South Shields

Marsden Bay - The Grotto

Marsden bay was once a frequent haunt of local smugglers who would often frequent the well known Marsden Grotto public house. In 1782 an Allendale lead miner nicknamed "Jack the Blaster" came to work in the limestone quarries at Marsden and blasted a home out of one of the caves for himself and his family.

Jack was known for his hospitality and his home developed into the Grotto Inn. The steps that led down the cliff to his home and onto the beach were thought to have been built by Jack himself.

In 1828 Peter Allan took over from Jack and excavated a ballroom out of the rock and carried on the hospitality, creating a hotel.

In 1848 John Clay, who was to become the first mayor of the county borough of South Shields, bought the Leas and claimed that the land gave him rights to the Grotto. The court battle that followed sunk Allan into depression and he died in 1849 leaving a wife and 8 children. He was buried in Whitburn churchyard.

Allan's family continued to run the Grotto for a further 35 years. During which in 1865 a cliff fall almost destroyed the Grotto and major repairs were required, a huge retaining wall was built to safeguard the internal structure.

In 1898 Vaux and son's took over the Leas, and by 1938 owned the property outright, modernizing the buildings and installing the electric lift to the cliff top.

By 1999 the Grotto was closed down as Vaux wanted to concentrate more on their leisure business than the brewery side, and the Grotto was closed down.

The Tavistock, a Sunderland restaurant firm purchased the Grotto but it was in poor condition. It was totally refurbished and was opened as a high class seafood restaurant and bar. Being sold again in 2003 to London Inns & Restaurant's.

The pub is now known as Smuggler Jack's

Early Grotto 1820

2007

Grotto 1850's

Grotto 2007

Grotto 1850's

 The landlord with his boat             2007
outside the Grotto, 1893.

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Marsden Rock

Marsden Rock a limestone cliff formation that was once within jumping distance of the coast, is now an isolated stack, a home to kittiwakes, cormorants and fulmars.

In 1896 Peter Allan, landlord and 2 companions worked for 2 weeks cutting a channel into the side of the Marsden Rock, making rough steps in the channel and then connecting it to the ground by means of a ladder. Although the rock is surrounded by water at high tide, it can be reached across the sands at low tide, it was now possible for visitors to make the climb to the top to enjoy a picnic 109 ft above the sea.

In 1903 combined choirs met and sang a number of musical compositions on top of the Marsden rock - a service which was never to be forgotten.

In 1996 the top section of the arch collapsed, leaving 2 separate stacks. The following year in 1997 it was believed that the smaller of the 2 stacks was unstable and could collapse at any time. Due to the dangerous nature of the rock it was decided by experts that this smaller stack was to be demolished.

Preparation work for the demolition began on 17th March 1997 and due to high, low tides and treacherous swells, the work was delayed. Then with fairer weather conditions and more predictable low tides the work of drilling the bore holes around the base of the stack was finished.

On 26th March the 81 bored holes were packed with explosives and later that day for safety to the surrounding cliffs and rock. the charges were detonated at high tide, the water absorbing most of the explosion.

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Collapsed Rock

Marsden Rock
pre-1996

Marsden Rock 2007

Notice in the photograph of the crowded beach in 1930 how many visitors there were on the beach. Also look at the cliff top, do you see the houses of Marsden Village?

Souter Lighthouse

Built in 1871 to help vessels avoid the hazards, it was the first lighthouse in the world to be powered by alternating electric current. The light was provided by carbon arcs, using electricity generated onsite by means of a steam engine and could be seen for almost 20 miles.

There were also loud foghorns, powered by compressed air, which sounded when visibility was low. Their sound was deafening and the keepers were paid 2d per hour extra for the inconvenience.

Today it is owned by the National Trust    

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