The NORTHUMBERLAND lifeboat put out to the rescue of the crew. (1)(2)

`The next month [November 1803] brought another drama. The collier BEE, of North Shields, under the command of Captain John Houston, left her home port with a cargo of coals, but was driven back by a strong south-easterly gale. As she attempted to re-enter the Tyne she tried to ride over the Bar but struck the sand among the breakers. The BEE was then swept onto the rocks at the Spanish Battery. The vessel was now in danger of being smashed to pieces by the huge waves which pounded her. The NORTHUMBERLAND lifeboat was launched, manned by a crew of South Shields pilots, who managed to manoeuvre their craft with great skill among the rocks and awesome waves. The crew of six, including the master who was injured, were all rescued. "Of all the daring attempts made with this boat, this was certainly the most hazardous", commented the Newcastle Courant. "Hundreds of spectators witnessed the scene and were greatly surprised by the boat scarcely shipping any water." (3)

`Newcastle, Saturday, November 26, 1803...On Monday the brig BEE, Captain Houston, sailed from Shields, but on Tuesday was drove back, and on attempting to take the harbour, was dashed among the rocks near the Spanish Battery, the sea, at the same time, making a fair passage over her. The crew, consisting of the master and six seamen, with boys, took refuge in the shrouds. No sooner was their eminent [sic] danger discovered, than the pilots and others immediately repaired to the NORTHUMBERLAND life-boat. From the great apparent danger of the boat reaching the vessel, being surrounded with rocks, and the sea running mountains high, Mr Greathead, the inventor and builder of it, volunteered his service to go in it, which inspired the men with confidence, when they bravely pushed from the shore, amongst the acclamations and prayers of a surrounding multitude, which covered the beach; and in less than an hour, the invaluable boat returned with the ship's crew in perfect safety.' (4)

`Newcastle, November 26...Monday the brigantine BEE, John Housten, master, coming from sea, in a gale of wind at SE, coal-loaded, in taking Tynemouth Bar at the last quarter ebb, struck among the breakers, and was driven upon the rocks near the Spanish Battery. The sea being tremendously high, and dashing over the vessel, which was in danger of going to pieces, the NORTHUMBERLAND life-boat was launched and manned with South Shields pilots, who, managing skilfully among the dangerous rocks and broken waters, reached the vessel, and brought the crew, six in number, safe to land; the master much lamed, and almost perished. Of all the daring attempts made with this boat, this was certainly the most hazardous...The BEE had not sailed from Shields many hours before she was driven back.' (5)

Master: J Houston (1)(2); John Houston (3); Houston (4); John Housten (5)
Crew: 6 (3)(5); 7 + boys (4)

1809 wreck of English craft which stranded on the Black Middens during a gale; a wooden sailing vessel.`The ANN, -, coal laden, and ATLAS, -, both of Sunderland, were wrecked 12th inst. near Shields.' (1)

`On Thursday night the 14th inst. in a heavy gale of wind...The same night the ANN, coal loaden, and the ATLAS, both of Sunderland, ran upon the Black Middings, and will become total wrecks.' (3)

`In the gale of Thursday and yesterday se'nnight...The ANN of Sunderland, and HERCULES, of the same port, were both wrecked on the Black Middens at the mouth of the Tyne.' (4)

Feb 8th 1870...during a gale of wind from the east, and a heavy sea running...

On the same day the brig ANNE was also wrecked on the Black Middens. The lifeboat PROVIDENCE went off and rescued the crew.

1809 wreck of English brig which stranded on the Black Middens during a gale. The ANN, -, coal laden, and ATLAS, -, both of Sunderland, were wrecked 12th inst. near Shields.'
The NMR has another entry for ANN (NZ 37 SE 61) a 1809 wreck of English brig which capsized and stranded north of Cullercoats, after her ballast shifted on her passage from London to Shields; a wooden sailing vessel, presumably the same vessel.

1841 wreck of English snow which stranded on the Black Middens. Constructed of wood, she was a sailing vessel. From Hodgson's Wreck List:
'1st September 1841: ALENDALE [sic] wrecked on the Black Middens.' (1)

Entry stamped "wrecked" during the currency of the 1841 register, valid July 1841 to June 1842. This entry spells the name of the vessel as ALLENDALE, which is the conventional spelling for this name.

Built: 1834
Where Built: Sunderland
Master: G Elliott
Owner: J & P Dryden
Construction: iron bolts
Lloyd's Classification: AE1

1794 wreck of British craft which stranded on the Black Middens during a storm, en route from London to Shields; a wooden sailing vessel. `The ALEXANDER, Bartleman, from London to Shields, is lost.' (1)

ALEXANDER AND MARGARET, wrecked on the Black Middens. (2)

Source (3) expresses the date of loss as the LL. reporting date of 31-JAN-1794, and the position of loss as `offshore South Shields.'

`Newcastle, February 1, 1794...Saturday morning last, after a sharp wind from the SW, the wind remarkably suddenly shifted to the NE, from whence we had a perfect hurricane of several hours' duration, accompanied with a very heavy fall of snow, which continued (with a severe frost) to fall in great quantities that day and on Sunday and Monday...

`Extract of a letter from Shields: "Saturday morning last, a most tremendous gale of wind sprang up for [sic] the NNE, accompanied with thick showers of snow...The ALEXANDER, TYRO, and DOROTHY, were stranded between Seaton Point and Sunderland. Happily all the crews were saved." ' (4)

`Newcastle, Feb. 1...On Saturday morning last, came on the most violent gale of wind (accompanied with a great fall of snow) almost ever remembered.

`Of the ships which we have heard of being ashore, are, the ALEXANDER, Bartleman...' (5)

Master: Bartleman (1)(5); Newcastle (2)

A fishing drifter lost on the rocks in wind conditions E force 1. (1)(2)

1891 November 14th. Dense fog on coast. Trawler ADVANCE ashore on Spanish Battery Point. Lifeboats BEDFORD, coxswain John L Burn, and JAMES YOUNG, coxswain W C THURLBECK launched. Services not required. (3)

Built: 1890
Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine
Boilers: 1
Master: C F Osborne
Crew: 7
Owner: W H Doubleday, North Shields

1802 wreck of English craft which stranded on the Black Middens on entering Shields; a wooden sailing vessel. `Newcastle, January 9...On Saturday last, the ACTIVE, Canney, of Sunderland, was driven on shore on the Black Middens, in coming into Shields harbour. The crew were all saved, but the vessel is a wreck.'

Master: Canney

1819 wreck of Scottish cargo vessel. The ABERDEENSHIRE, ran on shore on the Blackmiddens, immediately below the castle.
Built: 1819
Where Built: Peterhead

Craft lost 1831, `Shields, 24 Feb...of Newcastle, fell over and sunk at Bill Quay, 21st instant.'