Above ... The Fulgens bell. Recovered and reported to the Receiver of Wreck by Peter Huson in the early 1980's
Researched and written by Paul Hennessey
During August 1915, in addition to sinking the Fulgens, UB10 also torpedoed the Rosalie which is now to be found in the shallows off Weyboune beach in North Norfolk.
In all UB10 had 15 kills in August 1915, 13 of these being fishing vesels that were stopped and sunk. In all UB10 went on 115 patrols and sank 37 vessels, this totaling some 23,614 tons. UB10 was scuttled off the Flanders coast on the 5th October 1918 during the German evacuation of Belgium.
Below ... Double bottom as incorporated in the Fulgens hull design. A double bottom is a method of construction where the bottom of the ship has two separate layers of watertight hull floor. The outer layer forms the outer hull and the inner layer, ie the floor forms a watertight barrier should the outer hull be breached. Up until 2007, double bottomed vessels were allowed to utilise their DB's for fuel storage. In addition the DB can also be used for the storage of ballast water.
Left ... basic working of a triple expansion engine as fitted in the Fulgens. Red, steam from the boilers enters the high pressure cylinder (Hp), yellow, steam from the Hp cylinder enters the intermediate pressure cylinder (Ip), blue, steam from the Ip cylinder enters the low pressure cylinder (Lp) from here the low pressure steam leaves the engine and is fed into a surface condenser. In the condenser, the steam is cooled and returned to its liquid state as it meets the cold water tubes within the condenser. From here the water is fed back into the boiler for re-use. To the left of each con rod can be seen the valve gear, this opening and shutting the cylinder valves. The type of valve gear most favoured at the time was the Stephensons valve gear, as featured in the diagram (note the eccentrics on the crank).
John Dickinson & Sons of Sunderland, builders of the Fulgens engine ..... The company was formed in 1852 by John Dickinson as a engine repair business at the Palmer Hill Engine Works in Sunderland and then went on to become engine and boiler makers. In 1946 the Palmers Hill yard was sold to William Doxford & Sons.
Wood, Skinner & Co Ltd, builders of the Fulgens .... Formed in 1883 by James Skinner and William Wood at Bill Quay. Both Skinner and Wood had gained a great deal of experience working for other well-known shipbuilders. In 1897 the company was incorporated as a limited company and in 1914 the company was listed as shipbuilders and repairers at Bill Quay.
Wood, Skinner & Co went into liquidation in 1925.
Gas Light & Coke Company, owners of the Fulgens at the time of her loss. The company was set up in 1812 by Frederick Winsor. It was the first company designed to provide gas and coal to London, in turn running the first gas works in the United Kingdom, this also being the worlds first gas works designed for public usage. Their main offices were in Horseferry Road in London, and their first gas works were located in Great Peter Street in London. To the left is a commemorative plaque in Great Peter Street.
Below ... Footage of a dive in 2020, courtesy of James Brown.
Below ... Corrugated furnace as fitted in the Fulgens boilers
