Close Up Detail of Scattered, Rotting Timbers From an 18th Century Pollaca Brigg Buried by Sand With Wood Grain Detail and Sea Grass.
Photograph looking at scattered timber from the decaying structure of a Pollaca Brigg on Westward Ho! beach in 2016. The main body is buried by sand and was exposed after recent storms. Detail of the vessels construction shows how the planking was joined to the frames by wooden nails, called trunnels. These swelled as they absorbed water and this shipbuilding technique was used from prehistoric times right up to the end of the eighteenth century. At low tide between Westward Ho! and Northam there is a great expanse of sand. This beach is regularly utilised by walkers, surfers and kite boarders. Beneath this is a layer of clay and fossilised ancient woodlands. At various times, usually following winter storms, decaying ribs and the oak hulls of historic ships can be seen at low tides. The best preserved of these at the Westward Ho! end is the 'Sally' of Bristol which was wrecked here on 17th September 1769. It was on voyage from Portugal to Bristol carrying a cargo of port. Barnacles, mussel and sea weed have colonised the rotting wood which is buried by sand for long periods. Several other ship remains are also uncovered at various intervals. One is in reasonable condition with the port side having collapsed and at least evidence of two other vessels towards the Northam end. There are varying theories as to these wrecks. In addition to the 'Sally' the 'Salisbury' was also lost on Northam Burrows in 1750. A further plausible idea is that the other remains are of a Pollaca Briggs. These were the most commonly used sailing boats, carrying coal, limestone and other goods around the North Devon coast and across the Bristol Channel. They were driven ashore at high water and allowed to settle into a scour pit just below the Pebble Ridge. Perhaps the wrecks are of vessels stranded or abandoned when their useful lives were over.
Size: 5472px × 3648px
Location: Westward Ho!, Devon, England.
Photo credit: © John Insull / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: 18th, archaeology, bay, beach, bideford, biosphere, boat, brigg, century, coast, colonisation, detail, devon, environment, erosion, exposed, grain, grass, historic, history, maritime, nature, north, northam, oak, pattern, perspective, plank, pollaca, preserved, prow, rot, sailing, sally, sand, sea, seaweed, shape, ship, shipbuilding, structure, tide, timber, trade, transport, travel, trunnel, vessel, westward-ho, wood, wreck
