The Wolves are three small rocky outcrops just over 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of the island of Flat Holm in the Bristol Channel, approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 km) off the coast of South Wales and around 6.0 miles (9.7 km) from the coast of England. The outcrops are normally awash at high tide and are surrounded by strong tidal currents, making them a longstanding hazard to navigation in the Bristol Channel.
Location
The Wolves lie in the eastern Bristol Channel between Flat Holm and the coast of South Wales. The rocks are surrounded by strong tidal currents and areas of turbulent water.
Shipwrecks
The exposed rocky group measures approximately 25 metres by 20 metres and has been the site of many shipwrecks.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Vessel
! Type
! Details
|-
| 1817
| William and Mary
| Sloop
| Struck the rocks and foundered while en route from Bristol to Waterford with passengers.
|-
| 1854
| St Agnes
| Schooner
| Foundered after grounding on The Wolves while en route from Newport to St Agnes with coal and iron.
|-
| 1860
| Ashley Down
| Craft
| Stranded on The Wolves and was totally lost.
|-
| 1878
| Feronia
| Brigantine
| Stranded on The Wolves while en route from Newport to Belfast with coal.
|-
| 1892
| Esk Holme
| Cargo vessel
| Stranded while en route from Newport to Valencia with machinery and railway track.
|-
| 1893
| True Blue
| Cutter
| Stranded on a salvage trip from Cardiff. Built in 1838, she was a wooden sailing vessel carrying a crew of four.
|-
| 1897
| Frederick William
| Ketch
| Stranded while en route from Avonmouth to Swansea with maize.
|-
| 1914
| Anna
| Steamer
| Caught fire while bound from Marseille to London with general cargo; rigged with auxiliary sail as either a brigantine or schooner.
|}
Gallery
<gallery mode="packed" heights="120">
Flat Holm.png|Map of Flat Holm and the surrounding area in the Bristol Channel
Location of The Wolves relative to Flat Holm.jpg|Location of The Wolves relative to Flat Holm and the South Wales coast
The Wolves and nearby charted wrecks schematic map.png|Schematic map of The Wolves and two wrecks charted nearby in the Bristol Channel. The green area marks The Wolves, while the dotted line indicates an area of rough tidal water
</gallery>
See also
- Flat Holm
- Steep Holm
- Bristol Channel
- List of shipwrecks in the Bristol Channel