Shovell’s Fleet: The 1707 Sailors Buried on St Agnes
After the 1707 naval disaster on the Western Rocks, bodies washed ashore across Scilly for days. Many of the drowned sailors are said to lie under the playing field on St Agnes today.
Something changed? Tell us
St Agnes faces the Western Rocks, the most dangerous water on Scilly. On the night of 22 October 1707, four Royal Navy ships were lost on those rocks. In the days that followed, the sea carried the dead ashore. Many of the drowned sailors are said to be buried on the St Agnes playing field.
Key Takeaways
- Four warships under Sir Cloudesley Shovell were lost on the Western Rocks on 22 October 1707.
- Estimates of the dead range from 1,400 to over 2,000 men.
- Many sailors are reputedly buried on the St Agnes playing field.
- The fireship Firebrand sank in Smith Sound, and some of her crew reached St Agnes alive.
The night the fleet ran aground
Shovell's fleet was sailing home from the Mediterranean in poor weather. The navigators thought they were safely west of Scilly. They were wrong. HMS Association struck the Gilstone Ledges and sank with her entire crew of about 800. Eagle and Romney were lost too, says Wikipedia. Only one man from Romney survived.
We tell the full story of that night in The night the fleet went down. This piece is about what happened on St Agnes.
Firebrand and the St Agnes light
The fireship Firebrand also hit the rocks. According to CISMAS, her crew steered for the beacon of St Agnes lighthouse, but she foundered in Smith Sound close to the island. Some of her crew, including Captain Percy, made it ashore on St Agnes. They were among the very few survivors that night.
RecommendedHistoryIsles of the Dead? The Story of Scilly’s Bronze Age Tombs5 min read · St Mary's & off-islandsRead the guide →Burials on the playing field
For days after the wreck, bodies washed onto the shores of the islands, along with wreckage and personal belongings. Wikipedia notes that many of the dead were buried on St Agnes. Local tradition goes further and is more specific. Many of the sailors are reputedly buried on the island's playing field.
It is hard to picture today. A small island community suddenly faced the bodies of strangers on its beaches, far more than it could ever have expected. Most of the drowned were ordinary seamen. Their families, hundreds of miles away, may never have learned where they were finally laid to rest.
Today the field is a quiet patch of grass. It is worth a pause as you walk past.
What happened to Shovell
The admiral's body came ashore at Porth Hellick on St Mary's, along with those of his two stepsons. He was first buried on the beach. Wikipedia says Queen Anne then ordered him moved to Westminster Abbey. A memorial stone still marks the spot at Porth Hellick. Read more in our Sir Cloudesley Shovell story.
The legend of the hanged sailor
A famous story says a Scillonian sailor warned Shovell the fleet was off course, and was hanged for it. Wikipedia explains that the tale first appeared on Scilly in 1780, over 70 years later. Naval historians have discredited it. It survives because it is a good story, not because it is true.
Why it still matters
The loss of so many men shocked Britain. It may have added to pressure for the Longitude Act of 1714, which offered a prize for finding position at sea. The wreck of the Association is now protected, and divers need a licence to visit, says CISMAS. Boat trips to the Western Rocks pass close by.
RecommendedHistorySS Mando: The Liberty Ship at Golden Ball3 min read · TrescoRead the story →Last checked October 2026
