Tynemouth, Black Middens, Ardwell

HER Number:
13356

District:
N Tyneside

Site Name:
Tynemouth, Black Middens, Ardwell

Place:
Tynemouth

Map Sheet:
NZ36NE

Class:
Maritime Craft

Site Type: Broad:
Sailing Vessel

Site Type: Specific:
Brig

General Period:
Early Modern

Specific Period:
C19

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
On 24 November 1864 the English Brig 'Ardwell' was forced onto the Black Middens after being badly damaged when grounding on the Herd Sand while inbound to the Tyne to seek shelter from a storm. The local lifeboat (Constance) could not reach the ship due to the high seas. After this event the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (HER 2214) was formed, the oldest organisation of its kind in the world. She was lost in the same storm as the FRIENDSHIP (1364859), the STANLEY (HER 12972) and the ESCORT (1548412).

Easting:
371

Northing:
687

Grid Reference:
NZ371687

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
North Tyneside Council and Nexus, North Shields Heritage Trail, board 11 'Black Middens'; Boswell Whitaker 1979 Preservation of life from shipwreck, volume 1 : Skuetender lifeboat Page(s)102-4; Boswell Whitaker 1980 Preservation of life from shipwreck, volume 2 : South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade Page(s)28; Newcastle Courant 02-DEC-1864, No.9,910; National Monument Record (1364863)