Amble Bronze age cist

[hollydog]

The heavy gales which laid it bare must refer to shifting sands/sand dunes, I cannot see this being laid bare by the sea as there is too much detail on what was found in it, that would not have survived tidal action.
Perhaps there was a lot more land there on the promontory which was being eroded as a consequence of quarrying and river straightening.
Before the piers were built and the river changed course that area would have had quite a view north into Alnmouth bay.

[leslie]

Skull and Beaker pot found at Amble

[leslie]

Amble Pier Urn

[Northern Light]

Originally Posted by janwhin

What's been confusing me are the references to the South Pier. It seems that this was the name given to what I know as the breakwater rather than the continuation of the pier, opposite the North Pier

But, there is no South Pier/breakwater on the 1860 map of Amble at Northumberland Communities, only the "pier" or South Jetty.

The breakwater does not appear on OS maps until the second series 1898, so it is unlikely this is the South Pier referred to. Going back to the post card, is the wooden structure to the seaward side of the breakwater an original South Pier?

[Coquet]

Originally Posted by Northern Light

The breakwater does not appear on OS maps until the second series 1898, so it is unlikely this is the South Pier referred to. Going back to the post card, is the wooden structure to the seaward side of the breakwater an original South Pier?

I though that the South breakwater went in about the same time the grave was discovered reading from that article in the opening post, but perhaps it is not as we think.


this is in the London Gazette 27th Nov 1883:


4. To authorise the Commissioners to construct
and maintain wholly in the county of
Northumberland and the bed of the German
Ocean adjoining that county, the following
works, that is to say:—
(1) An extension seaward, in an easterly
direction, of the north pier of the harbour,
'partly in the township of Amble, in the
parish of Warkworth, and partly in the
bed of the German Ocean; such extension
to commence in the said township and
parish, at the eastern extremity of the said
north pier, and to terminate below low water
mark, at a point about 320 yards
from the eastern extremity of the said
north pier, measuring along the line of
the said extension.
(2) A new pier or breakwater, partly in the
said township of Amble, in the parish of
Warkworth, and partly in the bed of the
German Ocean, to commence in that township,
and parish at a point near high-water
mark of ordinary spring tides, about 277
yards from the centre of the lighthouse on
the present south pier of the harbour—
measuring in a south-south-easterly direction—
and to terminate beyond low-water
mark, at a point- about 460 yards—
measuring in a north-easterly direction
along the line of the said new pier or
breakwater—from its point of commencement.
(3) A cut or channel, partly in the said
township and parish, and partly in the bed
of the German Ocean, to commence in that
township and parish at a point in the bed
of the river Coquet, about 50 yards—measuring
in a north-easterly direction—from
the -northern extremity of the coal staith
belonging to the RadclifEe Coal Company,
and to terminate beyond low-water mark,
at a point about 310 yards—measuring in
an easterly direction—from the eastern extremity
of the present north pier of the
Harbour.
(4) All proper embankments, piling, walls,
piers, groynes, jetties, dolphins, moorings,
buoys, beacons, quays, wharves, landingstages,
tramways, staiths, drops, cranes,
lifts, machinery, apparatus, and appliances.
5. To empower the Commissioners to dredge,
scour, deepen, preserve, and improve the Harbour,
and the appurtenances and conveniences thereof,
and to provide and maintain all necessary

[janwhin]

Rennie's 1838 plan for the harbour, attached, shows the intention as set out in 1837 Act of Parliament for the "construction of two stone piers, to confine the entrance to the harbour, the straightening and deepening of river...."

By 1870 apparently, the south pier/breakwater, was a mass of rubble and the bar in a "most wretched state. So sad a state for such a long time that underwriters of first class vessels belonging to Amble have not been allowed to enter the harbour at all." (Alnwick Mercury 16 July 1870.)

[leslie]

Coquet have you seen large scale plan of proposed "Have" for Amble and Coquet , It hangs in entrance passage of Harbour Office , very ambitious !

[Coquet]

Originally Posted by leslie

Coquet have you seen large scale plan of proposed "Have" for Amble and Coquet , It hangs in entrance passage of Harbour Office , very ambitious !

Very ambitious.

this article (March 1883) gives the thinking behind it. It was being pushed by the Duke and Grey:


COQUET ISLAND AND AMBLE.

PROPOSED HARBOUR OF REFUGE.

So far back as the year 1838, Sir John Rennie, the eminent engineer, pointed out that Coquet Island itself formed a magnificent breakwater three thousand feet in length under cover of which there is a safe and capacious roadstead with from 20 to 30 feet at low water spring tides, and completely protected from all winds, except from north to north-east and by east and south-south-east to south-east, or seven points of the compass.

Towards the north it is in a certain degree protected by the Pan Bush Rock, which forms the apex of a triangle within the northern part of the island and the mouth of the Coquet. At the outer harbour of roadstead, formed by the Coquet, so much has already been done by nature upon a magnificent scale that very little is required from art to make it complete. Prior to 1836 the mouth of the river Coquet does not appear to have been interfered with or regulated by artificial works of any kind—the land waters being allowed to find their way to the sea as best could through the sands of the shore.

About this date, however, some of the neighbouring land and coal proprietors had their attention directed to the suitability of the river as a site for a harbour for shipping the coal raised at the- numerous large collieries of Northumberland. They received reports from Messrs Murray and Leslie and Sir John Rennie, and ultimately employed this last named gentleman as their engineer, and they applied to Parliament for power to establish a commission to carry out the works recommended by that engineer. Generally speaking, the result of the works then undertaken has been to considerably increase the depth of water in the berths and on the bar, and to improve the shipping accommodation, so that the trade of the port has been largely increased.

The course of the river has been straightened for a considerable distance above the berths, and a new channel formed, so as to direct the ebb tide and the water of the Coquet to act directly on and maintain a regular depth of water on these berths and on the bar. Where formerly only small sailing vessels could load, a regular line of steamers, coastwise and foreign, now take in their cargoes and discharge merchandise with great rapidity and safety.

Connection has been formed with the lines of the North-Eastern Railway Company, and lately these lines have been carried along the level of the quays, so that goods can be discharged from vessels directly into railway trucks, These improvements have been effected at an outlay amounting, even since 1869, to £30,000; and the revenue has increased in full proportion to the expenditure. Since the commencement of the works in 1837 upwards of £200,000 has been spent over the formation and improvement of the harbour. Along the whole north-east coast there is no refuge harbour affording shelter to all classes of vessels during stormy weather, and it is well known that on this portion of the coast some of the must dangerous and disastrous storms occur; indeed, the wreck chart shows the Northumberland coast to be one of the most dangerous to shipping.

There is a large and prosperous shipping trade continually passing along; and Coquet Island, situated nearly half-way between the Humber and the Firth of Forth is naturally a splendid beacon to guide the mariner to haven of safety. Along this coast are also some of the finest fishing grounds of much productiveness; but great loss is experienced by vessels engaged in fishing owing to the want of shelter when storms prevail.

A harbour of refuge, utilising the Coquet Island for its construction, and enclosing the stretch of sea landward of it, and known as the "Coquet Smooth," would form a large and capacious basin for the largest class of vessels in our royal and mercantile navies by affording them perfect shelter in all weathers. From a strategic point of view this site offers advantages not to be equalled along the whole of the east coast; and the island, from its isolated and secure Position, is equally advantageous for the establishment or a convict prison.


The necessity for a harbour of refuge on the north-east coast has been already brought before and admitted by the various courts of inquiry appointed by the Government; and the opinion of men of high nautical authority, founded on personal knowledge of the navigation of the coast, is that such a refuge harbour would be of vast importance to the shipping interest. The extent of the collieries in close proximity to the harbour of Warkworth and the superior quality of steam coal raised there from, render the site peculiarly favourable for the coaling of large steamers both of the Navy and the mercantile marine.

The Committee on Convict Labour, appointed by the Treasury in October, 1881, have recently reported in favour of the utilisation of the labour of our prisoners in the construction of national harbours of refuge, more particularly mentioning Dover rind Filey. The superior claims of Dover for this purpose will not be doubted, but Warkworth as a site for a national harbour is in many respects far superior to Filey, Considered as a national harbour, available at once as a refuge and as a military or strategic harbour, it should have a considerable area of anchorage, ground, so sheltered as to be safe in all winds, with a depth of water sufficient to admit iron clads of the largest class ; it should form a good centre for the defence of some
important portion of the coast, and should be available as a base in offensive operations; it should possess facilities for the supply of coals and water to a huge fleet; and it should be connected with the railway system of the country, so as to afford ready means for the concentration and embarkation of troops, and for the supply of military and naval stores and provisions. Considered as a harbour of refuge only, it should have an ample area of deep water anchorage, sheltered from the direction of the heaviest winds; or else it should be possessed of a deep water entrance, available at all times, with dock or perfectly sheltered quay accommodation.

That a really good harbour of refuge is required on the coast in the vicinity of Warkworth cannot he doubted. The number of wrecks on this part of the seaboard is very large, and taking a district with a fifty miles radius from Warkworth, nowhere on our coasts is there such a Loss of valuable lives and property. Between the Humber and the Forth the only harbour of refuge accessible at all times by large vessels is the Tyne. It appears that a scheme for the construction of a national harbour of refuge at this place has just been matured by Messrs. John Meik and Sons, the eminent engineers of Edinburgh. Some gentlemen have also matured a scheme for the construction of a refuge harbour for mercantile marine,—the one at a cost of £180,000, and the other at a cost of £1,500,000,—the latter sum being reduced to £1,250,000 if convict labour were supplied by the Government.

It is the imperative duty of all who have any regard for the lives of our sailors and fishermen, or for the interests of our maritime trade, to urge upon Government the absolute necessity of assisting the formation of harbours of refuge on the northeast coast; and when the position of such harbours come to be inquired into, Warkworth will be seen to have one of the most favourable which can be found, The Right Hon. the Earl Percy, M.P., and Mr Albert Grey, M.P., are about to bring its advantages before the attention of the House of Commons; and last night, Mr Andrews of Swarland Park, the proprietor of Warkworth Harbour, having resolved to light Amble by means of the electric light, there was a competition between the Jablochkoff and the Brush-Hammond system, The former showed ten and the latter six lamps in different parts of the harbour, in order to give Mr Andrews an opportunity of judging of the comparative merits of the two systems for the purpose intended. Mr Andrews’ decision upon the subject will be made in a few days.


.

[Coquet]

That 'convict adjusted' cost of £1,250,000 in 1883 comes out at £130 million in today's money


or about 1.3% of a single month's deficit this year.

[Coquet]

Would have been the best pier fishing spot in the world if it had gone ahead.

[Coquet]

There was also a more recent proposed Royal Navy Degaussing Station on the North Side. That was pie in the sky as well.


Then the underwater open-casting of Warkworth - Alnmouth bay - 1984 I think for that one. Seemed a bit crazy.