IN 1842, the Arbroath-built merchant brig Caledonia was wrecked on the treacherous rocks off the Cornish village of Morwenstow with the loss of all but one of her crew.

Since then the vessel’s distinctive figurehead—a claymore and targe-bearing female Scottish warrior—has marked the spot where its drowned captain and crew were buried.

Over the years, however, the sometimes severe coastal weather took its toll on the figurehead until her head eventually parted company with her body.

Some of the villagers then decided to take her inside the church and place a replica out in the churchyard until the necessary repairs and restoration could be carried out.

That work has now been completed and the group responsible for the restoration has written to Angus Council to let it know that a formal service of rededication is to take place in Morwenstow Parish Church on September 7—the 166th anniversary of the shipwreck.

Bob Pirie, one of those closely involved in the project, said, “A small group of parishioners in this remote corner of north Cornwall have been making significant efforts to save and restore the figurehead of the brig Caledonia of Arbroath, whose captain and crew were given a Christian burial in our local churchyard by the Rev R. S. Hawker following the tragic shipwreck in 1842.

“The (rededication) service will incorporate hymns and prayers appropriate to the occasion, as well as readings from the works of the Rev Hawker who, as some may already know, was a renowned cleric, poet and eccentric.

“If any of the local councillors, or anyone else in the Arbroath area, wishes to join us on the day they will, of course, be made very welcome.

“Despite all the fund- raising we have carried out so far, however, the figurehead’s completion in time for the 166th anniversary has only been made possible thanks to a short-term, interest-free loan from a local benefactor ...

“We are now redoubling our efforts to ensure that he does not stay ‘out of pocket’ for too long, and if anyone from the Arbroath area would like to make a donation to the Caledonia conservation fund they can sent these to the Rev Peter Abell, The Rectory, East Road, Kilkhampton, Cornwall EX23 9QS,” he added.

Arbroath councillor Jim Millar said, “I believe we owe a great debt of gratitude to the people of Morwenstow, not only for the compassion they showed in giving the captain and crew an appropriate burial 166 years ago, but in raising funds to commemorate the disaster by restoring the brig’s figurehead and marking the graves with a replica.

Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said, “This is a fabulous story and I believe we should reflect on the thoughtfulness and concern that the people of Morwenstow continue to show for the sailors that lost their lives in such tragic circumstances.”