Rare Chance Today to Spot Formby’s Hidden Shipwrecks at Low Tide
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
A rare and powerful glimpse into Formby’s past could unfold today as low tide creates the conditions needed to reveal shipwrecks usually hidden beneath the sand.
With the tide expected to drop to around 2.33 metres at 1pm this afternoon, parts of the wrecks can sometimes be exposed out toward the shoreline. When this happens, dark wooden ribs and structural timbers rise through the sand, offering a striking reminder of the vessels that were lost along this stretch of coast.
These moments are never guaranteed. The sands constantly shift, covering and uncovering the wrecks, but today’s low tide gives a strong possibility that at least parts of them could be visible for a short time.
The wreck of The Pegu
Lying about a mile off Formby Point, at the low spring tide line, the wreck of the Pegu remains hidden beneath the waves for most of the year.
The Pegu was an 8,000-tonne cargo vessel that ran aground and was lost in 1939 at the edge of the shipping channel near Mad Wharf, Formby Point. The tragedy occurred during wartime, when buoy lights had been switched off as a security measure, leaving the ship without vital navigational aids.
Decades later, in 1987, the wreck suffered further damage. A tug inbound to Liverpool had its bridge windows smashed by a massive wave, causing engine failure in the Formby Channel. As the vessel dragged its anchor in the storm, it drifted directly over the Pegu, snapping off the wreck’s mast before grounding itself. Fortunately, the tug was later refloated with the help of rescue vessels dispatched by the Coastguard at Crosby.
Today, the remains of the Pegu form part of Formby’s rich maritime heritage, a reminder of both the perils of wartime navigation and the relentless power of the sea.
A second wreck is The Star Of Hope
The Star of Hope was a German barque, a typical sailing vessel of the late 19th century, measuring approximately 120 feet in length and 25 feet across. She was a regular visitor to the busy transatlantic routes, carrying goods into the thriving port of Liverpool.
In January 1883, disaster struck when the Star of Hope was wrecked off the Mersey coast. A telegram dated 27 January 1883 reported: “The German barque the Star of Hope was known to be off the Mersey, where distress flares were seen. Nothing has been heard of her since. A further report says the crew of the Star of Hope are aboard the Crosby Lightship. The vessel must therefore be wrecked.”
Thankfully, all nine crew members survived, having been rescued and taken aboard the Crosby Lightship. While the ship herself was lost, the safe recovery of her crew stands as a rare glimmer of hope in a tale of shipwreck.
Today, the story of the Star of Hope lives on as part of Formby’s rich maritime heritage, reflecting both the dangers of navigating the Mersey’s shifting sands and the bravery of those who sailed its waters.
Serious safety warning
While the appearance of the wrecks can draw attention, people are strongly warned not to attempt to walk out to them.
The wrecks are located a significant distance from the main beach. The surrounding sand can be soft and unstable, and the tide can move in quickly, cutting people off and creating dangerous conditions.
Even when the sea appears calm, the risks in this area should not be underestimated.
A rare sight best viewed safely
If the wrecks do appear today, they are likely to remain visible only for a short window before the tide turns and covers them once again.
Anyone visiting the beach is urged to stay well back and view from a safe distance. A camera zoom can capture the moment without the need to put yourself at risk.
It is a rare opportunity to witness a piece of Formby’s hidden history, but it should always be done with safety firmly in mind.
Old Formby stories tell another side to the Pegu wreck.....
A true story of a shipwreck on the coastline of Formby in 1939.
The Pegu ran aground and its cargo was washed up onto the shore, much to the delight of the family living in the lifeboat house on the beach.
The story goes that early one morning they were woken to friends saying the Pegu had run aground and the cargo was whisky and cigarettes galore!
News travelled fast around Formby and more people turned up with wheelbarrows, buckets and horses to stake their claim of the Pegu whisky. Dick Scarisbrick was told by his dad to get a handcart to carry the whisky. He borrowed a cart from Formby Police Station. It took him two hours to get back to the shore with the handcart and when he did, his dad was on the shore drunk and flat on his back. He had to stick him on the handcart and take him back home!
The next morning the customs men came, to see what salvage they could reclaim but only a few crates were left on the shore. If you find any more, please mark them and store them, the tides must be strong on this coastline they said!
Songwriter, Stephen Gerrard said: "This video was a combined effort between myself and Dougie Knight (the illustrator). We are both Formby residents. I decided to start writing the song after I was lucky enough to speak to Brian Brankin and one of the Norris family who lived in the boat house at the time of the shipwreck. The story sounded almost too farfetched to be true but there are still local people that can remember it and verify what happened. It must have been quite a sight to see hoards of people on the beach filling their hand carts and buckets full of whisky and cigarettes."
Here is the brilliant song and video by Stephen Gerrard of the Formby Shpwreck
This brilliant video is by Stephen Gerrard and illustrated by Dougie Knight and is a true Formby Treasure!
.jpg)
Comments