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Safeguarding Our Heritage The Fair Isle marine resource: A community proposal for its sustainable management Appendix 7. Shipwrecks of high historical, archaeological and cultural importance With so many ships having foundered in Fair Isle waters over recent centuries, it could be argued that every wreck has a high historical/cultural interest and value. However, a few are of especial significance and these are summarised below.The CANADIA Date wrecked: 12th March 1915 Location: Heilli Stack (see Figure 5) Depth: from 10-40 m Site description: cliff face with pinnacles and gully down to shingle bottom Wreck description: sections of double bottom hull, prop shaft, fragments of plating from sides & decking, debris from retrieval of non ferrous metals in the 1970s Historical/cultural significance: 5000 ton steamer; cargo of flour & mahogany used by the Isle.
Date wrecked: 19th September 1877 Location: Shaltsteen (see Figure 5) Depth: 3-15 m Site description: in wells on gently sloping rock Wreck description: anchor, valves, other non ferrous material Historical/cultural significance: composite ship (constructed of wooden and iron bands); one of the first examples of iron used in shipbuilding; doors and other items from the Black Watch were incorporated into island houses.
Date wrecked: 19th July 1877 Location: š ren (see Figure 5) Depth: 10 m Site description: in rocky gullies Wreck description: propeller stuck crucifix fashion in gully Historical/cultural significance: steamship, built of iron in 1874 in Aberdeen; only passenger was a church minister heading for Archangel who thought he had arrived at his destination when the ship went aground and insisted on being put ashore.
Date wrecked: 20th September 1980 Location: Estbaas, back o da keels (see Figure 5) Depth: 20 m Site description: on top of old wreck Wreck description: lying on side, hull substantially collapsed Historical/cultural significance: modern fishing boat with vectored nozzle steering. This proved her downfall by making her unmanoeuvrable except with engine giving thrust.
Date wrecked: 12th August 1884 Location: Rippie baa (see Figure 5) Depth: 15-20 m Site description: rock and shingle Wreck description: some hull bolts and standing rigging in rock and shingle Historical/cultural significance: Dutch East Indiaman. Crew came ashore in boats and raft of barrels tied together. The NORSEMAN’S BRIDE Date wrecked: 20th January 1973 Location: Hol o Kuddin (see Figure 5) Depth: surface down to 10 m Site description: rocky gully Wreck description: some frames and hull sections Historical/cultural significance: modern fishing boat. Crew rescued by island lifeboat/mail boat GOOD SHEPHERD III.
Date wrecked: 11th September 1907 Location: Da fless, east (see Figure 5) Depth: 5-20 m Site description: rock strewn gully Wreck description: steam engine with condensor, plates from hull, other debris. Ship’s Bell in island museum Historical/cultural significance: steam trawler. Crew used to poach inside the fishing limit. Went ashore in thick fog and, fearing the wrath of the islanders, crew set off for Sumburgh in the dinghy rowing. Islanders rescued them on Midsaithen and treated them with kindness. Afterwards the skipper couldn’t do enough for the isle, stopping by to take passengers, goods, messages, etc.
Date wrecked: 27th September 1588 Location: Stroms Heelor (see Figure 5) Depth: 20 m Site description: shingle filled gully Wreck description: wooden elements now gone, but beds of concretion up to 1 m thick containing iron cannon balls and iron cannons, including one part eroded away to reveal breaching mechanism Historical/cultural significance: Flag ship of the Squadron of Hulks (Auxiliary fleet of the Spanish Armada). Circa 300 Spaniards came ashore and were not repatriated until 14th November by which time 50 had died, many of hunger. Extensively researched wreck, fully archived and with artefacts now in museums on and off the isle, with a detailed, full description in the book Full Fathom Five by Colin Martin. Wreck protected under a lease to the Shetland Islands Council from the Crown Estates Commission, allowing the Council to control access.
Date wrecked: 12th November 1911 Location: Leestit (see Figure 5) Depth: 5m Site description: rock, shingle and sand Wreck description: brass hull bolts Historical/cultural significance: mail boat to the isle; various packet boats of the same name came to grief off Leestit baa.
Date wrecked: AD900 Location: Swarzie Geo [Sivar Geo] (see Figure 5) Depth: unknown Site description: rocks and shingle Wreck description: somewhere in the geo, remains probably long since gone Historical/cultural significance: Sivar Sigurd (also known as Sigurd, Sivar and Eric The Black) was reputed to have landed and the geo still supports his name as Sivar or its current alternative Swarzie - both of which translate to Black.
Date wrecked: 25th May 1868 Location: Klavers Geo (see Figure 5) Wreck details: the wreck was towed to Stromness and broken up there Historical/cultural significance: German immigrant ship. Heroic rescue by islanders. Yoals lowered down Hesswalls and passengers & crew all rescued by rowing through Hol o Klaver (a cave passageway through the cliffs). Items of china still on Isle left by way of thanks. The wreck was taken as salvage to Orkney. Some Islanders accompanied the salvage and not all returned, a few choosing to settle there. The island received an award from the German Government for the rescue, which was divided out among the men and boys. Though the wreck was removed and therefore not an archaeological site, the Lessing is included here as an important contributor to the history and cultural heritage of the Isle. Note Wrecks were also important to the isle as a source of wood on a treeless island.
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