John Richmond LAYZELL (1861-1888) and Albert Edward LAYZELL (1863-1888), who were cousins, both lost their lives when the barge, Ada, went down in the English Channel during stormy weather on December 21st or 22nd 1888. John Richmond Layzell was the Captain and Albert Edward Layzell was the mate.

The event is recounted in ‘Stories of the Colne’ by L W Southern. The boat was apparently sighted from the shore in distress for several hours yet no assistance was offered. The book conjectures that there may have been some mistake or misunderstanding regarding signals although the family were of the opinion that, being a few days before Christmas, the lifeboatmen were drunk.

The Ada which foundered off Portland had a deck cargo of petroleum, most of which was washed ashore. The captain’s dog swam ashore near Abbotsbury but died from exhaustion soon afterwards. The book suggests that it is likely that the boat was dashed on the rocks somewhere about ‘Cheul Cave’ but it seems probable that this should have read ‘Chesil Cove’ which is at the southern end of Chesil Beach and has been the scene of many shipwrecks.

The Layzells were natives of Brightlingsea where All Saints Church contains unique memorials to parishioners who have lost their lives at sea in the form of tiles placed in a frieze which runs around the nave wall. There are 213 in all and each tile has a dedication. Numbers 87 & 88 are dedicated to Albert Edward and John Richmond.