Coming Soon: Shipwrecks of the Lizard (Summer 2025)

The Lizard Peninsula is a place where many ships have fallen foul with its dense fog and treacherous rocks jutting into the Channel. This exhibition shares the stories and objects of tragic wrecks such as HMS Anson, Royal Ann Galley and Schiedam

Postcard of the British ship Cromdale wrecked on The Lizard rocks on May 23rd, 1913. On 23 May 1913 the Aberdeen full-rigger Cromdale hit the rocks at Bass Point. She was carrying a cargo of nitrates and bound from Chile to Falmouth when she was wrecked on rocks in a dense fog bank near the Lizard.
On impact the rocks tore into the wooden hull within the space of ten minutes, she had to be abandoned. Flares fired by the crew from her boats immediately alerted the coastguard and the Lizard and Cadgwith Lifeboats were soon on the scene and all the crew were saved. The Cromdale was a total loss, being totally broken up only a week later in a heavy gale (HESFM.1993.6110).

Postcard of the wreck of the Norwegian barque, Gunvor on April 6th, 1912. A man in a rowing boat can be seen next to the vessel near to the stearn. Sent to Miss Champion of Gunwalloe, but unstamped. It was wrecked on the Pedn-Men-an-Mor rocks, Black Head, The Lizard. Her crew scrambled to safety (HESFM.2008.10492).