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| Photos: Prince of Wales Inn, Kenfig | Steve Parker | Ton Kenfig, Bridgend | ||||
Shipwrecks around KenfigNash Point LighthousesOverview
The Nash Point lighthouses were designed by James Walker (Engineer in Chief of
Trinity House) and were
completed in 1832.
The two lighthouses at Nash Point were built as a direct result of ship losses on the Nash Sands and more
so to avoid tragedies similar to the one in 1831 when the paddle steamer Frolic was lost with all onboard.
Two massive stone circular lighthouses were constructed, 1000ft (300m) apart. The western lighthouse is the lower
one of the two and has always been painted white.
The eastern lighthouse used to be painted black and white (today this is all white) and displays a light,
group flashing (2) white and red every 10 seconds, which can be seen 21 miles away.
Both lighthouses originally had fixed white lights which, if kept in line, would lead the vessel safely
to the south of the notorious Nash Sands.
1868 Sailing DirectionsThe following advise is given about Nash Lighthouses in the 1868 Sailing Directions book.
'Masters of vessels sailing up the Bristol Channel, in the fairway, will make these as two separate and distinct lights;
while, to prevent the possibility of mistaking them for those of St Ann's Point (Milford Haven), it
should be observed, that in making the lights upon the Nash Point from the south-westward, the high light
will be seen to the right, or southward of the low light;
whereas, in making St Ann's lights from the same quarter, the high light will be seen to the left, or
northward of the low light'.
'When these lights are in line, they will lead southward of the sands lying westward of the point'.
The Nash SandsNash Sands extends 6.5 miles north west of Nash Point. The 1868 Sailing Directions book warns
that 'No vessel ought to approach any part of the Sands, except with a smooth sea'.
Bibliography:
(1) Kenfig.org LCG
(2) Tom Bennett - Shipwrecks around Wales (Happy Fish Publishers, Dyfed)
Frolic
Background
The Frolic (A small schooner-rigged paddle steamer) was purchased in 1830 by ten Bristol businessmen
from Glasgow shipbuilder
John Scott.
This was a two masted vessel of wooden carvel construction of
108 tons with a square stern.
The joint owners were part of the Bristol General Steam Packet Company - a new packet service was planned
between Bristol and West Wales. This was an important link not only to West Wales but also with Irish trade
entering and leaving Milford Haven.
The route commenced in the autumn with the people of Carmarthen haqving their first sighting of a steamer
on the river Towy on 25 November 1830.
The Disaster - Nash PointIn March 1831 the Frolic with Captain Edward Jenkins in command was returning to Bristol from Haverfordwest.
She was making her way round Nash Point when she struck hard into a sandbank. There were no survivors.
The exact number of people onboard were never ascertained but was thought to be about 55.
There were at least 40 passengers including high ranking Officers and one Gerneral as well as some
important Pembrokeshire merchants. The public outcry which followed the disaster prompted the planning and building
of two lighthouses on Nash Point.
Bibliography:
(1) Kenfig.org LCG
(2) Tom Bennett - Shipwrecks around Wales (Happy Fish Publishers, Dyfed)
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Local Shipwrecks - Indepth
Smuggling around Kenfig
Famous People Associated with the Area
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