Maritime record MWX2097 - Myrtledene (Harewood)

Remains of English cargo vessel, 1912

(1) Year Built: 1890. Builder: Palmer and Co. Ltd. Where Built: Newcastle upon Tyne. Engine HP: 253. Boilers: 2. Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine. Owner: J T Lunn and Co. Master: F W Mitchell. Crew: 24. Passengers: 2. Date of Loss Qualifier: A (2)(3) Ex-HAREWOOD.`In the early hours of a Monday, following a day and night of dense fog, the strong ebb tide swept the HAREWOOD into the bay at 3.30 am in calm conditions. The steam tug VERNE, the duty boat for the many coaling firms in the harbour and the HELPER of Weymouth, went to her assistance and found her fast ashore. Later that morning the captain and crew left the wreck in their own boats proceeding to Weymouth on the HELPER. The following day the salvage tug BELOS arrived and divers carried out an examination of the hull under water. About six of the crew were on deck plus the mate when she drove ashore. He believed they were at least 20-30 miles south of Portland, and were steaming at eight knots when she struck. Her bottom was ripped wide open, her engine room flooding in less than one hour and she proved impossible to save. (2)(3) 28-MAY-1982 Remains lie very broken up in Mutton Cove. Boiler stands 3 metres high in general depth of 8 metres. (1) The Myrtledene was an elegant 2500 ton ore carrier, bound from Sagunto (Spain) to Rotterdam. On the 25th March 1912 she ran aground at Mutton Cove on Portland. Her bottom had been badly damaged and her lower hull rapidly filled with water. The coastguards got a line on board and rescued her crew of twenty four and two passengers. Despite her apparently undamaged state, there was no hope of saving her and she slid into deeper water. Divers know the wreck today for the wealth of marine life that can be found on it.(7) Additional sources: DCC.26.03.1912(R) BOT.Wk. Rtn.1912 Appx C, Table 1, P. 100 LR.1907-8 No.1476(M) Weymouth Library photo.L910.4.MY1-3, neg.no.35/33 Position 50 32.20 N 2 27.3 W taken from (8) Ownership history: 1890: HAREWOOD. Wm Wright. London 1894: HAREWOOD. L Wright & Co. London 1898: MYRTLEDENE. Dene SS Co Ltd. Newcastle 1904: MYRTLEDENE. JT Lunn & Co. Newcastle 1911: MYRTLEDENE. Northumbrian Shipping Corp Ltd. <9>

Record last edited

Feb 15 2024 3:36PM