The Thousla Cross - Rushen, Isle of Man - Maritime Monuments and Memorials on Waymarking.com

The Thousla Cross stands at the southern tip of the Isle of Man, above the Sound as a symbol of a tragedy and the ensuing heroism of the Manxmen who braved the elements and treacherous waters of the channel that separates the Calf of Man from the Isle of Man to give aid to a French schooner the "Jeaune St. Charles" which was sailing from Pontrieux to Londonderry.

The stone plaque at the base of the Cross has the following inscription:
THE THOUSLA CROSS
TO COMMEMORATE AN ACT OF HEROISM
BY MEN OF THIS PARISH
IN THEIR RESCUE OF THE CREW OF THE
FRENCH SCHOONER "JEANE ST. CHARLES"
IN 1858.

The original Thousla Cross was an Iron Cross of Lorraine and was set on top of a beacon on Thousla Rock constructed by the Northern Lighthouse Board following the loss of the "Jeaune St. Charles" to provide a refuge, where shipwrecked mariners could remain out of reach of wind and sea. The beacon was completed in 1859 and the Cross was paid for by monies raised in France.

The Beacon and the Cross were destroyed in November 1905 and it was not until 1907 that the Northern Lighthouse Board awarded a Port St. Mary firm a contract to build a concrete structure on Thousla Rock. This structure is still there today and has the Admiralty Lights Reference A4745.

On top of the concrete structure Mr Willie Collister placed a double cross made of red wood.

In 1980 the wooden cross was removed and replaced by a gas light to give better warning to shipping in the area. At this time the Rushen Parish Commissioners decided that the circumstances surrounding the wreck of the "Jeaune St. Charles" the loss of life and great bravery in the final rescue should be commemorated in the re-erection of the Thousla Cross on the Sound mainland at its nearest point to the Thoulsa Rock.

The wreck of the "Jeaune St. Charles" resulted in the loss of two lives but four mariners were rescued at the second attempt in the face of the raging wind and mountainous seas thanks to the heroic efforts of Henry Qualtrough, Thomas Taubman, John Maddrell, Edward Fargher and Thomas Keig. The Thousla Cross commemorates these brave men and the crew of the first boat that attempted to rescue the crew who were clinging desperately to Thousla Rock in the face of the south-easterly gale.

source: (visit link)

source: Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signal, NP74, Volume A; published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Relevent website: [Web Link] List if there are any visiting hours: There are no visiting instructions Entrance fees (if any): There is no entrance fee Parking coordinates: N 54° 03.824 W 004° 47.562 Sponsor(s): Rushen Parish Commissioners Date dedicated: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/11/2019 Alancache visited it