Shipwrecks on the Manacles Rocks

The Manacles Rocks lie just over a mile east of Manacle Point on the east coast of the Lizard Peninsula. Their name is derived from the Cornish for Church Rocks or Maen Eglos, they are a treacherous crescent of sumberged and semi-submerged rocks notorious for claiming the lives of many hundreds of seafarers. Although quite scattered they can be defined as three main groups of rocks.

The northern group consists of Morah Rock or Maen Chynoweth, at Grid Reference SW816216, scene of the wreck of the Lady Dalhousie on 9th February 1923. To the south, just off Manacle Point lies the Shark's Fin at SW813214, site of the wreck of the Andola on 29th January 1895. Next comes Maen Garrick, a little to the east at SW818212. Southeast of Maen Garrick lies Gwinges Rock at SW820210.

The central group includes some of the most dangerous rocks and form almost a circle. The western arc of rocks is home to the Mistrel Rock (SW817206), sometimes erroneously called the Minstrel Rock. The naval sloop HMS Primrose was wrecked here in 1809 with the loss of 125 people. A little to the east lie the Varses at Grid Reference SW820206. It was here in October 1898 that the steamship Mohegan was wrecked. The southern arc of rocks are known as the Carn-du rocks (SW817204).

Some way away to the southwest, lies the Maen Land Rock at Grid Reference SW807201, site of the wreck of the barque John in May 1855.

The Wreck of SS Mohegan

The steamship Mohegan was wrecked on the treacherous pair of rocks known as the Maen Voes (The Voices) at 6.45pm on 14th October 1898. The ship was sailing from Tilbury to the United States with a 53 passengers and 104 crew. All was well until the ship passed Falmouth. Observers noted that the ship was too close in to the coast and despite attempts at warning her of this, the Mohegan under Captain Griffiths carried on.

The passengers were believed to have just sat down for dinner when a horrible grinding sound was heard from the hull. The ship had just hit Vase Rock and had its rudder torn off. Helpless, the Mohegan ploughed headlong into the Maen Voes where she quickly started sinking. The ship sank within twenty minutes leaving only her funnel and the top of her superstructure visible. 107 souls were lost, many buried in a mass grave in St. Keverne Churchyard nearby.