The Lamburn

The Lamburn was a brig of 100 tons in weight and was launched from the Thwaites and Winter shipyard on the 12th of February 1833. The vessel would appear to have had a chequered history in her work as a collier between Hartlepool and Hastings, coming aground soon after launch. A collision occurred with the Elizabeth White, of Whitby in a gale off Hartlepool - the collier managing to rescue the crew of the Elizabeth White following her foundering and delivered them to the Lamburn's destination of Hartlepool. She just managed to escape Hastings during a further gale on the 14th of February, 1850.

Known Captains

1849: Woodgate

Wrecking

The Hastings & St Leonards Observer of the 20th November, 1866 carried the following reporting:-

On Saturday (the 17th of November, 1866) evening, the vessel belonging to Messrs. Kent, Brothers, ship-builders Hastings, put in with a cargo of coals consigned to the Hastings Gas Company. The weather at the time was, nautically described, " Dirty," still fears were entertained to the safety of the craft. During the night, however, a stiff breeze from the south-west and old Neptune somewhat turbulent. As the tide heightened the wind increased, and the huge waves rolled in threatening to engulf all within their reach. Early on Sunday morning, fears were entertained, which unfortunately were too well founded, that the Lamburn" would fall a prey to the devouring elements; and as the tide still rolled in, with heavy breeze continuing, she was hurled over on her beam ends, some of the crew having a narrow escape for their lives and, in their fight, losing all their clothing. attempt to get the vessel out to sea proved fruitless, and a last resource her stays were cut anil the masts taken out. The beach from Denmark Place eastward presented a scene happily not often witnessed on this part of the coast. As the huge waves rolled on and on, so the " Lamburn " was tossed to and fro though she was a mere toy. Finally, her beam was broken and the sea leapt over and around if in jubilation of the havoc made, and gradually the ship's spars, together with a portion of her cargo, bulwarks, cable and stores strewn on the beach from the point of her wreck as far the East Groyne. During Sunday thousands were attracted to the lite of the disaster, and Denmark-place presented quite animated scene. Later in the day, and in the evening when the tide was coming in there were many hundreds of persons watching with an anxious eye the total demolition of the craft which had been buffeted and beaten at the previous tide. It was a truly magnificent sight, although deplorable, as the moon shone forth in all her lustre, to behold sea after sweeping over the mutilated mass, and at times "christening " those whose daring led them beyond the bounds of discretion. On Monday (yesterday), again, the wreck was visited numbers of persons, whose curiosity led them to minutely examine the same; whilst others whose sportive propensities led them on, amused themselves with rat hunting ; and another, perhaps more speculative mind, was busily engaged in obtaining "photo " of the ill-fated "Lamburn." We understand that the " Lamburn " was a very old vessel, of 125 tons register, and was recently commanded by Capt. Jeffrey.