Tuesday 16 August 2011

Hawthorn Hive (NZ442460)



Where Hawthorn Dene and its Burn meet the sea can be found…

… A small bay, called Hawthorn Hythe [Hive] …  sheltered by a reef or natural pier called the Skaw. The rocks of the coast are broken, rugged, and pierced with caverns.  Fifty ships, with all their crews, were lost on 25* Nov. 1824, on the Skaw; and fires used to be kindled on Beacon Hill, on the S side, to warn mariners off. 

[Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72)]

* some sources say 5th.  And at least one other source also has the crew of one of the fifty vessels being saved, thus:

On the 5th of November, 1824, not less than 50 vessels perished in a storm immediately off this part, and the crews of all were lost, with the exception of the crew of one only, who were enabled to effect their escape by means of a rope, thrown from the vessel, and brought to land by a Newfoundland dog belonging to Major Anderson. 

[A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848)]


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