Josephine Willis

Summary

The wreck comprises the remains of the British packet Josephine Willis, which foundered approximately 6.4km south of Folkestone Harbour, Kent, following a collision with the steamer Mangerton on 3 February 1856. The Josephine Willis was a wooden sailing vessel, en route from London to Auckland with passengers and a general cargo which included a large quantity of utilitarian ceramics.

Reasons for Designation

The wreck of the Josephine Willis, located approximately 6km south of Folkestone Harbour, Kent, is scheduled for the following principal reasons:

* Rarity: The remains of packet vessels of this date are rare. Several of the ceramic types noted on the seabed are unknown in current museum collections, or have previously only been seen in the form of wasters;

* Survival: The wreck is in a good state of preservation. The cargo of utilitarian ceramics survives in excellent condition, while the presence of planking and frames, along with copper sheathing indicates the survival of the ship’s hull below the water line;

* Potential: The cargo of ceramics has the potential to inform about the development of the Victorian ceramics industry, as the assemblage forms a tightly dated group, originally intended for export;

* Documentation: Extensive documentation relating to the role of the vessel as an emigrant packet is known to survive, included within the National Library of New Zealand;

* Vulnerability: The component parts of the wreck, and in particular the cargo, remain vulnerable to uncontrolled salvage.

* Group value: The Josephine Willis wreck shares a group value with the wreck of the clipper ship South Australian, located in the Bristol Channel off Lundy, also scheduled under the 1979 Act (National Heritage List for England 1465225). Both vessels hold potential to explore the history and archaeology of emigration to Australia and New Zealand during the second half of the C19.

History

Built by Henry Fletcher, Son, and Fearnall at Limehouse in 1853, and launched in 1854, the Josephine Willis was a wooden sailing packet of 786 register tons. The vessel was constructed for H. H. Willis & Co. for use in the company’s regular packet service to New Zealand.

The Josephine Willis undertook one round trip to New Zealand, under the command of Captain Edward Canney. During the voyage there was an attempted mutiny by the crew. Twelve members of the crew deserted at Auckland, while others were dismissed from the vessel at Calcutta during the return voyage.

The Josephine Willis departed on its second voyage to New Zealand on 1 February 1856, with a crew of 44, and 66 passengers. The vessel was carrying a miscellaneous general cargo, which included a large quantity of utilitarian ceramics, destined for the emigrant market in New Zealand.

The ship was initially towed by a steam tug to Margate Sands, before proceeding to the Downs by sail. After reaching South Foreland, the Josephine Willis sailed down the channel, and a light was spotted at 20:10. The light was believed to be Dungeness Lighthouse, and the helm was put to starboard. However the light belonged to an approaching steamer, the SS Mangerton, an iron-hulled screw steamer which was en route from Limerick to London. The Mangerton struck the Josephine Willis just before the main mast on the starboard side, and was reported to have cut the vessel more than half way in two. Some of the crew and passengers were able to climb aboard the Mangerton, while others escaped in the ship’s boats. The Josephine Willis subsequently rolled over and foundered. Between 69 and 70 lives were lost during the incident, including that of Captain Canney.

Diving operations were quickly undertaken in order to salvage the cargo and luggage belonging to the passengers. Among the material recovered were a mahogany chest which contained the ship’s plate, as well as the personal effects of Captain Canney, which were handed over to his widow. Salvage operations continued to take place on the wreck until 1861.

Details

The wreck was rediscovered by divers in approximately 2018. Diving investigation revealed that a large quantity of the ceramic cargo was still in situ. The ceramic assemblage is principally comprised of wares from three Staffordshire based potteries – Mexborough, Charles Meigh, and Davenport. Several of the ceramic types discovered are unknown in current museum collections, or have previously only been seen in the form of wasters.

Interpretation of geophysical data indicates that the full length of the vessel survives in situ, with a maximum length of 46m, and a maximum width of 10-11m, which is consistent with the known dimensions of the vessel. A potential vertical break in the hull is located approximately halfway along the wreck mound. This corresponds with the position which the Mangerton was reported to have collided with the Josephine Willis. It would appear that the wreck has broken it’s back and the remaining structure lies in two halves.

The wreck mound is orientated NNW-SSE on a seabed comprised of gravelly sand, at a depth of approximately 23m. The mound extends to a height of 0.9m. The height of the surviving wreck mound indicates that there is likely to be a considerable depth of surviving stratigraphy.

An area of 50m within 51.02216, 1.19147 (WGS84) forms the protected scheduled area.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 10 July 2025

Sources

Books and journals
Edward Canney: a Life and Death at Sea in Kent Family History Society Journal, ,Vol. 14-4, (2014), 381

Websites
Josephine Willis, accessed 08/03/2022 from https://divernet.com/2018/08/13/josephine-willis/
Davenport, F. 2016. The Sailing Packet Josephine Willis. TCC Bulletin. Vol XVII No 1 13 - 17, accessed 08/03/2022 from https://www.transferwarecollectorsclub.org/bulletin_previews/articles/16_TCC_XVII_No1_feature_sailing_packet_Josephine_Willis.pdf

Other
Wessex Archaeology (2020) Josephine Willis, off Folkestone, Kent, Desk Based Undesignated Site Assessment (214390.12)

End of official list entry