Herd Sand, Happy Return

HER Number

14801

District

S Tyneside

Site Name

Herd Sand, Happy Return

Place

South Shields

Map Sheet

NZ36NE

Class

Maritime Craft

Site Type: Broad

Transport Vessel

Site Type: Specific

Cargo Vessel

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Stuart 1603 to 1714

Form of Evidence

Wreckage

Description

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

Easting

437900

Northing

567300

Grid Reference

NZ437900567300

Sources

National Monuments Record (971526); Lloyd's 1969 Lloyd's list 16-AUG-1811, No.4589; Terence Grocott 1997 Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras Page(s)317; Newcastle Courant 17-AUG-1811, No.7031 Page(s)4; Richard and Bridget Larn 1997 Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 3. The east coast of England : Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, County Durham, Northumberland Section 6, County Durham (CF)