It’s lain at the bottom of the North Sea for nearly 130 years – but now the bell from a Brightlingsea-built ship that sank in a terrible storm has taken pride of place in the town’s museum.
The bell from the Masonic was discovered during an underwater survey for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Its return to the town marks the end of a detailed restoration and research project – and has revealed some remarkable family links.
For present at the unveiling on Tuesday, October 21, were two descendants of men connected with the ship, both of whom lived in Brightlingsea: Richard Dove, the great grandson of one of the Masonic’s owners, Captain William Dove; and John Angier, whose great great grandfather Henry perished when the ship sank two miles off Saltburn in November 1893. A tile marking Henry’s death can be seen in All Saints’ church.
Masonic was built around 1876 in Brightlingsea’s Aldous shipyard. At 100ft long and over 24ft wide, she was one of the largest barges built in the town and probably carried cargoes of coal, builiding materials and food. One of her early captains was William Dove’s eldest son, also called William.
“Raising the Masonic bell from the deep after its 132 years of seabed slumber is a tangible link to my great-grandfather,” said Richard. “Hopefully the fully restored bell is testament to those brave souls that sadly perished in 1893, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has breathed new life into this wonderful piece of maritime history.
The ship went down with all hands during what became known as the Great Storm of 1893, which was blamed for the deaths of 335 people at sea and the loss or abandonment of 140 vessels. Henry’s body was one of three from the Masonic washed up on the Yorkshire coast and he was buried in Saltburn.
In 2022 the survey team spotted the bell, covered in concrete-like accretions, while looking at an area where undersea cables were to be laid. They thought at first it was an unexploded bomb, but a closer inspection revealed the inscription “Masonic“.
While careful restoration was then carried out, Brightlingsea Museum began to research the bell’s local connections.
“We are delighted to welcome the bell from the Brightlingsea-built barge, the Masonic, to the museum,” said Margaret Stone, Brightlingsea Museum’s curator.
“This is the first artefact for our collection which comes from an actual vessel built in the town during the 19th century. What makes it even more special are the links the Masonic has to an organisation and families still in the town – and even the museum itself.”
The museum link refers to the fact that its late chairman and benefactor, Claude Dove – whose son, Dennis (Richard’s father) ran the hardware shop in New Street now occupied by Mending Matters – was the great grandson of ship owner William, and whose great uncle was one of her captains.
There’s a further link to the town – and perhaps, the name of the ship. Masonic builder Robert Aldous, and co-owners William Dove and John Ward, were all masons, members of Brightlingsea’s Lodge of Hope, based in Tower Street.
Deputy Receiver of Wreck Andrea Bailey, who registers artefacts found at sea, was at the launch event and said: “The fate of the Masonic and her crew was a tragedy, far away from where it first set sail. So it feels right that the bell – the last surviving piece – is returned to where it was built.”
• Brightlingsea Museum is open on Saturdays from 11am–5pm, Sundays 2– 5pm and during half term from 2-5pm on 29th-31st October. Admission is free.
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm is the world’s largest offshore wind farm in construction. Located over 130km from the Yorkshire coast, it began delivering renewable energy in 2023.
