The Stan Woolaway known localy as "The Woolaway" was a sand dredger that sunk on March the 13th 1967. She was on passage from Barnstaple.

 The wreck of the Stan Woolaway is now owned by "Ilfracombe & North Devon Sub aqua club". It was reported in the "Western Morning News" on 5th of May 1970 the story of how the club came to own the wreck. A copy of the original newspaper clipping is below but hard to read so this is the story as reported "The bell of the 278-ton sand dredger Stan Woolaway which sank of Bull Point a few miles west of Ilfracombe just three years ago has been recovered by the Ilfracombe and North Devon Sub-Aqua Club.

 DIVERS SWAP BELL FOR WRECK

The bell is now back in the hands of the man who gave his name to the vessel, former Mayor of Barnstaple, Mr Stan Woolaway who is a principal in the Barnstaple building firm of W. Woolaway and Sons.

The firm operated the dredger in the Bristol Channel before she went down after developing a list while returning fully-laden to Barnstaple on March 13th 1967.

 It was revealed yesterday that the wreck which lies in about 60ft of water, 1000yds. offshore has been given to the Sub-Aqua Club.

Survey

The final signatures were being put on the papers yesterday which will make the transfer of ownership legal. The club will use the wreck for survey purposes. The Stan Woolaway has now broken up and luck played a part in the recovery of the bell. A team of divers from the 36-strong sub-aqua club found it by chance about 40ft from the wreck. 

"EXPRESS AND ECHO"

There was also a photograph in the "Express and Echo" on 5th May 1970 the photo is similar to the one below and the caption read

"Members of Ilfracombe and North Devon Sub-aqua Club presented Mr Stan Woolaway with the bell from the wreck of the "Stan Woolaway" which sank off Mortehoe. In return for their efforts in raising the vessel Mr Woolaway presented them with a photograph of the ship, a cheque and best of all for the club the wreck itself. 

Over the years the club has salvaged a number of items from the Woolaway some of these are now on display in the club house after being returned to there former glory . The club sold the telegraph to Roy Lancaster, a local hotel owner in Woolacombe who later donated it back to the club when he sold the hotel.  Mr Lancaster was our club president until April  2010 when he handed the job over to his Vice president Jack Stocks.

We would like to thank Mr Jack Stocks for providing the pictures and clippings.

The Dive

Again a very broken wreck lying on a rocky sea bed in around 18m.

Though there is not a lot left of this wreck as time and tide have taken their toll you can still find the engine block and the anchors. This wreck is home to a wide variety of marine life and can be quite picturesque.  It is a suitable dive for all grades of diver.

A torch and DSMB are needed on this dive

 Here are some pictures of the "Stan Woolaway" during her working life.