Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton
Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton (
Description
The site consists of a wooded cliff and a narrow
.Biological interest
Wooded cliff
The site's principal interest and the reason for its designation as an SSSI is the presence of a population of the
Saltmarsh plants
The saltmarsh vegetation, which lies at the base of the cliff, is predominantly made up of
Wreck of the Kron Prinz
On 1 April 1874, the German grain ship SS Kron Prinz was under tow up the Avon, laden with 7,000 quarters (28,000 imperial bushels, 1,000 m3) of grain. There was an adequate depth of water, as it was approaching high tide, but on the narrow channel through Horseshoe Bend she grounded on the outer bank. As the tide soon began to ebb, the ship settled onto the steep mud bank and then fell over. The cargo was lost and to avoid blocking the navigation channel, the ship was demasted. Nearly three weeks later, on 20 April, she was refloated and taken to Bristol for repairs, at a cost of £34,000.[1][2]
The grounded ship was photographed and there is a well-known photograph of her on her side, taken from across the Avon. This was later published as a postcard by local photographer Fred Little,[3] although it was not (as sometimes claimed) his photograph, as he had been born in the same year.
The ship was later renamed the SS Idraet and was lost in the North Sea in 1899.[1]
References
- ^ a b "SS Idraet (+1899)". Wrecksite.
- ^ David Large, ed. (1984). "Docks Committee Minutes 1848-1884". The Port Of Bristol 1848-1884 (PDF). Bristol Record Society. pp. 120–121.
- ^ "Wreck of the Kron Prinz in the Avon". Flickr. 1874.
- English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 13 July 2006)
External links
- English Nature (SSSI information)
- English Nature