Godrevy Island 1998
The schooner Mount Charles was built by Marks and Rendle of Fowey in 1837 and first registered at Fowey number 25 of that year.
Anthony Luke of Charlestown and his brother John of Plymouth each owned 8 shares in her. The remaining 48 shares were distributed among 14 local owners.[1]
On December 15th 1853, under her master William Polglass, she was on passage between Cardiff and Hayle on the North Cornish coast, when passing Godrevy Island, she struck on the Stones of Godrevy and sank almost immediately.[2] Fortunately her crew and master could take to the ship's boat and reached Hayle, without loss of life.[3]
An 1859 pilot book describes these hazards of St. Ives Bay thus:
"At the east point of the bay is Godrevy Island, to the north-west of which, about a mile is a bank of stones...some of these stones appear above water at half ebb".[4]
The Royal Cornwall Gazette, in reporting this accident, suggested that a light on these rocks would help to prevent similar disasters.[5]
"...Many a fine vessel and valuable cargo have been lost through want of a light being erected on those rocks".
By 1859, a lighthouse was being built on Godrevy Island, a light vessel had been moored between Godrevy Island and the Stones, and a buoy placed to the North of them.[4]
You can read about other Charlestown ships in my Luke of Charlestown page.