Blyth History.

[Malcolm33]

Malcolm33, and Pete E, Thank you for your input.  As regards your's Malcolm, I was always glad that I never had to visit the slaughterhouse on any further occasions.
Bring back the OLD Days ?  I doubt it, the old days started to disappear in the late '70s.

   You were lucky not to visit any others.   Around 1947 we were encouraged to get a French pen friend by French School teacher and so I came across and met Jacques.    We stayed in touch until he passed about 4 years ago.   However I visited him and his family after I finished High School in August 1949, at Roanne which is central France.   Jacques insisted on taking me to their local slaughter house where he knew someone who worked there.    It was awful, much worse and put me off meat for a very long time.

[TriciaK]

Malcolm - someone older than me on here  Well done. I see you live in Australia.
I also had a french penpal but never went to visit her, just exchanged letters.

[pityackafromblyth]

An update re the S.S. Flush which was lost in the Baltic, November, 1919, when the entire crew was lost, the majority of which were from Blyth itself.  Today, I have received a message from someone who is connected with the Maritime Museum at the Aland Islands.  In the spring they are hoping to dive to the wreck and take photos, etc.
More importantly, he discloses that there are 2 crew members buried at Mariehamn.  One is the Captain (Capt. Brady), the name of the 2nd crew member is not know by me as yet.  Hopefully he can send me details of the 2nd person.  I will then post it here in Roots.

[TriciaK]

Does SS mean sailing ship or steam ship? In 1919.
It was a dangerous job in those days, very sad story.
My ?GGGrandfather was master of at least 2 sailing ships out of Blyth. The Messenger was wrecked off Lowestoft in 1882. On the way back from Malaga. All crew rescued by breeches buoy.
They journeyed to the Baltic as well, as far as St. Petersburg.

[peteloud]

Does SS mean sailing ship or steam ship? In 1919. . . . .

Steam Ship.

[seaweed]

It was a dangerous job in those days, very sad story.
My ?GGGrandfather was master of at least 2 sailing ships out of Blyth. The Messenger was wrecked off Lowestoft in 1882. On the way back from Malaga. All crew rescued by breeches buoy.
They journeyed to the Baltic as well, as far as St. Petersburg.

MESSENGER,  Official Number 43641, was built in Sunderland in 1862. 245 registered tons, A wooden sailing ship.
She was registered in North Shields in 1882 but her owner was based in Blyth.
She was caught in a storm off Lowestoft on 28/Oct/1882 together with at least 12 other vessels. Most people on board these ships were saved but there were some drownings.
She must have been salvaged, her register was finally closed in 1933. A tribute to her builders.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13281509

Her 1882 Logbooks and Crew Agreements are with Northumberland Records Office.These will give you personal details of your man and maybe a report of the incident.
Have your searched Lloyd's Captains Register? This should give details of your GGGrandfathers sea going career as Mate and Captain.

[TriciaK]

Thanks Seaweed. I'll have to look up those links.
I'm not one who researches my genealogy on here , but I'm very interested in the history of the town  my family comes from, and the roots of our connection with the sea.
Which I've always felt 'in my bones'

[c-side]

You may all know about this but just in case you don't - we have a genuine historic vessel floating in South Harbour.  A wooden light vessel built in 1879 as LV50 which is the headquarters of the yacht club.

A link to its website -

https://friendsoflv50.org.uk/

Christine

[TriciaK]

We had a walk last summer along the part of the harbour behind the end of Regent St. It's looking very attractive.
We were looking for the pier entrance so had to drive a bit further south, then walked again. I think we passed the yacht club but didn't see the lightship.