Gyrth Russell [1892-1970] -  Towing the Helwick Lightship - The Helwick lightship station was established during 1846 to warn of the proximity of the Helwick Sands off Port Eynon, near Swansea, in the Bristol Channel. The Helwick sandbanks were an invisible threat to shipping with a minimum depth of water of about a fathom (6 feet) at the west sandbank. Many of the Bristol channel lightships were regularly cleaned and maintained upon the pontoon of the Penarth Pontoon and Slipway Company. [000] [002]