PRIMROSE HILL

This beautiful memorial in Maeshyfryd cemetery is to.the crew of a ship named the Primrose Hill which sank on the 28th December 1900 with the loss of over 30 lives.

The barque "Primrose Hill" was built in 1886 by T Royden & Sons of Liverpool and owned by W. Price of Liverpool. Her gross tonnage was 2520 and approx length was 300 ft. She was propelled by the sails from four masts.had two decks, and was of iron construction.

Under the UK flag she left Mersey for Victoria Vancouver in.Canada on 24th December.1900, under tow of the tug William Jolliffe. On the 28th December the William Jolliffe came to Holyhead Port and reported that she had lost her tow off Bardsey the night before. At 8:30am a Coastguards telegraphist at South Stack lookout saw the Primrose Hill flying the distress signal 'N.C.' She was caught between a West North West gale a gale force 10 and a flood tide.

The London and North Western Railway Co passenger ship SS Hibernia, was at that time travelling back to Holyhead from Dublin. She immediately went to the assistance of the Primrose Hill. As the Hibernia got almost alongside the barque her steering gear broke down. The Captain was forced to abandon the rescue and was extremely lucky to save his the Hibernia without going ashore.

The Primrose Hill dropped both anchors but they dragged and within about two hundred yards of South Stack Lighthouse with her crew actually waving to onlookers on the cliffs struck submerged rock. It was about 2pm the storm was most severe and within a very few minutes the Primrose Hill went to pieces. The location was South Stack Lighthouse, 1.5M, ESE. Lat, Long 53:17N, 04:41:01W. The cargo is understood to have been carrying was bricks.

Of the 34 on board 33 died. Twenty seven were found but only 12 were ever identified. Six bodies were never recovered. The dead were interred at Maeshyfryd Cemetery in Holyhead all except for those of H. Hughes the Mate who was buried in Liverpool and S.G. Cakebread an Apprentice who was buried in London.