Herd Sand, Dainty Cruiser

1705 wreck of English collier which stranded near Shields, possibly near the Herd Sand, after being forced from her anchors off Shields during a storm; one of at least five vessels known to have been lost in this incident. For the other vessels, please see the WEAZEL, 1494029 (HER 14997); HAPPY MERCHANT, 1494050 (HER 14995); GOODHOPE, 1494051 (HER 14994); and SWALLOW, 1494052 (HER 14996). Constructed of wood, she was a sailing vessel. NB: The fact that the lost vessels were laden colliers suggests that they were laden with coal from Shields itself, and were making ready to depart, being at anchor rather than moored at the quaysides. The identity of these vessels being known suggests that they came ashore in close proximity to Shields (rather than being lost further north or south along the coastline or blown out to sea, when both the fate and identity of the vessel would have been uncertain). The combination of the two factors suggests that the vessel may have been driven onto an area such as the Herd Sand.