Passenger liner · 1853–1854 · Dublin, Ireland

RMS Tayleur

On her maiden voyage, the RMS Tayleur was betrayed by her own construction: the iron of her hull threw her compasses out. Built in 1853, she was the largest iron clipper of her kind, and she sailed from Liverpool for Melbourne with over 650 people on board. Fog and a storm closed around her inside 48 hours.

Her crew thought their course lay south down the Irish Sea, when in truth she was running west, directly at Lambay Island. A rudder too small for the ship and rigging that had never been stretched properly left her no escape, and on 21 January 1854 she hit the rocks; over 370 people died.

Her remains lie at 9-17 metres in Tayleur Bay: hull plates, a donkey engine, the lower mast, crockery, roof tiles and even tombstones carried as cargo. She is a protected wreck: it is against the law to dive on her unless the Office of Public Works has first given its permission.

StatusProtected sitePermitRequired
Type
Passenger liner
Year built
1853Charles Tayleur & Co, Warrington
Lost
January 21st, 1854Grounding
Casualties
400
Length
76 m
Depth
9–17 m
Location
Dublin, IrelandIrish Sea

3 of 7 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 45 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

  • Depth: 17 m shown; range in sources 10.1–17 m. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).

History and LossLost January 21st, 1854 · Grounding · Dublin, Ireland.

Over 650 passengers and crew were aboard when the Tayleur cleared Liverpool on 19 January 1854, bound for Melbourne, Australia. Inside 48 hours she was caught in fog and a storm. Her iron hull threw the compasses badly out, so those navigating her thought they were heading south down the Irish Sea; in reality she was running due west for Ireland.

Once land was seen there was no tacking clear of Lambay Island, because her rudder was too small for her tonnage, and her rigging ropes, never properly stretched, had gone slack and left the sails all but unmanageable. She hit the rocks at the SE corner of Lambay Island and went down quickly. Only about 280 people came through it alive, and over 370 drowned.

Built 1853 by Charles Tayleur & Co, Warrington; 1 years in service. Lost January 21st, 1854, Grounding.

400lives lost on January 21st, 1854.

The Voyage

Last voyage
Liverpool to Melbourne (maiden voyage)
Destination
Melbourne, Australia

Condition of the WreckBroken, in 9–17 m.

Intactness

Substantial wreckage remains on the seabed at Tayleur Bay, 30m off the SE corner of Lambay Island. Hull sections and side plates are visible, along with a donkey engine and lower mast. Crockery, roof tiles, and tombstones from the cargo can be seen scattered around the site. The wreck was sold for salvage in 1854 but significant material remains.

Least depth 9m at low water over the wreck; main wreckage at 16-17m.

Notable Features

  • Hull and side plates
  • Donkey engine
  • Lower mast
  • Crockery and roof tiles from cargo
  • Tombstones visible on seabed
  • Built for White Star Line
  • Largest iron clipper of her kind when built
  • Compass deviation caused by iron hull — contributing factor to disaster

Regulations and RestrictionsProtected site · Permit required.

This is a legally protected site. Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service). Permission required from the Office of Public Works before diving. It is illegal to dive this wreck without prior permission.

Additional Details11 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Builder
Charles Tayleur & Co, Warrington
Loss date
January 21st, 1854
Latitude
53.49° N
Longitude
6.00° W
Water body
Irish Sea
Protection regime
Protected wreck under Irish law (Office of Public Works)
Permit details
Permission required from the Office of Public Works before diving. It is illegal to dive this wreck without prior permission.
War grave
No
Protected
Yes
Permit required
Yes
Condition
Broken

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.

  • INFOMAR Shipwrecks © Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  • © Government of Ireland. National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  • © Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

A further 4 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.

Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RMS Tayleur?

RMS Tayleur is the wreck of a passenger liner, off Dublin, Ireland, at 17 metres. RMS Tayleur ran aground and was wrecked in 1854.

How deep is the RMS Tayleur?

RMS Tayleur lies at 9 to 17 metres, Tayleur Bay, SE corner of Lambay Island.

How did the RMS Tayleur sink?

RMS Tayleur ran aground and was wrecked on January 21st, 1854, off Dublin, Ireland. 400 people lost their lives.

Is the RMS Tayleur protected?

Yes. RMS Tayleur is protected: protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).