Lord Western (1853)

The Lord Western was a two-decked barque, which sank in deep water in Sydney Inlet in 1853.

The remains of the Lord Western are lying on the sea floor in Adventure Bay at Sydney Inlet. The wreck site of the East Indiaman measures 38 meters by 12 meters; with the bow lying in 10.5 meters of water and the stern in 22 meters. As the earliest located shipwreck to date along Canada’s west coast, the wreck of the Lord Western is valued as a monument to both Vancouver Island’s early economic development as well as 19th century maritime history. The Lord Western is of significant historical interest in that it is a rare example of an East Indiaman wrecked on the Pacific coast of North America.

Note: British Columbia’s Heritage Conservation Act automatically protects all heritage wrecks, including the remains of all wrecked vessels and aircraft once two or more years have passed since the date of loss. It is illegal to damage, alter or remove a heritage object from a heritage wreck except under a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch.