of wood was scattered along the beach and there was a massive salvage operation. Most of the wood went at auction, what was left of the ship was bought by Mr Jack Bevan of the Old Farm House, and that house and many local farm buildings benefited from the wreck wood.   The remains of her hull features on many postcards of Rhossili.   (ref 013)

The wreck of the Helvetia with Worms head in the background.
Reproduced by kind permission of www.euroshots.com

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Helvetia	Wreck Report	859 Kb