Season: 4 Episode: 12

A plaque at the top of The Bank at Robin Hood’s Bay tells the story of a heroic rescue which took place 19th January 1881, when a collier brig the ‘Visiter’ foundered in a violent storm whilst carrying a cargo of coal from Newcastle to London. 

The vessel, registered at Whitby and locally owned, was by then elderly, having been built in 1823 at Sunderland. She had sailed as far south as Flamborough. but a south-easterly gale prevented further progress, tearing the sails to shreds and driving her back up the coast past the cliffs of what is now known as Ravenscar, though in those days was called Peak.

Things got worse as she took on more and more water through the night. The Master thought that setting down the anchor would help them ride out the storm but the weather was truly evil.

Find out what happened and the amazing decision that saved the lives of the crew.

THIS PODCAST

This podcast has been specially edited from a Bradley Stoke Radio show in Bristol, England. 

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SOURCES

SCARBOROUGH MARITIME HERITAGE CENTRE LIMITED

Gazette, 20th January, 1881

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 20 January 1881

Newcastle Courant - Friday 21 January 1881

Scarborough Mercury, 22nd January, 1881

York Herald - Friday 28 January 1881

Robin Hoods Bay Information

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Sound Effects by zapsplat.com

Intro music by The Model Folk 

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