The Farne Islands are a group of 15 to 20 islands (depending on the tide level) directly off the coast of Northumberland. Most are simply shear rocks, but a few of the larger islands have soil and vegetation. They support two automated lighthouses, a crew of rangers (for nine months out of the year), groups of grey seals and a whole heaping bunch of birds – including puffins! It’s basically a birding paradise.
The Farne Islands are also the final resting place for hundreds of shipwrecks. The most famous of which was a paddle steamer named the Forfarshire. The Forfarshire was carrying cargo and 62 passengers when it wrecked upon the rock as its engine failed during a storm in September of 1838. The story of this wreck became legendary due to the heroic rescue efforts of the islands’ lighthouse keeper and his daughter, William and Grace Darling.
Early that stormy morning, Grace looked out of her bedroom window in the lighthouse tower and saw the ship broken in two. One half of the ship was sinking, the other was still held up by the rocks. The Darlings determined that the seas were too rough for a rescue from the mainland, so father and daughter set out in a 21 foot row boat to attempt a rescue by themselves. They rowed almost a mile through the storm to reach the wreck, and valiantly managed to save five people on that trip. After taking the survivors back to the lighthouse, William and three of the men went back out to rescue four more survivors. Grace earned the nickname, ‘Amazing Grace,’ and the admiration of the country for her bravery and virtue.
