Hulks at Ynyslas, Ceredigion

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument comprises three hulks in the intertidal mud-flats, adjacent to the Afon Leri and part of the Ynyslas nature reserve. The three vessels probably date to the mid 19th century, and are thought to represent the remains of the Derwenlas fleet which largely fell out of use with the coming of the railways in the 1860s. Of the three vessels, item A is the most visible. It is eroding out of the steep-sided bank of the Leri, and demonstrating excellent preservation. Items B and C are still buried in the mud, with only the tops of timbers showing above ground to mark their locations. The positions of the vessels correspond with those shown on an Admiralty chart from the 1890s, there are suggestions that they were deliberately abandoned at the end of their working lives to mark the safe passage for shipping.

The three vessels are of national importance to inform us about local shipbuilding techniques, and to provide further information about the slate industry which was critical to the development and prosperity of the area. The anaerobic burial conditions mean that preservation is excellent, meaning that details of construction and use can be observed.

The Scheduled Area consists of three separate items, each representing the area of one of the vessels and a surrounding area within which associated evidence may be expected to survive.