ST MARY'S LIGHTHOUSE - WHITLEY BAY

ST MARY'S LIGHTHOUSE

Curry's Point

 

On 4th September 1739, Michael Curry was executed in Newcastle for the murder of Robert Shevil, the landlord of the Three Horseshoes Inn, at Hartley (Curry may have been the lover of the landlord's wife). His body was afterwards hung in chains from a gibbet on this spot, within sight of the scene of his crime. Ever since that gruesome event this headland has been known as 'Curry's Point'. This plaque was erected on 4th September 1989 to mark the 250th anniversary. St Mary's lighthouse can be seen in the background.

 

 

 

 

St Mary's Lighthouse

In 1799, Russian soldiers were quarantined on St Mary's Island after contracting cholera. few of the soldiers survived and those that died were buried there. It is also known that monks were buried there from Tynemouth Priory.

Work began on the lighthouse in 1896 and it took two years to complete. It stands at 126 feet (or 40 metres) and rises like a magnificent and ancient monument on the headland.

There is an eerie chill inside the lighthouse when it is empty. It was first lit during a ceremony on 31st August 1898 and was in service for eighty-six years. It was electrified in 1977 and decommissioned in 1984.

These curving steps take you to the top of the lighthouse where the wind roars and screams across the headland.

There have been many wrecks around the headland such as the SS California, a four mast ship which was driven ashore south of the Island on 15th January 1913. Eight men died. And the Janet Clark which lies on the east side of the Island and foundered in a storm on 24th December 1894.

There is also the wreck of the Gothenberg City on the north side of the Island which was carrying cattle and timber; it was wrecked on 26th June 1891.

And the Longhirst sank on the rocks known as the 'Outer Bells' on the north side of the Island on 7th January 1878, but of course there are many more!