There are many stories about the white horse but the following account, taken from South Shields: A History of the Town and its People, is thought to be the most likely: Whitburn nobleman Sir Hedworth Williams and his wife would go riding along the beach at Marsden and picnic at a spot near Darding Lake. But one day Sir Hedworth had to leave on business so Lady Williams went out on her white mare alone. She was seen galloping towards Marsden Rock, which was then attached to the mainland and was last spotted riding into an opening in the rock. Search parties found no trace of her but Sir Hedworth carried on looking for two years until he accepted that the tide must have carried out both the bodies of his wife and her horse out to sea. Heartbroken, he lost all interest in his estate and gave all his horses to an ostler, Wareham, and his money to his gamekeeper, Peter Allen, who later became tenant of the Marsden Grotto. The Williamson family gradually faded out of the scene, but while Peter Allen made money at the Grotto out of visitor's curiosity about Lady Williamson's disappearance, Wareham thought of a more fitting tribute. As a memento to his former master's kindness, he scratched out a white horse with tar and limewash for all to remember. LOCAL LIST
Site Type: Broad
Hill Figure
SITEDESC
Dates late 1880s.There are many stories about the white horse but the following account, taken from South Shields: A History of the Town and its People, is thought to be the most likely: Whitburn nobleman Sir Hedworth Williams and his wife would go riding along the beach at Marsden and picnic at a spot near Darding Lake. But one day Sir Hedworth had to leave on business so Lady Williams went out on her white mare alone. She was seen galloping towards Marsden Rock, which was then attached to the mainland and was last spotted riding into an opening in the rock. Search parties found no trace of her but Sir Hedworth carried on looking for two years until he accepted that the tide must have carried out both the bodies of his wife and her horse out to sea. Heartbroken, he lost all interest in his estate and gave all his horses to an ostler, Wareham, and his money to his gamekeeper, Peter Allen, who later became tenant of the Marsden Grotto. The Williamson family gradually faded out of the scene, but while Peter Allen made money at the Grotto out of visitor's curiosity about Lady Williamson's disappearance, Wareham thought of a more fitting tribute. As a memento to his former master's kindness, he scratched out a white horse with tar and limewash for all to remember. Alternative stories for the origin of the horse can be found in the Cleadon Village Atlas.
Site Name
Marsden, Quarry Lane, White Horse
Site Type: Specific
Hill Figure
SITE_STAT
Local List
HER Number
14505
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
SOUTH TYNESIDE LOCAL LIST REVIEW 2011: REFERENCE NUMBER: LSHA/72/SS; Northern Archaeological Associates, 2015, The Cleadon Village Atlas; Janis Blower, 11 October 1990, Sad story of white horse, Cookson Country, Gazette, p 8
YEAR1
2012
YEAR2
2015
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MATERIAL
Timber
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 984
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Tynemouth
Description
1784 wreck of sloop which was lost on attempting to enter Shields during a storm; a wooden sailing vessel. Master: Ramsay
Crew Lost: all
Owner: J Sowler
Site Type: Broad
Sailing Vessel <By Form/Type>
SITEDESC
1784 wreck of sloop which was lost on attempting to enter Shields during a storm; a wooden sailing vessel. Master: Ramsay
Crew Lost: all
Owner: J Sowler
Site Name
Tynemouth, John
Site Type: Specific
Sloop
HER Number
14504
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1388750); Newcastle Courant 11-DEC-1784, No.5644 Page(s)4; Newcastle Chronicle 11-DEC-1784, No.1067 Page(s)2
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MATERIAL
Timber
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 949
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Tynemouth
Description
1789 wreck of British cargo vessel which stranded in Shields harbour on arrival on her voyage from London to Grenada via Shields. This wooden sailing vessel was ordered to be broken up after sale. Master: Amiel
Site Type: Broad
Transport Vessel
SITEDESC
1789 wreck of British cargo vessel which stranded in Shields harbour on arrival on her voyage from London to Grenada via Shields. This wooden sailing vessel was ordered to be broken up after sale. Master: Amiel
Site Name
Tynemouth, Hero
Site Type: Specific
Cargo Vessel
HER Number
14503
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1386453); Lloyd's 1969 Lloyd's list 08-DEC-1789, No.2149; 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); Newcastle Courant 19-DEC-1789, No.5906 Page(s)1; Newcastle Courant 30-JAN-1790, No.5912 Page(s)4
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 961
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Tynemouth
Description
Jan 1834, sailing vessel grounded in Shield's harbour. Captain: Marshall
SITEDESC
Jan 1834, sailing vessel grounded in Shield's harbour. Captain: Marshall
Site Name
Tynemouth, Derwent Spec
Site Type: Specific
Wreck
HER Number
14502
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1387256); 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)
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MATERIAL
Timber
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 983
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Tynemouth
Description
1784 wreck of British craft which was lost on attempting to enter Shields during a storm; a wooden sailing vessel. Master: Cook
Crew Lost: all
Site Type: Broad
Sailing Vessel <By Form/Type>
SITEDESC
1784 wreck of British craft which was lost on attempting to enter Shields during a storm; a wooden sailing vessel. Master: Cook
Crew Lost: all
Site Name
Tynemouth, Cromer
HER Number
14501
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1388749); Newcastle Courant 11-DEC-1784, No.5644 Page(s)4
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 963
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Tynemouth
Description
1852, Brig damaged on Shields beach. Drove from her moorings on to the Dorwick sand. Vessel broke her back and was considerably damaged
Site Type: Broad
Sailing Vessel <By Rig>
SITEDESC
1852, Brig damaged on Shields beach. Drove from her moorings on to the Dorwick sand. Vessel broke her back and was considerably damaged
Site Name
Tynemouth, William Burton
Site Type: Specific
Brig
HER Number
14500
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1387325)
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 827
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Tynemouth
Description
DUTCH BARQUE, drifted ashore in high winds, 1876 Master: Teensma. Scheirmonikoog
Built: 1854
Crew: 24
Site Type: Broad
Sailing Vessel <By Rig>
SITEDESC
DUTCH BARQUE, drifted ashore in high winds, 1876 Master: Teensma. Scheirmonikoog
Built: 1854
Crew: 24
Site Name
Tynemouth Bar, Reintje
Site Type: Specific
Barque
HER Number
14499
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1365102); 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)
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 303
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Tynemouth
Description
Having sailed on 24-MAR 1856, developed a leak and put back for Sunderland, but stranded on the Bar at 8am, in wind conditions NE force 7
Site Type: Broad
Sailing Vessel <By Rig>
SITEDESC
Having sailed on 24-MAR 1856, developed a leak and put back for
Sunderland, but stranded on the Bar at 8am, in wind conditions NE force 7.
Site Name
Tynemouth, Tynemouth Bar, Quayside
Site Type: Specific
Brig
HER Number
14498
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (987192); United Kingdom shipwreck index [pre publication typescript]; 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)
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MATERIAL
Timber
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 946
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Tynemouth
Description
1763 wreck of English collier which stranded on Shields Bar; a wooden sailing vessel.
Site Type: Broad
Transport Vessel
SITEDESC
1763 wreck of English collier which stranded on Shields Bar; a wooden sailing vessel.
Site Name
Tynemouth, Tynemouth Bar, Liberty and Property
Site Type: Specific
Collier
HER Number
14497
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1385992); Newcastle Courant 03-DEC-1763, No.4550 Page(s)2; Newcastle Courant 10-DEC-1763, No.4551 Page(s)2
YEAR1
2012
English, British
Class
Maritime Craft
COMP1
Claire MacRae
DAY1
10
District
N Tyneside
Easting
436000
Grid ref figure
4
LANDUSE
Marine
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MONTH1
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 738
Northing
568000
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Tynemouth
Description
CRAFT, 7th October 1849
SITEDESC
CRAFT, 7th October 1849
Site Name
Tynemouth, Tynemouth Bar, Emilie
Site Type: Specific
Craft
HER Number
14496
Form of Evidence
Wreckage
Sources
National Monuments Record (1362235); Boswell Whitaker 1979 Preservation of life from shipwreck, volume 1 : Skuetender lifeboat Page(s)76