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Latitude 50° 20.77 N
Longitude 004° 10.07 W
Accuracy 500m
Location Description Redding Point
Reference NMR 1062472
Craft type Gun brig
Date built 1794
Date of loss 20 January 1804
Manner of loss Wrecked
Outcome Abandoned
Construction Wood
Propulsion Sail
Nationality United Kingdom
Departure port Plymouth
Destination port Channel Islands
Hull length 75ft
Hull beam 21ft
Hull displacement 149 tons
Armament 2 x 24lb bow chase guns
10 x 18lb broadside
2 x 18lb stern chase guns
Crew 29
Builder Claveley, Gravesend
Master Lt Williams RN
Owners Royal Navy

HMS Fearless

The Conquest class gun brig HMS Fearless was wrecked on Redding Point at the north end of Cawsand Bay on 20th January 1804. The ship was a Henslow design fitted to row with 18 oars and had a schooner or brigantine rig.(3)

`Was brought into Looe on the 10th instant by the Looe Sea Fencibles under the command of Captain Bremer, from a dangerous position between Looe Island and the main, where she had been forced by stress of weather, and had anchored. On Sunday 22nd the FEARLESS and dockyard lighter were both wrecked under Redding Point, Cawsand. The officers and crew all being saved (though the cliff is shelving outwards and near 60ft high at the SE point of Mount Edgecombe) by the exertions and activity of several persons of Cawsand village.'

While at anchor in Cawsand Bay, waiting for the weather to clear to convoy merchant ships to the Channel Islands, the weather worsened and the captain of this gun brig ordered the topmasts and yards to be lowered and put out a second anchor. Despite these precautions the best bower anchor broke in the shank during the afternoon and she commenced to drive across the bay. There was nothing her crew could do apart from firing a distress gun, after which she struck the rocks and went beam on to the sea. All the crew apart from one man managed to reach safety, assisted by the locals. (2)

The vessel went to pieces and became a total wreck.(6)

19 January, rescue in Cawsand Bay. The FEARLESS gunbrig, Lt. George Williams, and a dockyard lighter, were obliged to cut from Cawsand Bay, and were then both driven on the rocks near Redding Point, where all hands must have perished, but for the assistance of some Cawsand fishermen with ropes and lanthorns.(5)

They saved not only Lt. Williams and his wife, but also two children belonging to a mate, as well as the officers and crew, altogether 32 persons...The vessel had struck at 11pm during a raging gale, yet not a life was lost.(1, 10)

Drawings of this class of vessel are held in the National Maritime Museum.

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Images

References

(1) Grocott T., 1997, Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Eras, Chatham Publishing, ISBN 1 86176 030 2, p168
(2) Hepper D., 1994, British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, Jean Boudriot Publications, ISBN 0948864303, p104
(3) Lyon D., 1993, The Sailing Navy List, Conway Maritime Press, ISBN 0 85177 864 X
(4) Colledge J., 1969, Ships of the Royal Navy Vols 1 & 2, David and Charles, ISBN 71534353X, p206
(5) Gosset W.P., 1986, The Lost Ships of the Royal Navy 1793-1900, Mansell Publishing Ltd, ISBN 0720118166, p39
(6) Larn R. & Larn B., 1995, Shipwreck Index of the British Isles Vol. 1, Lloyds Register of Shipping, ISBN 0 900528 88 5
(7) PastScape Fearless, English Heritage, Accessed Dec 2011
(8) Royal Cornwall Gazettee 28.01.1804
(9) Minutes of the Proceedings of a Court Martial for the loss of the Fearless, National Archives
(10) The Times, 25 January 1804