Shipwreck Monument Approximately 40 Metres East Of Church Of St Mary The Virgin

BRIXHAM

SX9255 DREW STREET, Higher Brixham 1946-1/7/109 (South East side) Shipwreck monument approx. 40m east of Church of St Mary the Virgin

GV II

Monument to sailors who died in the great Torbay shipwreck of 11 January 1866. c1866. By Wood of Bristol (inscription). Dressed stone, probably limestone, with some detail in white marble. Square pedestal with moulded base carrying a block carved on south side with a shipwreck scene. Above this is a cross standing on a pile of rocks and having an anchor leaning against it. On the west face of the pedestal is the inscription: OF A FLEET OF 64 BRITISH AND FOREIGN MERCHANT VESSELS ANCHORED IN TORBAY ON THE NIGHT OF JAN 10TH 1866 IN APPARENT SAFETY UPWARDS OF 40 WERE ON THE 11TH DRIVEN FROM THEIR ANCHORS AND WRECKED OR STRANDED MOST OF THEM TOTALLY LOST AND MORE THAN 100 LIVES ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE PERISHED. On the south side of the plinth is another inscription recording that the monument was paid for by the Brixham Shipwrecked Sailors Relief Committee out of the residue of »3,211/9/5 raised by public subscription for the widows and orphans. Enclosing the monument is an iron fence hanging from low square stone posts aligned with the 4 corners.

Listing NGR: SX9219055119