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 The upper image of this postcard shows a view of the ’Ovenbeg’ from the beach. It was hoped to refloat her as the weather moderated during the day of 7th May, 1924. At nightfall the gales blew up again and repeatedly smashed the ship against the pier. Eventually she broke through, causing a 70 metre gap and finally washing up on the beach at the other side of the pier; a mangled wreck. Image courtesy of Kathleen Hicks, information courtesy of “Piers of Disaster” by Martin Easdown.
A further Photocrom Co. Ltd postcard and again undated; but again gives a lovely view of the Halfpenny Bridge and the wooded walks below the bridge. Interestingly the former Barnard Castle railway station portico – the ‘Greek Temple’ to many – is not visible, being well hidden among the trees. Callum Duff has advised on dating this image: “If your previous postcard ‘Saltburn from the Air 3’ was taken on the same day as this photo then you can date this image to between 1916 and 1924. The houses on the corner of Milton Street and Britannia Terrace are an effective way of dating postcards as they were completed in 1916 and are easily spotted because they are out of scale with the rest of the terrace. The image is also from before May 1924 because it shows the pier (obscured in this shot) with its original iron legs, prior to being breached by the SS Ovenbeg on 7th May 1924 and subsequently rebuilt in steel to a different design.” Image courtesy of Julie Tyrka and many thanks to Callum Duff for the update..
This Aerofilms image of Saltburn (first of a series of five which have come to the Archive) can be dated by the break in the pier, the card is postmarked August 1924, and must have been recently produced to that time. The schooner “Ovenbeg” broke a 70 metre gap in the pier on 8th May 1924, so would have been produced shortly after the boat had been removed from the beach. Note the space between Emmanuel church and the south side of Windsor Road which appears to be allotment gardens; also the covered platform of the railway station. Image courtesy of Julie Tyrka.
This letter card (an envelope with the above image on front) and space on the reverse for stamp and address was believed to date from the 1940s, note the fields where now there are caravans and a chalet park. Also how few vehicles are to be seen, a quieter pace of life. However; we have now been advised by Callum Duff: “Based on the appearance of two buildings, I would date this image between 1925 and 1935. The Pier Theatre was built in 1925 between the two shore end buildings to keep the pier as an attraction after being breached by SS Ovenbeg in 1924. The Assembly Rooms (now The Spa Hotel) was extended with an apron of new windows in 1935 and this work has yet to be started. If somebody knows when Exeter Street and Bristol Avenue were built, the date could be narrowed to something more accurate because it doesn’t look like work has started on this development either.” Image courtesy of Iris Place and many thanks to Callum Duff for assistance in dating the image.  A Reliable Series postcard shows a tinted view of the pier with two separate buildings on the landward end, the Archive requested: “Can anybody assist with possible date?” Callum Duff gave us the answer: ”These rectangular buildings replaced the original octagonal structures around 1895. The pier was breached by SS Ovenbeg in 192;4 so the photograph was taken between these two dates. In 1925, a theatre was built between the two buildings so that the pier could continue as an attraction whilst being repaired.” Image courtesy of Kim Whaley and many thanks to Callum Duff for the update.  This artistic postcard view of Saltburn sands looking westward at the sunset is undated so we had no idea of the age, but Callum Duff advises: ”Judging by the uniformity of the pier legs this image was produced before the schooner SS Ovenbeg breached the pier on the 7th May 1924. The pier was shortened from its original length of 1500 ft in 1875 after heavy seas destroyed the pier head and landing stage. It re-opened in 1877 and the pier head bandstand was added in 1885. The image isn’t clear but it looks like the bandstand is there and possibly the original octagonal pier buildings. If so I would say that you can date this card sometime between 1885 and 1890. Otherwise between 1890 and 1924.” Image courtesy of Maurice Grayson and thanks to Callum Duff for the updating.  Callum Duff advised the Archive: ”This photograph was taken sometime between 1902 and 1924. The Assembly Rooms have been improved externally (this taking place in 1902) and the pier still has its original iron legs stretching to the the pierhead. On the 7th May 1924, the SS Ovenbeg breached the pier, leaving the pierhead adrift. The breached section was later repaired in steel which altered the appearance of the pier legs. This can be seen in later photographs from the same spot.” Image courtesy of Ken Johnson and many thanks to Callum Duff for the dating and update.  An excellent tinted postcard view of the lift at Saltburn. Interesting this can be dated to before 1925; Callum Duff has assisted with: “These rectangular buildings replaced the original octagonal structures around 1895. The pier was breached by SS Ovenbeg in 192;4 so the photograph was taken between these two dates. In 1925, a theatre was built between the two buildings so that the pier could continue as an attraction whilst being repaired.” Image courtesy of Maurice Grayson, thanks to Callum Duff for the dating information.
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”.  This image of a schooner ashore at Redcar was suggested by Derick Pearson: “This may well be the Ovenbeg again before she ran into the pier at Saltburn on the 7th May 1924.It looks vbery much like it.” Can anybody assist? Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Derick Pearson for the update. |
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