Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex is an ancient place. New Shoreham, which forms the bulk of the village, has origins that stretch back to the time of the Romans, so quite how old that makes Old Shoreham is anyone’s guess. Relics of the past abound in Shoreham; nowhere more so than on the banks of the River Adur, the body of water that once stood at the heart of the local community.
One of the many eerie sights that confronts visitors to the river is the decrepit, warped wreck of a large wooden fishing boat. According to local legend, the fishing boat was carried up the river from Shoreham Harbour during a massive storm in 1893 and smashed against the rocks of the river bank. The owner, a local fisherman, was distraught at the loss of his vessel. It was the means by which he supported his family and without it his family would be destitute. He desperately attempted to salvage his boat, but this was a hopeless endeavor. It was fixed fast to rocks and would not shift. It has remained there ever since, gradually falling to pieces over the years.
In recent times, the wreck has become associated with a terrifying ghost story. Witnesses report hearing howls of anguish as they approach the wreck, followed by a loud, guttural moaning and sobbing. When the wreck is brought into sight, a small group of huddled shadowy figures can be seen at the side of the vessel, desperately attempting to push the boat’s wreck towards the waters of the river. The figures range in height from fully grown adults to a tiny toddler. On closer inspection, they each have bizarre contorted faces and dull, empty eye sockets. It is thought that they are the spirits of the fisherman’s family.
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