From Prawle Point in the East, to the Manacles in the West, with the Eddystone in the middle, make up the triangle of my diving area. Whilst each of these areas is famous for its shipwrecks, only the Manacles are truly notorious, and have virtually no redeeming features. It’s sinister and evil reputation is matched only by it’s bleak and forbidding appearance, as it stretches out nearly one and a half miles into the sea, where it lies mostly submerged waiting to entrap the careless or just plain unlucky.
Its name derives from the old Cornish words Maen Eglos, meaning church rocks, and a possible reference to the spire of St. Keverne’s church, which has served as a landmark for centuries. More likely it refers to the gravestones that fill the local church yards, because over the centuries more than a hundred ships have been wrecked, drowning well over a thousand people on this unforgiving shore. During one terrible night in 1809, one hundred and ten bodies were washed ashore and many more accounted for, when the transport ship Dispatch, and the Brig, H.M.S. Primrose were dashed to pieces on the Manacles. The emigrant barque John sank in 1855 with the loss of over one hundred and twenty people, and everybody knows about the loss of the liner Mohegan that sailed full speed onto Carn Du rock, drowning one hundred and six poor souls.
Southeast from Manacle Point is a large red buoy securely held in place with a huge anchor and a heavy chain reaching down nearly two hundred feet to the seabed. Even that and the masts of the sunken liner Mohegan, did not deter the French Liner Paris from running aground in 1899. Luckily she was finally refloated with only the loss of her owners pride, the Andola, four years earlier was not to be so lucky. She was caught in a snowstorm, which reduced visibility to just a few feet. A look out heard the Manacle buoy’s bell tolling in the gloom and the Captain ordered the topsails furled so that he could stand off. It was all too late. The Andola was swept onto the Sharks Fin rock only yards from the Manacles beach.
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The list goes on and on. Liners, sailing ships, men of war, coasters and fishing boats, you name it and it has been wrecked on the Manacles. All around, the churchyards have been filled with gravestones, and the lifeboat men from the local villages surrounding this fatal shore have heroically sacrificed their lives to rescue the poor victims.
The Manacles are truly a fatal shore.
Mrs Gloria Wilding says
Dear Paul Thomas
I am trying to trace the Leuty Family of Falmouth. I wondered if your gt grandfather is the same william Leuty that is my mother in laws uncle and my husbands gt uncle. I have been trying to trace my mother in laws family for 3-4 yearsbut i got stuck on the falmouth part of the family. My mother in laws grandmother was Mary Jane Leuty B 1876 Falmouth and her siblings are Edith Whitelock Leuty B Grampound 1868 William James Leuty B 1876 Falmouth and Mark Henry Leuty B 1877 Falmouth. Their parents are James LeutyB abt1846 Falmouth and Mary Jane Leuty B abt 1840 Camborne in the 1881 Census living 14 New Street Falmouth. Mary Jane Leuty B 1876 moved to the Isle of wight where she married 13 July 1903 at Christ church Sandown Spouse Arthur Herbert York Bull who passed away in 1906 They had 1 boy Arthur Robert Henry Leuty York Bull b 13 th may 1904 sandown and 1 girl Mary Bennetto Leuty Bull B 1905 Sandown. My mother in law is Arthur Robert Henry Leuty York Bull Daughter Ivy May Bull B 20 Feb 1931wwho still lives on the Isle Of Wight there are lots of family still alive. If you could help in any way I would be very grateful. Gloria Wilding This is all the information we know of the leuty’s in Falmouth We do not have any photgragh of the family in Falmouth not even mary Jane Leuty B 1876.
Mrs Gloria Wilding says
Hi Paul,
I am looking for my mother in laws grandmother Mary Jnae Leuty B 1876 Falmouth and her family parents siblings.If you can help I would be very grateful.
Mrs Tina Wright says
Dear Gloria
My greatgrandfather was William James Leuty, my Dear Dad was his youngest son Robbie. They lived at 5 Vernon Place, Falmouth. My Dad was the most amazing character he died in 2005. He had so many tales of his family . One tale was of his Grandmother who was apparently an Italian singer whose name was Bennetti Inote the connection with your relations. I would love to know more about your relatives,
Kind Regards Tina
gerald thomas says
My greatgrand father was also William James Leuty, My father was David Thomas he also lived at 5 vernon place falmouth, his brother was called denzil, there mother was Margret Leuty and the father Stanley Thomas. We must be related, it would be nice to here from you. You still have many family in falmouth, If theres anything you’d like to know which i may be able to help you with please ask.
Gerald Thomas
gloria wilding says
Dear Tina Wright and Gerald Thomas
Thank you both for your information the family did not know the info you have gave me. It was really nice to read a reply. I had forgotten about this website and I just happened to come across it again. I am still researching the family on the isle of wight when I go on holiday but I have a fair bit of information already I shall be going back in august to do some more research from the record office and family are trying to find some more for me. If I can help you in any way just ask my e-mail is gw004e0097@blueyonder.co.uk Kind regards Gloria Wilding the family would like to learn more about the family we don’t know about.
Marlene Kavanagh says
Hello,
I have an interest in the Leuty family of St Mawes and have a copy of the marriage registration of Thomas Leuty and Jane Tonkin dated 2 August 1795. If anyone would like a copy please let me know.
Regards,
Marlene Kavanagh
Christopher Godber says
I am interested in H M S Primrose lost on The Manacles in 1809 as it was Commanded by a relation of my wife Commander
James Mein.
Does anyone have any artifact from the Primrose to sell ?
gloria wilding says
i am looking for any information on james leuty mary jane leuty and their children edith whitelock leuty, william james leuty, mark henry leuty all born falmouth excepy for james ‘s wife mary jane leuty nee ? born cambourne. their daughter mary jane leuty born falmouth 1876 moved to the isle of wight.We are looking for Any relatives. Tina Wright paul Thomas Gerald Thomas plaese can you contact me again please reply and leave you e-mail to yamyam1860@yahoo.co.uk or gw004e0097@blueyonder.co.uk or write to
Mrs Gloria Wilding
26 Bournes Crescent
Halesowen
West Midlands
B63 4EH
if you are not a relative but may have known the family leuty. please can you contact me no matter how small the information is we would be very grateful.
yours gratefully Mrs Gloria Wilding
Rebecca Anne Leuty says
My father was Warren Leuty born in Willoby Ohio, now deceased and he had onne sbling my Aunt Nancy Leuty Corder.His father was Elmer Leuty born Nov.1901 married to Edna Jek.
Jan Parkman says
To Marlene Kavanagh
Not sure if you will read this message in 2016 but I believe I am related to Thomas Leuty and Jane Tonkin of St Mawes. I was intrigued to fin a James Leuty living with them in 1841, either a grandson or nephew perhaps but can’t find any records for him. My grandmother was Olive Ada Leuty b1895, father John Robert Leuty who was Falmouth’s undertaker. Would love to hear from you.
Siobhan Bradshaw says
I am looking for more information on James Hill Coxswain Porthoustock Lifeboat my great, great, great Grandfather and Annie Margaret Hold Bailey my great grandmother.
Patricia Harrad says
Hallo, thankyou for this interesting site. Can you tell me, please, if the Manacles bell was taken down during World War 2? I know place-names and signposts were removed to confuse possible invaders – so perhaps these warning bells also?
Phillip Lee says
My 3rd great grand uncle was William Clemence who lost 3 children on The John May 11 1855 what a story to find out tragedy of what happened.