Mystery of UK shipwreck is solved 140 years after bodies of crew who used mattresses to plug holes in vessel washed up
A SHIPWRECK mystery has been solved after divers uncovered a vessel which sunk nearly 140 years ago.
Crew on board the SS Nantes made desperate attempts to plug the ship's holes with mattresses when it sunk in 1888.
Advertisement
7
The ship sank in 1888
Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton
7
Divers at the wreck of the SS Nantes
Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton
The wreckage of the SS Nantes, has been discovered, having sunk 137 years ago - killing almost everyone onboard.
The boat tragically collided with a German sailing vessel, the Theodor Ruger, in November 1888, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Only two people survived, with two people jumping to safety on the Ruger, and one person who stayed on the Nantes trying to keep it afloat.
The Nantes sank approximately ten hours after the collision, this took place off the coast of Plymouth, in the early hours of the morning.
Advertisement
Read more News
Diver Dominic Robinson discovered the wreckage of the SS Nantes last week, 246 feet below sea level.
The 50-year-old former Army Officer found a plate with the
This enabled him to work out that the
Dominic and his
Advertisement
Most read in The Sun
He said: 'The Nantes was built in 1874, in Glasgow, and very sadly lasted a mere 14 years before it was sunk,' said Dominic.
'It was on a passage from
Shipwreck explorers find iconic rare CAR while scouring sunken WW2 aircraft carrier - and can even read unique reg plate
'It's quite a sad story.'
After the ship went down, it became lost until Dominic and his team discovered it.
Advertisement
Dominic, who has been an underwater explorer for around 35 years, first caught wind of the unidentified shipwreck from the
Maritime Historian Dr Harry Bennett, who works at the institute, explained why the wreck has taken well over a century to find: "Obviously you're dealing in a period with no
"While the crew tried to save the ship it drifted for several hours, before it finally made its way to the bottom, sadly with many of its
Dominic added: "The wreck was lost until a local dive team identified it in 2024.
Advertisement
'We got the size of the wreck from the information on the UK Hydrographic Office.
'We knew the boat is about 78 or 79 metres long.
'We also knew that there was a Cunard
'So what you do is you try to find a list of all the Cunard ships that were sunk.
Advertisement
'You then try and narrow them down to, to a relatively small one, and an old one.
'We obviously know where it sank, so if you can find information about the sinking and the wreck that aligns all those things up, then it's fairly straightforward to identify it.'
The Cunard plate which Dominic found was crucial in the ship's identification.
He said: 'Even though the wreck had been dived before, it was never identified and this small piece of
Advertisement
'The more eagle eyed amongst you may already have noticed the logo from the famous Cunard shipping line.
'And not surprisingly, this is what gave us the most significant
7
A plate with the Cunard Steamship Company logo that was discovered on the wreck
Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton
7
Dominic Robinson is an experienced diver
Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton
Advertisement
7
The moment a plate with the Cunard Steamship Company logo was discovered on the wreck
Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton
7
Dominic went with a full boat crew and dive team
Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton
7
Dominic spent two hours dragging up a WWII Royal Canadian Navy ship bell from 69 meters under the sea
Credit: SWNS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
Middle Age rents live on in German social housing legacy
When German pensioner Angelika Stibi got the keys to her new home in the southern region of Bavaria this year, a huge financial weight was lifted from her shoulders. Angelika has to pay just 88 cents a year for her apartment in the social housing complex known as the Fuggerei, where rents have not gone up since the Middle Ages. Founded in 1521 by the wealthy businessman Jakob Fugger and believed to be the oldest such project in the world, the Fuggerei in the city of Augsburg provides living space for 150 residents facing financial hardship. Consisting of several rows of yellow terraced buildings with green shutters and sloping red roofs, the complex still resembles a medieval village. "I had a truly wonderful life until I was 55," said Angelika, a mother of two in her 60s from Augsburg. After she was diagnosed with cancer, "everything went from bad to worse" and she was left with no other option but to apply for social housing, she said. Waiting lists are long for apartments in the walled enclave not far from Augsburg city centre, with most applicants having to wait "between two and six or seven years", according to resident social worker Doris Herzog. "It all depends on the apartment you want. The ones on the ground floor are very popular," Herzog said. Applicants must be able to prove that they are Augsburg residents, Catholic and suffering from financial hardship. Relative of Mozart Martha Jesse has been living at the Fuggerei for 17 years after finding herself with monthly pension payments of just €400, despite having worked for 45 years. "Living elsewhere would have been almost impossible," said the 77-year-old, whose apartment is filled with religious symbols. The Fuggerei was heavily damaged in World War II but has since been rebuilt in its original style. Renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's great-grandfather, the mason Franz Mozart, was once a resident and visitors can still see a stone plaque bearing his name. For Andreas Tervooren, a 49-year-old night security guard who has lived at the Fuggerei since 2017, the complex is "like a town within a town" or "the Asterix village in the comic books". The meagre rents at the Fuggerei are all the more remarkable given its location an hour's drive from Munich, the most expensive city in Germany to live in and one of the most expensive in Europe. Rents have also risen sharply in many other German cities in recent years, leading to a wave of protests. But not at the Fuggerei, whose founders stipulated that the rent should never be raised. Jakob Fugger (1459-1525), also known as Jakob the Rich, was a merchant and financier from a wealthy family known for its ties to European emperors and the Habsburg family. Fugger set up several foundations to help the people of Augsburg, and they continue to fund the upkeep of the Fuggerei to this day. The annual rent in the Fuggerei was one Rhenish gulden, about the weekly wage of a craftsman at the time - equivalent to 88 cents in today's money. Although some descendants of the Fugger family are still involved in the management of the foundations, they no longer contribute any money. "We are financed mainly through income from forestry holdings, and we also have a small tourism business," said Daniel Hobohm, administrator of the Fugger foundations. The Fuggerei attracts a steady stream of visitors, and the foundations also receive rental income from other properties. In return for their lodgings, residents of the Fuggerei must fulfil just one condition - every day, they must recite a prayer for the donors and their families.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Doomsday prepper reveals $430,000 personal bunker ‘for WW3 protection' and steps you can take to start stockpiling
A DOOMSDAY prepper who has a personal bunker with goods worth $430,000 has shared an urgent warning as tensions rise from global conflicts. Rowan MacKenzie is well-known for her expert advice in preparing for any disaster – including the end of the world. Advertisement 9 Rowan MacKenzie has been preparing for the worst Credit: Jam Press 9 According to MacKenzie, her personal stockpile is worth $315,000 Credit: Jam Press 9 The doomsday bunker is filled with nonperishable food items and bottled water Credit: Jam Press Following escalating strikes between Iran and Israel, the 40-year-old is sharing what she believes to be crucial advice for anyone worried about possible gray-zone attacks. Rowan has admitted that she is concerned that World War III is just around the corner, so is preparing how she sees fit. 'Gray-zone attacks are exactly what the name says – it's the gray area between a time of war and peace,' the homemaker and estate agent told NeedToKnow. 'It's something we preppers consider when stockpiling. Advertisement 'They need to be taken extremely seriously, as the economic crash can be just as disastrous as an actual physical war. MacKenzie also revealed how many days' worth of items to have in your stockpile at the very minimum. '[You should] stockpile at least 72 hours' worth of essentials. 'This includes water, food, medications [and] power sources, such as rechargeable batteries," she explained. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun 'Keep a wind-up radio nearby to stay informed if the internet goes down. 'Learn basic first aid and fire safety. 9 The homemaker also has livestock, including chickens and ducks Credit: Jam Press 9 MacKenzie has been building her stockpile for over two years Credit: Jam Press Advertisement 9 Her prepping came from fears surrounding 'World War III' Credit: Jam Press 'Practice emergency routines with household members, especially little ones. 'Get to know your local resilience forum and available services. 'As defense evolves, so too must public readiness.' Advertisement Although gray-zone attacks might not involve tanks or other weaponry, their impact can be just as severe on society. Rowan, from the US, says her own prepping is no longer a hobby – she now considers it a necessity. She added: 'It's becoming more and more practiced worldwide. 'It never hurts to protect the people you love. 'Don't panic; make a list and execute. 'I've said it time and time again, you've got to be prepared for anything at any time.' Advertisement 9 The homemaker has also stocked up on firearms and ammo Credit: Jam Press 9 MacKenzie has also provided advice for those looking to start their own stockpile Credit: Jam Press 9 She even has her own personal greenhouse in her yard for growing food Credit: Jam Press
The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Historic moment female Beefeater locks Tower of London for first time in 700 years in ‘fabulous honour'
A FEMALE Beefeater has led the Ceremony of the Keys, the locking of the Tower of London, for the first time in the ritual's 700-year history. AJ Clark, 50, can perform the task after becoming the first female Advertisement 5 AJ Clark has become the first female Beefeater to lead the Ceremony of the Keys in 700 years Credit: Peter Jordan 5 The ritual dates to 1340 after King Edward III arrived unannounced and was furious he could enter unchallenged Credit: Alamy 5 AJ Clark was recently promoted to yeoman sergeant, allowing her to carry the keys Credit: Alamy Other women have played a role in past ceremonies. But only sergeants carry the King's Keys. AJ told The Sun: 'I still pinch myself. 'It's just fabulous. 'There is so much history and it is such an honour to be part of it.' Advertisement READ MORE LONDON NEWS The ritual dates to 1340 after King Edward III arrived unannounced and was furious he could enter unchallenged. The ceremony lasts from 9.53pm to 10pm. We watched as AJ emerged from the Byward Tower — where Anne Boleyn lived before her 1536 execution — with a lantern and the keys. She walked alone to Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Latest They marched to the Middle Gate then the Byward Gate, where AJ closed and locked the huge wooden doors. Back at the Bloody Tower — where King Edward V, 12, and brother Richard, nine, were murdered — a sentry challenged AJ: 'Halt! Who goes there?' Adorable moment King's Guard breaks protocol to nod at little boy who dreams of becoming a beefeater AJ replied she had 'King Charles' keys' and her group was allowed to pass. She gave the keys to the King's representative, before the playing of Advertisement AJ, of Burnley , spent 24 years in the Army before becoming a Beefeater in 2017. She lives in the Tower with her husband and three dogs. She added: 'It is the shortest military ceremony in history, but for us the most important. 'Being a yeoman warder is magical.' Advertisement 5 AJ spent 24 years in the Army before becoming a Beefeater in 2017 Credit: Peter Jordan 5 She lives in the Tower of London with her husband and three dogs. Credit: Ian Whittaker - The Sun
