Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi Guys,

A friend has asked me to see If I can find out the name of a ship that was wrecked off Southport in 1575/ Any help would be appreciated?

Regards
Frank

I have looked in the Annals of Liverpool as published in various editions of Gore's Directories, but there is no entry for a wreck in 1575 or years either side.

[A curiosity, not relevant to this topic: in 1611 the town's arms were described as 'a gull' ! I suppose the Liver Bird grew from that.]

Hi Daggers,
Thanks for your time and effort. It is much appreciated.

Regards
Frank

Are you sure of the date? The reason I ask is that Southport did not exist then. It came into being in 1792.

Once you have checked the date and I am back home in Southport I will see what I can find. Do you have names for the people shipwrecked? If yes the most likely places of burial are St Cuthbrt's in Churchtown North Meols which was the parish church or in Formby.

Morning Hilary,

I spoke to my friend last night and he told me that he was incorrect in saying that the ship founded off Southport, insomuch that it was actually Churchtown. He also said that his source - Wikipedia - stated that the ship was carrying a cargo of potatoes which were washed up on the shoreline.

I have to admit that it seems strange that Wikipedia tells the story without actually naming the vessel concerned.

Regards
Frank


Churchtown, Merseyside


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

History [edit]

In 1575 a shipwreck occurred off the Churchtown coast, the cargo of which contained potatoes, was washed ashore. Subsequently, the village became the first place in England where they were grown.[1]

There are a number of references to this quotation - including a book that states to have been compiled from various free sources available on the internet - rather cheeky of him to charge as much as 45 dollars for this book I would have thought. But possibly the original reference comes from an entry in a leaflet called "The Churchtown Village Trail", which has been produced by the North Meols Civic Society - contact details on the leaflet. Why don't you contact this gentleman and ask him what the source is for the information, we'd be very interested to hear about it. http://www.northmeols.org.uk/churchtown/trail/trail.pdf

Hi Mary,

I have emailed the society and requested the source of their information and the name of the vessel. I will let you know what they say.

Kind regards
Frank

I will be interested in their reply as I'm sure others will be.

Sylvia Harrop in Old Birkdale and Aisndale published by the Birkdale and Ainsdale Historical Research Society says of this

It has been claimed, however that the first potatoes grown in England were grown in Marshside in North Meols. The story is that an Irish ship wrecked near Churchtown in 1565 was carrying the first potatoes ever to have been imported into England; and that some of the local people planted some out of curiosity.

It would appear that it is likely that it is a story not a fact as their appears to be no factual evidence. If there was I am quite sure that Sylvia would have quoted the reference rather than referring to it as a story.

I will look in Bland's History of Southport on Monday.

Hi Hilary,

Thanks for getting back to me. It does appear have something of an apocryphal air about it. I am still awaiting a reply from The North Meols Civic Society!!

Regards
Frank

Hi Hilary

Gosh, your post stirred many happy memories.

Many years ago, Sylvia Harrop was one of my tutors at Liverpool University.

She was wonderful and any factual evidence had to have a reference.

So I am sure you are spot on Hilary.
Leigh