Eliza Adams Memorial • Wells-next-the-Sea

 

On the harbour here, just by the road down to the beach car park and opposite the old lifeboat house, we find a memorial to a tragedy. The loss of the lifeboat, Eliza Adams.

It’s midday on October 29th, 1880. A storm is battering the coast and there are several ships trying to ride the heavy seas along the coast. A brig named the Sharon Rose ran ashore at Holkham beach to the east. The Eliza Adams was launched. It was a successful rescue and with seven crew safely on board the lifeboat, they returned to Wells. It was then that another brig, Ocean Queen was spotted flying a distress flag.

The Eliza Adams prepared to launch again, and eight of the crew were replaced. It was about 3.30pm by now. The rescue craft was released by its tug boat only about half a mile from the Ocean Queen, but it was seen that the distressed brig had parted its cable and been driven onto the sands. In this situation, the lifeboat would not be able to help and the Eliza Adams was ordered back to the harbour.

Just a quarter of an hour later a huge wave overtook her and she was capsized. Her mast was driven into the sand and she could not immediately self-right. Twelve of the thirteen crew were thrown from the boat into the raging waters. One man had become tangled in the lines and fortunately this was when the mast snapped and the boat to was able to right itself and save his life. One of the twelve that were thrown had caught the boat’s rudder and was eventually washed ashore. Eleven men, however, would lose their lives. This one incident left 28 children without fathers and ten women as widows. Ten of the men were washed ashore and buried in Wells cemetery. One man was lost to the sea forever.

The brig they had launched to assist, the Ocean Queen, survived the storm. When the tide eventually ebbed the crew were able to walk ashore in safety.

The last survivor of the incident, Coxwain Thomas Kew, would appeal to the public to build the memorial and there is a photograph of him in front of it in the Wells Heritage Centre. There is also a good display about the Eliza Adams and the other lifeboats that have served Wells over the years, so I recommend a visit while you’re in town.

When the survivor, Thomas Kew, wrote his appeal for a memorial, he started it with ‘Ten Lifeboatmen lie in the Churchyard at Wells, and not a stone marks the place where they lie’. This is largely true today. Most of the men never got permanent grave markers and are only remembered on the monument. Three of the men, however, would be remembered on family headstones in the cemetery. 

Brothers Robert William and John Elsdon are remembered on a headstone to their mother, Susan Elsdon. The beautiful floral headstone reads :

 In remembrance of Susan Elsdon who died June 20th 1874, aged 88 years. Also of her sons John Elsdon aged 60 and Robert William Elsdon aged 62 years. Who were drowned from the Wells Lifeboat on Oct 29th 1880 while executing their duty in rescuing shipwrecked seamen. In death they were not divided.  Also of Emily Parker The beloved wife of Robert William Elsdon who died February 9th 1912 aged 87 years.

 

This headstone is in the south east corner quarter of the cemetery.

A little way to the left of this headstone is one to Samuel Smith. It reads :

    Erected in memory of Samuel Smith. Died Oct 29th 1880 age 32. Also Emily Sophia, wife of the above. Died June 18th 1915. Age 64. Interred Caister on Sea. Also Arthur Robert. Son of the Above. Died August 20th 1881. Age 1 month.

 

Before we leave, we have one more grave to find. Low to the ground, near to the Polka Road entrance to the cemetery is a small, simple headstone. This belongs to Thomas Kew, the Eliza Adams’ last survivor. I’m pleased to say he lived until he was 81 years of age. His headstone reads:

 ‘In loving memory of Louisa Kew Died 27th June 1938 Aged 87. Also of her husband Thomas Kew (Master Mariner) Died 1st September 1926.’

 

Of the men buried here with no headstone and the one man lost to the sea, we remember:

 Frank Abel - William Field - William Green - Charles Hines - George Jay - Charles Smith  - John Stacey - William Wordingham

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Memorial : 

W3W: ///pencils.boot.afternoon

GRID REF: TF915438

Cemetery :

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GRID REF: TF919432