WRECK OF THE SS NEWSTEAD
An early photo of a ship ashore
By Derek Longly
Amongst the old photos of ships that were given to me after my Grandfather died was this one of a ship which I believe to be named the SS Newstead showing her aground in Seaford Bay with local tugs in attendance. The quality of the photo is rather poor in view of its age but toward the stern of the ship waves can just be made out crashing over her after end. The lifeboat can be seen lying in the lee of the weather on the ship's port side.
I have no information about either the ship or when this grounding occurred and wonder whether anyone can give any details about the event? Information about the tugs and the lifeboat that was alongside at the time would also be appreciated if known.
Another intriguing question is how is it that the photograph appears to be an aerial one, would early aircraft have been suitable for someone to take a camera up in order to capture the picture and would anyone locally have been in a position to take such a flight? The alternative is presumably that the ship was aground under the cliffs at Seaford and the photo was taken from there.
FURTHER INFORMATION:- Records show the SS Newstead, ran aground in dense fog under Seaford cliffs in March 1907 while on a voyage carrying barley from Capetown to Hamburg. The captain and crew were all rescued and the boat successfully refloated ten days later.
The Newhaven Lifeboat alongside would have been the "Michael Henry " a motorised 37 foot boat.
JOHN -- Editor
SS Newstead aground
Derek Longly collection