SS Nornen shipwrecked

Wreck of the SS Nornen (1897): A Storm, a Stranding, and a Somerset Legend

This haunting image shows the SS Nornen, a barque-rigged sailing ship of Norwegian origin, beached on Berrow Sands, near Chilton Polden, Somerset, after a violent storm drove her aground in 1897. With her three masts towering over the desolate shore and her hull streaked with sea damage, the Nornen became a symbol of the perilous dance between man, ship, and sea.

All hands on board were saved—thanks to the bravery of the local lifeboat crew—and the incident left a deep impression on nearby communities. For months afterwards, locals came to visit the wreck, salvaging materials and sharing tales of the great gale.

To this day, at low tide, parts of the Nornen's skeletal remains can still be seen embedded in the sand, a silent witness to the maritime history of the Bristol Channel and the enduring mystique of shipwrecks along England’s rugged coasts.

📍 Berrow Sands, near Chilton Polden, Sedgemoor District, Somerset, United Kingdom 🗓️ Year: 1897 🔍 Suggested tags: SS Nornen, shipwreck, Somerset history, Berrow Sands, maritime disaster, 19th century sailing ships, Bristol Channel, coastal heritage, lifeboat rescue

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