Case Study: Royal Charter Shipwreck

The 'Great Storm of 1859', one of the most destructive storms in British history, hit the coast of Wales on 25-26 October 1859. Nearly 150 ships were lost, the most famous of which was the steamship Royal Charter, which wrecked off the coast of Anglesey with the loss of 450 lives. The shipwrecks of the Great Storm provide a unique window on the Victorian period in Wales - a moment in time through which to explore our trading links with the wider world, forgotten maritime industries, and the society of the day.

Three schools from Anglesey spent several months studying the Royal Charter shipwreck, in a joint partnership project between Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW). Read about their project, get great ideas for classroom activities and see examples of the work produced by the pupils. You can also explore the source material they used here on People's Collection Wales, including beautiful gold artefacts and everyday objects recovered from the Royal Charter shipwreck.