Trengrouse's Life Spencer - early life jacket

3D Model

Henry Trengrouse noted his concept for this cork jacket in his book of lifesaving inventions; ‘The Sailors Life Spencer, is portable & convenient for stowage; its construction is simple, cheap, and durable; its application is suitable for persons of various sizes; and it may be put on and taken off as readily as a waistcoat; it admits of the free use of the limbs in wading or swimming, affords protection from blows against rocks, or floating pieces of wreck……it will float a man breast high above the surface….’ (Original notebook at Kresen Kernow, Redruth).

3D scanned by Tom Goskar (@tomgoskar) as part of the Wreck and Rescue at Gunwalloe project commissioned by Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) and funded by Historic England to mark the 50th anniversary of the Protection of Wrecks Act, 1973.