Black Middens, Ardwell

HER Number

13356

District

N Tyneside

Site Name

Black Middens, Ardwell

Place

Tynemouth

Map Sheet

NZ36NE

Class

Maritime Craft

Site Type: Broad

Sailing Vessel <By Rig>

Site Type: Specific

Brig

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Victorian 1837 to 1901

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

437100

Northing

568700

Grid Reference

NZ437100568700

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)