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| Photos: Prince of Wales Inn, Kenfig | Steve Parker | www.tonkenfig.co.uk | Ton Kenfig, Bridgend | |||
Shipwrecks around KenfigThe 254 year anniversary of the fate of the French merchantman, Le Vainqueur which struck Sker Rocks takes place on 17 December 2007.She was enroute from Lisbon to Le Harve when her captain entered the Bristol Channel by mistake. The shameful plundering of the wreck by local people led to 17 arrests with 1 person being hanged for the offences committed.1753 - Le Vainqueur (Sker Rocks)254 year Anniversary - 17 December 2007
A French merchantman, Le Vainqueur struck Sker Rocks on 17 December 1753.
She was enroute from Lisbon to Le Harve when her captain entered the Bristol Channel under the belief it was
the English Channel, a fatal mistake made by others before and after.
In her holds were 789 chests of oranges, 650 frails of figs, 240 boxes of lemons and 84 planks of Brazilian
hardwood. Of her ten man crew, eight survived, yet her Captain and the first mate, both brothers were drowned.
Shameful PlunderingThe shameful plundering executed by the local people with much of the cargo destined for the banqueting
halls of the French nobility, was to provide a clandlestine Christmas feast for the people of Margam and Kenfig.
News of her plight spread through the county like wildfire and within hours, hundreds of people were swarming
over the stricken vessel grabbing whatever booty they could. Some hacked at the woodwork and even set it alight
in an attempt to recover the nails - everything had salvage value.
The Captain's body was rifled of 17 Portuguese gold pieces, his silver shoe and knee buckles and a silver
watch - this last item was recovered from a Pyle watchmaker to whom the thief had taken it with a view to repair.
Local Arrests17 people were arrested for looting and several accussed, cited Issac Williams of Sker as having a hand in the
plundering of the wreck. Better known as the father of ' Elizabeth Williams,
The Maid of Sker ' - he was at this time both the Constable for the Hundred of Newcastle and a local
magistrate.
He was to claim that he simply removed as much cargo to Sker House as possible
to protect it, while this maybe correct, his cause wasn't made any stronger by the fact that some of these goods
were stolen during the night, despite having been put under guard.
During the subsequent enquiry, two witnesses gave statements as to William's conduct and whilst there was
insufficient evidence for Williams to be brought to trial, it is said that local people never trusted him again
and that he went in some fear of his life.
The OutcomeOf those arrested, one was hanged and to help bring the severity with which the authorities meant to deal
with offenders, notices were affixed to local parish church doors advising, "that the looting of wrecks was
punishable by death".
Bibliography:
(1) Yvonne Carr - Kenfig Society
(2) Kenfig.org LCG
(3) Tom Bennett - Shipwrecks around Wales (Happy Fish Publishers, Dyfed)
(4) Lloyds Register of Ships
Le Vainqueur
Quote from Tom Bennett - Shipwrecks around Wales (Happy Fish Publishers, Dyfed)Le Vainqueur, a French vessel belonging to Harve de Grace was returning home from Lisbon.
Her Captain, John Masson made the mistake of entering the Bristol Channel instead of the English Channel.
His ship became stranded at a place called 'ye Scar' - she became completely wrecked and was extensively
looted by crowds of people. When the ship struck, it started to break up quickly. Captain Masson, his brother,
The Mate and a passenger were all drowned. 8 of the crew, however, were saved.
An eye witness accounts of a wreck on Sker Rocks with a crowd of 400 people swarming all over the vessel
is noted. It also said that the wreckers tried to set fire to the hull so that any iron could be recovered.
WreckingMany people regarded a wrecked ship as a divine gift - some believed that ships wrecked on those rocks were
the right of the local populous. The authorities were shocked at the wrecking, one officer stated 'that if they had
known sooner they could have caught the villans'.
Another report said that when a baliff went to recover some of the cargo an angry mob threatened him with
his life. He promptly left the scene and said he would not return even if he was offered £50.
Lloyds List summed up the event by saying 'the Country people made a perfect wreck of the Ship and Cargo'.
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Local Shipwrecks - Indepth
Smuggling around Kenfig
Famous People Associated with the Area
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