Wreck of the Lovely Nelly


Extract from A Guide to Tynemouth and Neighbourhood by a Native: On New Year's morning, 1861, the brig Lovely Nelly was observed off Tynemouth with a flag of distress flying. She was struggling to get to the northward, but struggling in vain. The coast guards men followed her along the coast with rocket apparatus. The people of the district turned out to join them. Some of the sails were blown away, and the brig became more and more unmanageable. At last the crew, recognising the futility of trying to get to the northward, determined to run for Whitley sands. Unfortunately the ship, being heavily laden, struck a sunken reef three-quarters of a mile from the shore, too far off to be reached by rockets. Extract from History of Life-boat and its work, by Richard Lewis 1874 Did you ever read a thrilling story, where, when all seemed lost, victory was gained by some heroic deed, or odds. If so, you may perhaps realise the scene. They were not rain drops that were brushed from rough cheeks. Every man there felt prepared to do or die. The lifeboat ropes were seized by hundreds of willing hands, one and all left the winds to dry their eyes, and the boat was no sooner at the beach than she was filled with volunteers, and the difficulty was to get the surplus number to leave her. Soon the boat was amongst the breakers, and then was seen such a sight as few have witnessed. The excitable nature of the fisher-people showed itself in the intensity of their grief. I asked one woman, who, kneeling within reach of the waves, with hands clasped, if she had any relatives on board the ship? "No, hinney," she said, "but aw hev a lad at sea mysel;" and there many of them knelt, rocking themselves to and fro, until all was over. We saw the boat forcing her way slowly against the wind and sea and at length she reached the lee side of the brig. We saw the crew leave the rigging; and then horror; a breaker took one of them overboard . Something was hauled into the boat, and one after the other, the crew jumped into the water and were paicked up by the crew of the lifeboat, until at last the lad we had seen in the rigging was the only one left. he hesitated at the leap for life, a huge breaker was seen approaching, and , - "One moment stood the gazers fixed Like statues, in a dream; One breathless moment, and the next. Broke forth a 'thrilling ' scream." As the gigantic sea struck the ship we saw the lifeboat glide away, and almost at the same instant, the ill-fated vessel went to pieces, and her masts came down on the spot so recently occupied by the lifeboat. We knew that at least one of the brig's crew would be missing when the boat landed Several of the sailors were much hurt, but the poor lad was the only one lost. As the boat neared the land the women tore off their upper garments, rushed into the water, and wrapped them round the perishing mariners. Such was the wreck of the "Lovely Nelly." It had been a hard winter, and the cargo was quite a windfall for the fishermen, who, having saved the lives of the men, proceeded to look after the property. Extract from A Guide to Tynemouth and Neighbourhood by a Native Back 26-Jun-2007 © Copyright North Tyneside Libraries 2007-8

Extract from A Guide to Tynemouth and Neighbourhood by a Native:

On New Year's morning, 1861, the brig Lovely Nelly was observed off Tynemouth with a flag of distress flying. She was struggling to get to the northward, but struggling in vain. The coast guards men followed her along the coast with rocket apparatus. The people of the district turned out to join them. Some of the sails were blown away, and the brig became more and more unmanageable. At last the crew, recognising the futility of trying to get to the northward, determined to run for Whitley sands. Unfortunately the ship, being heavily laden, struck a sunken reef three-quarters of a mile from the shore, too far off to be reached by rockets. Extract from History of Life-boat and its work, by Richard Lewis 1874

Did you ever read a thrilling story, where, when all seemed lost, victory was gained by some heroic deed, or odds. If so, you may perhaps realise the scene. They were not rain drops that were brushed from rough cheeks. Every man there felt prepared to do or die. The lifeboat ropes were seized by hundreds of willing hands, one and all left the winds to dry their eyes, and the boat was no sooner at the beach than she was filled with volunteers, and the difficulty was to get the surplus number to leave her. Soon the boat was amongst the breakers, and then was seen such a sight as few have witnessed. The excitable nature of the fisher-people showed itself in the intensity of their grief.

I asked one woman, who, kneeling within reach of the waves, with hands clasped, if she had any relatives on board the ship? "No, hinney," she said, "but aw hev a lad at sea mysel;" and there many of them knelt, rocking themselves to and fro, until all was over. We saw the boat forcing her way slowly against the wind and sea and at length she reached the lee side of the brig. We saw the crew leave the rigging; and then horror; a breaker took one of them overboard .

Something was hauled into the boat, and one after the other, the crew jumped into the water and were paicked up by the crew of the lifeboat, until at last the lad we had seen in the rigging was the only one left. he hesitated at the leap for life, a huge breaker was seen approaching, and , -

"One moment stood the gazers fixed
Like statues, in a dream;
One breathless moment, and the next.
Broke forth a 'thrilling ' scream."

As the gigantic sea struck the ship we saw the lifeboat glide away, and almost at the same instant, the ill-fated vessel went to pieces, and her masts came down on the spot so recently occupied by the lifeboat. We knew that at least one of the brig's crew would be missing when the boat landed Several of the sailors were much hurt, but the poor lad was the only one lost. As the boat neared the land the women tore off their upper garments, rushed into the water, and wrapped them round the perishing mariners.

Such was the wreck of the "Lovely Nelly." It had been a hard winter, and the cargo was quite a windfall for the fishermen, who, having saved the lives of the men, proceeded to look after the property. Extract from A Guide to Tynemouth and Neighbourhood by a Native

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