The Lelia
Suitible for Ocean Diver/Open Water
Depth 20m
Distance 12 miles
USS Frolic, of the same design as the ill fated Lelia
Acknowledgments Thanks to Chris Michael for kindly consenting to our use of his reserach and images to enhance our site. You can visit Chris's site by clicking his name.
History
On the 5th of January 1865 The 640 ton paddle steamer Lelia left the river Mersey on her maiden voyage with a crew of 49
Soon after leaving the Mersey, the winter weather turned against her. Already low lying due to her heavy cargo, the Lelia was soon in difficulties in the increasingly heavy seas. When the Lelia arrived off the Great Orme at 2pm in the afternoon, she had been paddling into the the storm for more than 4 hours. Captain Skinner, fearing further deterioration in the weather, decided to slow the ship and hoist anchors inboard. As the crew struggled to carry out his orders in the heaving seas, a huge wave caused one of the anchors to smash through the deck.
With more waves crashing over her bow the Lelia started to fill with water and soon the vessel was stricken. The Lelia drifted helplessly in the storm and started to sink.
Her 4 boats were ordered to be lowered, but, as so often happens, confusion and panic set in at this point. Commander Sinclair, one of the passengers and the ship's pilot were lowered in the first boat which was swamped as soon as it reached the water.
The second and third boats did manage to get away carrying about 30 men, but it is not known whether the fourth boat got away before Captain Skinner was seen to go down with his ship.
The Lelia as she is now, slowly decaying off the Wirral coast.
The Dive
Lying in just 20m of water, the Lelia is a favourite dive for novice divers but despite it's relatively shallow depth and proximitey to shore there's still plenty to see.
One of rhe Lilia's padal wheels still clearly recognisable and covered in life