Seven Stones Reef facts for kids

The Seven Stones reef is a group of rocks under the sea, located about 15 miles west of Land's End in Cornwall and 7 miles east of the Isles of Scilly. This reef is almost 2 miles long and 1 mile wide. It rises from very deep water and is a big danger for ships, with over 200 shipwrecks estimated to have happened there. The most famous shipwreck was the Torrey Canyon in 1967. This was the most expensive shipping disaster at the time and is still the worst oil spill ever on the coast of the United Kingdom.

To warn ships about the danger, the Sevenstones lightvessel has been placed to the east of the reef since 1841. It also marks the western edge of a busy shipping lane for vessels traveling between the Isles of Scilly and the Cornish coast. The lightvessel also has an automatic weather station on board.

What is the Seven Stones Reef Like?

The Seven Stones reef is found between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It has seven or eight rocky peaks, some of which can be seen when the tide is low. These rocks rise from very deep water, about 110 meters (60 fathoms) deep. The reef stretches for almost 2 miles from north-northwest to south-southeast and is about 1 mile wide.

The sea always breaks over the reef, and on clear days, you can see the waves breaking from up to 12 miles away. The rocks are made of a type of granite that is part of a larger rock formation called the Cornubian batholith. This rock formed a very long time ago, between 300 and 275 million years ago. Some of the rocks on the reef have names, like Flat Ledge, Flemish Ledges, North-east Rocks, Pollard's Rock, South Rock, and a part called the Town.

In the 1960s, French fishing boats used to fish around the reef for crab, crayfish, and lobster. Some of these boats were the first to arrive when the Torrey Canyon crashed in 1967. On the rocky surfaces that are more exposed to the sea, you can find groups of colorful jewel anemones and other sea creatures called hydroids and plumose anemones.

Why are there so many Shipwrecks?

The Seven Stones reef is a very dangerous spot for ships because it sits right on the edge of a major shipping route. This route is used by many vessels traveling north and south between the Cornish coast and the Isles of Scilly. The lightvessel, which has been there since 1841, is located about 2.5 miles to the north-east of the reef. It's placed a little away from the reef for safety, as the sea is calmer there, and it also helps make sure passing ships stay far away from the dangerous rocks. It's thought that over 200 ships have been wrecked here, even though only 71 of them have been officially named.

The first shipwreck recorded was in March 1656. Two English warships, the Primrose and Mayflower, were looking for Spanish ships. The Primrose, a 22-gun warship, lost part of its mast near the Longships off Land's End and drifted onto the Seven Stones. It managed to get free but later sank in 110 meters (60 fathoms) of water, taking sixteen men, two women, and a child with it. At the investigation, it was found that no charts at the time showed the reef. The biggest loss of life happened on February 27, 1748, when the HMS Lizard, a 14-gun ship, sank with over one hundred crew members lost.

On March 18, 1967, the world's first major oil pollution disaster happened here. A very large oil tanker called the Torrey Canyon hit Pollard’s Rock. This tore a 186-meter (610-foot) hole in its side, spilling 860,000 barrels of oil into the sea. Winds and currents carried the oil, polluting 120 miles of the Cornish coast and 50 miles of the Brittany coast in France. The ship now rests in 30 meters (98 feet) of water. A lot of strong detergent was sprayed on the oil to try and break it up. However, this detergent, along with the oil, caused a lot of damage to sea life and killed about 15,000 birds.

The Seven Stones Lightvessel

People first asked for a light to be placed near the reef in 1826, but nothing happened. Then, in 1839, another request was made, and this time it was supported by many important groups, including merchants from Liverpool. A meeting in Falmouth on February 21, 1840, said that a light at the reef would make the journey around the Isles of Scilly up to 36 hours shorter. Finally, on July 31, 1841, a lightvessel (also called a lightship) was seen near St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly.

The first lightvessel was anchored near the reef on August 20, 1841, and its light was turned on for the first time on September 1, 1841. It is always anchored in 73 meters (40 fathoms) of water, about 2.5 miles north-east of the reef. Just over a year later, on November 25, 1842, its anchor cable broke, and it almost crashed when it drifted over the reef at high tide. The crew managed to steer the ship to New Grimsby, Tresco, where it stayed until January 6, 1843. It broke free again that January and went over the reef a second time the following March. Two crew members drowned on October 15, 1851, when one of the lightship's small boats overturned in a sudden strong wind while bringing supplies from Scilly. On November 13, 1872, at 2 am, a meteor exploded over the lightvessel, showering the deck with burning bits. During the Second World War, the ship was often bombed and shot at by German pilots, so it was replaced with a lighted buoy.

Since 1987, the lightship has been automated, meaning no one lives on it. The living and storage areas are filled with foam to help it float better if it ever crashes into something. The Seven Stones lightvessel also works as an automatic weather station, collecting information about the weather.

Folklore and Legends

There is a famous legend, part of the King Arthur stories, that says there was once a land between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly called Lyonesse. This land was said to have several towns and 140 churches. According to the legend, it was flooded and became the sea. Only one man survived, named Trevelyan, who rode a black horse to safety on dry land.

This area is also part of the Arthurian legends. One story says that Merlin used magic to flood the land and trap the forces of Mordred, who were chasing King Arthur's army after a battle where Arthur was killed. Arthur’s supporters managed to reach high ground in the Isles of Scilly. Fishermen in the area are sometimes said to be able to hear the sound of church bells ringing from under the sea. Scientists believe that rising sea levels since the last ice age might have led to these legends, as the area could have been an island not too long ago.