The ’Ovenbeg’ was carrying a cargo of china clay from Fowey in Cornwall to Grangemouth in Scotland when she was driven ashore, just to the west of the pier, by a strong gale. This postcard view (by E. Graham of Redcar), shows the initial stage of this drama; it was hoped to re-float her as the weather moderated during the day of 7th May. At nightfall the gales blew up again and repeatedly smashed the ship against the pier. Eventually she broke through, causing a 70m gap, and finally washing up on the beach at the other side of the pier, a mangled wreck.”
Image courtesy of Kathleen Hicks, additional information from ”Piers of Disaster by Michael Easdown”.
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