Wreck of Henry Bell's Comet steamship given protected status

The wooden paddle steamer the Comet, constructed by John Wood & Sons in 1811-12 and said to be of 'international significance' as the continent's original commercial steamship, has been designated as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

The Comet was launched from the builder's Port Glasgow yard in 1812 and operated for eight years on the Clyde.

Bell - whose innovation led to him being dubbed 'the inventor of the steamship' - had the 42-foot ship built to bring guests from Glasgow and Greenock to the Baths Inn on Helensburgh's seafront, which he and his wife owned - and which is now part of the Queen's Court flats on East Clyde Street.

It later operated on the Forth, and from September 1819 on a new Glasgow to Fort William service - after being lengthened by another 32 feet on Helensburgh's beach.

However, it was wrecked off Craignish Point, west of Crinan in Argyll, in December 1820.

It was believed to have split in half after running aground due to a navigational error.

The announcement by HES comes just a few days before the 211th anniversary of the Comet's first commercial voyage, from Glasgow to Bowling, Helensburgh and Greenock, on August 15, 1812.

A replica of the ship stood in Port Glasgow for more than 60 years, but it was dismantled earlier this year amid concern over its deteriorating condition - and despite anger from local residents.

A scale replica of the Comet was unveiled at Helensburgh's Waitrose supermarket - now Morrisons - in September 2016.

HES was invited to assess the remains of the wreck in September 2020 following its discovery that year by members of Dalriada Dive Club in Oban.

Marine heritage sites are normally designated as Historic Marine Protected Areas (MPA), but in this instance HES has decided to designate the Comet as a scheduled monument to protect it until a decision is taken by the Scottish Government on designating the site as a Historic MPA.

Dara Parsons, head of designations at HES, said: “There are very few examples of pre-1820 steamships known in the UK.

"As such the remains at the site of the Comet are extremely rare and merit further detailed study.

“Henry Bell’s Comet is of international significance as Europe’s first commercial steamship and occupies an important place in the history of steam-powered navigation.

“By designating the wreck with scheduled monument status, this means that visitors can dive on the wreck but must not disturb the wreck or remove artefacts without scheduled monument consent from Historic Environment Scotland, to help protect the remains of this significant vessel.”

Earlier this year, Inverclyde Council removed a replica of the steamship from the Port following years of deterioration - with campaigners slamming the 'disgraceful' treatment of the little ship.

Its name is a direct reference to the Great Comet of 1811, a celestial event in which a comet passed by the Earth and was visible to the naked eye for 260 days.

The Comet was carrying no passengers when it wrecked in 1820, and Bell and the crew managed to get safely ashore.

A dive survey by Wessex Archaeology in September 2021 confirmed that the visible remains of the wreck which survive on the seabed are likely to be from the front half of the ship.

These include the engine assemblage, possible flue and paddle shaft.

The monument is located at a depth of around 12 metres on rocky seabed, interspersed with sand within an area of dense kelp, and it is thought that further parts of the wreck are likely to survive nearby.

Bell is still remembered in Helensburgh today by the street that bears his name, between East Clyde Street and Old Luss Road, and by the Henry Bell Monument on West Clyde Street at the foot of James Street - as well as the J.D. Wetherspoon pub, the Henry Bell, on James Street itself.