HERITAGE TALK: WRECKS OFF THE TYNE

We are pleased to welcome Steve Gore, a new speaker to the Old Low Light, to talk about his great interest in shipwrecks off the Tyne, focusing on the area between Blyth and Sunderland.

He will include those that that sank after hitting the notorious Black Middens at the mouth of the River Tyne, just off the walkway between North Shields and Tynemouth. This stretch of river was treacherous before the Old Low Light and Old High Light were built in the early 18th century to guide ships and was the scene of many wrecks.

A scuba diver for more than 30 years and a frequent visitor to North East coast due to his interest in diving and maritime history, Steve will talk about the hundreds of shipwrecks, some of which he has dived on, highlighting a number of interesting stories.

Over the years, he and his diving friends have been able to find out a lot of information about ships that were wrecked during the late 19th and 20th centuries. For ships lost before this time, there are only scant details.

Five years ago, Steve who in his working life was a chartered building surveyor, moved to North Shields and since then has been diving more locally.