General Carleton of Whitby (W-32)
Nr EPSA |
F10.4 |
Latitude |
54º 50’ 15’’ N |
Longitude |
18º 03’ 43’’ E |
Century of construction |
XVIII |
Material |
wood |
Legal status |
protected |
Officials |
www.umgdy.gov.pl |
This English bark - coal carrier has been built in 1777 in Whitby and sunk on the 27th of May 1785 during the catastrophe on the Baltic Sea. The crew comprised of 18 seamen (skipper, officer, cook, shipwright and 14 boys learning the trade). The owner of the ship was Nathaniel Campion. T. Pyman was the skipper up to 1772, and then his duties were taken over by William Hustler. Lloyd's registers state that "General Carleton of Whitby" for 8 years coursed mainly between British ports and city of Ryga.
In 1782 some numerous and vital changes concerning the craft had been noted. Its hull has been covered with protecting coating and armed with ten 6-pound cannons. The vessel was 28 m long, 8 m wide and had displacement of 500 tons.
During the excavations the 25 meter long fragment of the hull has been uncovered. Its right broadside's maximum width totaled to 4,5 m. Inner and outside planking of the ship have been made from oak planks. Wooden pins reinforced with wedges have been used to attached them to the frames. Besides the pins, metal rivets and long, rectangular nails have been used to join wooden elements of the carrier. The framing consisted of frames, lain each 2-6 cm, about 20 cm thick and wide. Forebody of the wreck broke across in the approximate area of the keelson end. Stern was badly damaged as well and only the lower part of sternframe was preserved.
In the first period of the research, the bell has been found, allowing the vessel's identification. The rudder bearing taped ferrules (suggesting the fastening technique) that survived on the sternframe are particularly interesting. The primary element of the W-32 wreck transverse racking is the keelson. It consists of four beams: three in the forebody and one in the after body. They are joined with fastenings but the joints between the mast steps are fit with metal flat. Additionally, on the site, the lead block that could have been used for temporary repairs was found.