The world’s first pure sailing tanker, the Thomas W Lawson, was anchored off Annet to shelter from an impending gale.
The captain had refused assistance from St Agnes and St Mary’s lifeboats who advised to abandon the ship and only accepted the local pilot Billy Hicks from St Agnes when both lifeboats had to return to their stations.
Overnight both anchor chains snapped and the schooner smashed against Shag Rock losing all seven masts and breaking the hull.
Only two men survived and were rescued by Hicks’ son in the gig Slippen.
T.W. Lawson is a light porter style ale with a rounded malty finish and subtle spicy hop flavours.
