Hull of wreck, visible at low tide, Red Lions Wharf, in a shallow area between two wharves. According to the site manager it is about 100 years old. (1)

Location accurate to 2m based on available information

possibly the POLLO sunk after a collision with MONARCH.

Manby's Report stated that ' remaining still embedded in the soil'. (1)(2)

From "Early Solent Steamers" by F T O'Brien. ISBN 0
7153 5654 2, David & Charles, Newton Abbott 1973:

The APOLLO, Minter, from Yarmouth to London, was in collision with the Scottish steamer MONARCH, William Bain, for Leith off Northfleet on 03 September 1837. APOLLO sank with the loss of a
stewardess, Mary Ann Jones, and two small children; the remaining crew and passengers managed to scramble on board the MONARCH which had suffered less damage.

It appeared that the navigation lights of the APOLLO were burning very dimly. The mate was down below sleeping and a boy was at the helm. Captain Minter testified that he had been the first to abandon the stricken vessel and climb aboard the MONARCH. At the subsequent inquest he was cleared of blame, it being held that Captain Bain and the MONARCH were at fault. The verdict was derided by many British seamen, citing the composition of the inquest jury, none of whom were seamen. The verdict nevertheless stood.

Attempts were made to lift the APOLLO with lifting chains attached to the steamer WATERWITCH but this vessel sank alongside the wreck during the attempt. APOLLO was finally raised in August 1843 and beached on nearby Black Shelf.

APOLLO was built by Hunter & Dow of Glasgow for service between Glasgow, Largs, Millport and Ayr. Sold to APOLLO Steam Packet Co. of Southampton in May 1834 for service to Le Havre under Captain James Weeks, sold the next year to owners in London. By 1836 she was owned by the British and Foreign Steam Packet Company and in 1837 by the Commercial Steam Packet Co. which took over the B & F. (3)

Built: 1832 (1)(2)
Builder: Hunter and Dow (3)
Where Built: Glasgow (1)(2)(3)
Master: J Weeks (1)(2) ex. J Weeks (3); Minter (3)
Crew Lost: 1 Stewardess (1)(2)(3)
Passengers: 25 (1)(2)
Passengers Lost: 2 children (1)(2)(3)
Owner: J W Drew (1)(2)
Owner: Commercial Steam Packet Co. (1)(2)(3)

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index:
Address to the general public on shipwreck, G W Manby p7;
LR 1837 No.739(A)

Boston, Lincoln, Louth and Spalding Herald and Advertiser, England. October 3rd 1837

Times 1837: 21 Aug 7b, 11 Sept 3e, 14 Sept 3d and 4a, 15 Sept 6a, 21 Sept 7b, 22 Sept 3f, 9 Oct 7d, 1 Nov 7a, 4 Nov 6f, 7 Nov 7d, 17 Nov 4b, 12 Dec 7d.

Times 1840: 16 Jun 5f, 8 Sep 5d,
Times 1842: 9 Dec 4d
Times 1843: 14 Aug 4f

Morning Chronicle 15 Sept 1837

Greenwich, Woolwich and Deptford Gazette 16 Sep 1837

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

<2> Larn, Richard and Bridget, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 2 : Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent (Mainland), Kent (Downs), Goodwin Sands, Thames (Bibliographic reference). SKE31910.