The Fylde coast in western Lancashire have seen some of the foulest weather in Englands northwest coast.
The area around Blackpool is in particularly treacherous to passing ships when the ocean is in fury.
The first recorded shipwreck occurred in the year 1755, when a ship named theTraverswas wrecked on the coast.
Many Fylde Coast residents were said to have Travers Lace curtains in their homes for many years after.
A wave crashes against Blackpools promenade, circa 1900.
Like theTravers, this ship was also raided and its supply of peas helped out the food supply.
The name of the ship is not recorded, but the wreck became known as The Pea Soup Wreck.
In 1821, a ship namedFanny, laden with red and black flannel, wrecked at Blackpool.
Like with the previous wrecks, much of the Fannys payload was missing by the time authorities arrived.
The incident is commemorated on the signage of the present-day Gynn pub.
In 1839, another ships namedCrusaderwas wrecked at South Shore.
It was laden with silk and like all cargoes it too was looted.
But some of the looters from Marton were jailed for the theft.
The practice of looting goods from wrecks continued.
Map of the Fylde, Lancashire, showing the location of Blackpool.
The eleven crew members jumped onto the pier to safety.
The ship was lost, but its wheel was recovered and is now housed in Blackpool lifeboat house.
The remains of theAbanaare still visible at low tide on the beach at Little Bispham.
The ship’s bell still hangs in St Andrews Church in Cleveleys.
The 80-gun, 56 meter ship was wrecked close to North Pier.
Wreck of HMS Foudroyant.
She was refloated a week later.
There is now a memorial on the promenade commemorating all the ships that were lost along the Fylde coast.
It stands at Cleveleys, adjacent to the site of the most recently lost ship the Riverdance.
The wreck of Abana.
In the distance is the overturned ship Riverdance.
Photo credit:Max Sang/Flickr
The wreck of Riverdance.
Photo credit:Brian Rogers/Flickr
Photo credit:Andy Hay/Flickr
The memorial to the sunk ships at Fylde.
