| « Previous | Home | Next » | lighthouse and puffin 10 November, 2006 |
 photo: david lindley there are 28 islands that make up the farne islands, only 15 of which are visible at high tide; numerous large rocks and shallow channels lurking beneath the waves for the unwary sailor. as a consequence there are a number of lighthouses on the various islands: the best known being longstone lighthouse, made famous by the incredible bravery of an early victorian heroine, grace darling. at around 4am on 7 september 1838 the ship 'forfarshire', which was en-route from hull to dundee carrying a cargo of cloths and hardware, struck rocks in the area and broke in two. the steamship had already been drifting as a result of engine failure and was driven onto the farne rocks by a ferocious storm. not long after grace, the 23 year old daughter of the longstone lighthouse keeper, spotted the wrecked ship from her window and a while later saw a number of survivors struggling on the reef. there was no time to wait for coastguards so, with her father, she set out in their little cobble boat (a small wooden rowing boat) to try to rescue the survivors. in the face of a tremendous storm they fought over to the rocks and found nine people still alive: they could only take five so a number of them had to remain, to be picked up on a second trip by grace's father and two crew from the striken ship. amongst the survivors was a mrs dawson, who they found still clutching to her breast her two dead children. the story soon was published in the newcastle journal and her grace's fame soon spread throughout the country: she was showered with awards and offered huge sums to appear on stage in london and edinburgh, however she never accepted a single penny for her efforts. she died at the young age of 27 in the home of her sister in bamburgh, her fame ensuring her name would not be forgotten. | |
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Posted by davidlindley Archived under: england |
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