Golden Lyon?

 

The cannon site on the west side of St Agnes. This site was thought, by those before me, to be the wreck of the Phoenix. Unknown why they thought that just one of those where someone felt the need to name it and couldnt think of anything better I suppose. Even when I uncovered the chart that showed this must be the wreck of the Golden Lyon, 30 gun Virginia trading ship- this clear evidence was oddly refuted by some of my peers. However, I was then able to back up the chart with an original narrative from the Trinity House archives that states how- "the Golden Lyon, Virgini ship, Captain Rich commanding, was lost under the new St Agnes tower" (Capt Rich being asleep in bed at the time his ship was lost) It is now accepted (by some) to be the Golden Lyon. I found one other narrative of note- in the deposition of the First mate Brumell-who stated how she was- 'lost off Annet' but this was later deemed as spurious as Brumell, who was in command at the time, was thought to be lying at his court martial to save his own career....imagine having to say to your Boss, "Very sorry but I lost your ship right under a brand new lighthouse!!" It didnt look good for Brummel, so naturally he lied..

The St Agnes lighthouse keeper was also brought up in court for deliberately causing this wreck, simply so he could steal things from the site- a charge brought by the First Mate Brumell-This the keeper strenuously denied, it was an extremely serious crime and a potentially very damaging charge. The keeper answered how he was saving things for the owners as the locals were plundering everything from the wreck at the time. Since then numerous modern publications have stated that the keeper was 'found guilty' of all charges and sacked. Again my research proved he was actually exonerated and- 'under caution' -went on to serve for another 3 years as St Agnes light keeper. Timbers from this wreck went to build the wooden church that once stood where the current one is on St Agnes today. Put this together with the easy access salvage by locals and you can understand just how accessible this wreck must have been when it originally went in. Looking at the site today- the ship must have been lost to a high point just inside the east side of Menglow rock. Here she must have stood balanced on top of an inner part of the reef at low tide with her stern touching the Menglow and her bows to the shore. No wonder the Lighthouse keeper could get at her so easily. He could walk to the site at low tide and literally step onto the wreck and along with the thieving locals just take things ashore. 

  There are 3 wrecks in this position. First to arrive was this one in 1680. Then the Firebrand arrived close by in 1707 and she struck south side of Menglow. The two all but overlap. Next to arrive was the Earl of Lonsdale in 1885 and this steamer lays over a few of the guns of the Golden Lyon. This small bit of my chart shows the words 'Golden Lyon Lost' written right at the foot of the Lighthouse by Simon Bayly whom drew the document in late 1680 to 1681. Two more wrecks shown on it yet to find. Lastly, there is a figurehead in the Valhalla on Tresco that is stated as being from an unknown shipwreck. It is a carving of a Golden Lyon.