From Hodgson's Wreck Register, 1903:
`...13th September 1831. The HENRY AND HARRIET, and COMMERCE of Newcastle, both wrecked on the Herdsand.'

1817 wreck of English brig which stranded on the Herd Sand after attempting to return to her departure port of Shields in a gale. Laden with coal, she was a wooden sailing vessel. `The brig HENRY, of Arundel, H Jenkins, master, sailed from Shields on Wednesday week, coal laden, and in attempting to return to port on Friday night, in a heavy sea, struck on the Herd Sand. The crew immediately took to the boat, which was upset by the breakers, when the master and mate (brothers) and one man and a boy were unfortunately drowned. The remaining three of the crew were picked up in an almost lifeless state, but have since recovered. The body of the boy was found on Sunday. Another correspondent writes: "...The owners and underwriters on this vessel consider themselves under obligations to Mr Jos. Ranney, for his prompt exertions in saving the wreck and materials from the waves, and from plunder." (Courant)

Master: Jenkinson
Crew: 7
Crew Lost: 4

1794 wreck of English collier which stranded on the Herd Sand during a storm, on arriving at Shields from London in ballast; a wooden sailing vessel.

On Saturday 3rd December 1865, the brig HARRIET of Plymouth was entering the harbour for shelter when she was blown onto the Herd Sand. The lifeboat TYNE proceeded to her assistance, and rescued her crew, nine in all, which she brought to the coble landing. They were: William Corkeley, master; George Ball, mate; Edward Pillings, seaman; Henry Williams, seaman; Thomas Wisman, seaman; James Gosenweather, seaman; John Scott, seaman; William Drake, seaman; James Doughty, boy.
Master: William Corkeley
Crew: 9

Wrecked in the gales of January 1854. 4th January, Wednesday...HARMONY, ANY, and ELISABETH of Shields...wrecked on Herd Sand.

Wrecked in the gales of January 1854.
9th January 1854. At the tail end of the same gale the three lifeboats were out again for the...HAPPY RETURN of Goole...wrecked on the Herd Sand.

August 1811 wreck of English 17th century cargo vessel which stranded on the Herd Sand after leaving Shields, presumably for her usual port of Whitby, with coal; a wooden sailing vessel. `The HAPPY RETURN, was driven upon the Herd Sand, at Shields, and totally wrecked. She had just cleared the bar, when the wind suddenly chopped round to the NE accompanied with a high sea; she broached to, and was instantly driven amongst the breakers. The gale and sea continued to increase, when the NORTHUMBERLAND life-boat was launched, boldly pushed through the broken waves, and brought the crew to land. Shortly after the ship was dashed to pieces. This vessel was 130 years old.' (Courant) Built: circa c1681-1688
Master: Brown

Drove on the Herd Sand 1852 as a result of having failed to drop an anchor after a towing hawser to a tug had carried away. The crew were saved by the South Shields lifeboat in wind conditions NNW force 4. Estimated loss on the vessel was 1,000 [sterling], but she was uninsured, the loss on the cargo, also uninsured, being 54 [sterling].
Master: Eastland
Crew: 8

Local residents believe that shipbuilding slipways exist on the foreshore of the River Wear. Two channels (4m x 60m) are said to be carved into the rock in the river bed at an angle. Iron tools have been collected. The site has yet to be inspected by the County Archaeologist but the photographs submitted to the HER seem only to show natural fissures in the limestone bedrock. Geologist Dr Andy Lane has inspected the Toby Gill area (Sept 2012) and concluded that the top surface of the sandstone beds show a rectilinear pattern of natural jointing. This can easily be mistaken for a man made structure (a crazy paving effect). The structures are definitely natural in original, common to sandstone beds everywhere. While not man made they may have provided flat surfaces useful for human operations by the water's edge. Sandstones can also be host to peculiar cup-like features, such as those found at Toby Gill. They range in form from rough irregular impressions to near perfect circular cups with smooth interiors. Sometimes the cups are in lines. How these cup-like features are formed is a matter of conjecture. They are too smooth to be due to natural erosion alone. They look like they have been drilled or bored by some organism, human or otherwise. Hollows in rocks can be caused by marine boring molluscs. D. Wilson notes that the river was wider at this point. The name Offerton could be a corruption of Aufladen (Offloaden) meaning offloading. Inspect the site.

First appears on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1898. Trees had been removed to provide an open aspect to the lawned terraces to the north. Steps led down to the woodland, and there was a circular garden to the east of the pond - this was a rose garden in the 1970s. The pond still exists but it is in poor condition and is overgrown. The pond has stone walls and a cascade, designed to resemble natural outcrops of bedrock. Ferns were planted around the rocks. In the late 1970s a butyl liner was introduced to clean out the pond. There is a large stone lion at the side of the pond, which faces northwards towards the Dene. The lion is over life-size and sites on a narrow block of stone. The crude nature of the carving shows that the statue was intended to impress at a distance rather than at close quarters.