A distant starboard bow view of the general cargo steamer Castleford (1883) aground on Crebawethan in the Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly. The lifeboat davits are hanging loose down the side of the ship. A small rowing boat is alongside the ship opposite the main mast. A small steamer is passing the ship off its port side. The photographer was standing on the rocks at Crebawethan, which dominate the bottom half of the photograph.

The Castleford was carrying 3000 tons of general cargo, including deal and wheat, as well as 460 head of cattle, 1 passenger and 18 cattle drovers. On Sunday 8 June 1887 the Castleford was underway in dense fog and at high water. Despite stopping to listen for fog horns or bells, the ship ran onto the Crebawethan rock, remaining fast. The hold and then boiler and engine rooms flooded. 250 cattle were landed at Annet, near St Agnes, and 400 deals were saved. The ship broke in two before the bridge on 9 June and the masts and funnel went over board the following day.