07/01/2026
THE MATCHLESS TRAGEDY: On September 3rd 1894 the pleasure yacht, Matchless, set sail from Morecambe to Grange, carrying 33 passengers and its sole boatman. It sank just off Jenny Brown’s Point, near Silverdale, with 25 drowning. The accident occurred during a Burnley Wakes Week – and Morecambe was a popular resort for Burnley millworkers. So it was that 18 of the 33 passengers were from Burnley, and 12 of them lost their lives. The accident resulted in the Morecambe Bay’s largest ever loss of passengers’ lives, but until now the story had become largely lost, unmarked by monument or historical analysis.
The sail had been underway for an hour and twenty minutes when the accident happened, and the Matchless was a mile south of Silverdale. A sudden gust of wind caught the boat broadside. The jib came across the boat, and the Matchless was blown onto its side and within seconds all 34 were floundering in the sea, and the boat turned over and sank. By now all were fighting for their lives. The gust of wind disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Three nearby passenger boats were able to sail into the struggling mass of people, and with walking sticks and lines were able to effect a limited rescue.
MOURHOLME LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY (LHS) was formed in 1980 to study and research the history of the ancient Parish of Warton with its seven constituent townships of Borwick, Carnforth, Priest Hutton, Silverdale, Warton-with-Lindeth, Yealand Conyers and Yealand Redmayne. The Society has always been keen to provide high quality information about the area’s rich and varied history and Simon Williams, the former Chair of the Society, has undertaken an in-depth study of the long forgotten Matchless tragedy. This included researching the lives of all those involved, the dead and the bereaved, the impact on Burnley and the subsequent inquest into the disaster and its conclusions and impacts. The research also revealed the memories of a survivor, recorded in a private journal many years later.
At the Civic Trust meeting at 7.00pm on the 4th February 2026 at Burnley Town Hall Simon Williams will present his one-hour talk about the event. He will also give an update on the project proposal, including progress with acquiring the site for the memorial before we explore how we might become involved in the project.
Meeting is free of charge and open to members of Burnley Historical Society and the public
