Boats on the shore by the causeway: Website photo

This week we have material gathered from contacts to the website. We are always grateful for any messages, long or short. As we have had so much sent to us, this is part one, with the second part next time.

A return Visit after 80 years.

In early May, we were contacted by Chris Rowley, who was organising a visit to the Point for his 90-year-old father, Norman Rowley. As a young child, Norman had been taken by his mother to see his father stationed here, at the Wartime Army camp. Norman’s father, a member of the Royal Artillery Regiment, had been posted to Sunderland Point to join the anti-aircraft battery.

The recent appearance of the Point on television triggered memories of this early visit. This would be the first time he returned.

On Sunday, the 27th of July, coming from Wharfedale, we were pleased to welcome Norman to the Point.

Norman is in the centre, his son Chris to the right.

An alert and spry Norman told us that he remembers being brought twice, probably between 1940 and 1942, he thought they stayed at ‘Birketts’, and that it was a farm. Norman remembers being taken into the dairy at the back of the house and seeing the milk cooler.

This would be correct. James and Mary Birkett were the tenants of Point Farm at that time and received visitors. (Today, number 14).

Norman also recalls there was only one anti-aircraft gun (which we also believe is correct, even though foundations exist for two).

Layout of the army camp on the West Shore: Website

Norman’s father was next posted to the North Africa campaign, stationed in Egypt. Here he is:

Norman Rowley senior is third from the right, directly under the window. It’s not certain where the photo is, so it could be SP. Photo: collection Norman Rowley.

Last remains of the camp. On the left, the old armoury and a pill box on the right: Photo Website collection

With the use of the Tramper (all-terrain vehicle), Norman was able to travel around the village, stirring past memories. They were able to get down the Lane to see what remains of the old army camp. In sunny weather, they enjoyed a picnic on the shore. We were generously offered a slice of pork pie.

90-year-old Norman Rowley on the Tramper: Photo by Chris Rowley

Special thanks to Ted Levey for help with the Tramper

An ancestor from the 1700s

Some time ago, we received a tip-off that Alison Brown was visiting the Point asking for information about early years history and, in particular, shipbuilding crafts. She was doing research into an ancestor. We caught up with Alison, and she told us that she had traced a six times great-grandfather, a Philip Hartley, who had been a rope maker at Sunderland Point three hundred years ago!

Alison generously agreed to a photo and offered to send us the details of her research.

Here is Alison’s excellent research.

"I visited Sunderland Point recently to see where my six times great grandfather, Philip Hartley, lived and worked as a rope maker for a few years in the first half of the 1700s. It was very interesting to see the area and I really enjoyed my visit. Philip was probably born around 1700, although there is no record of a baptism for him and so I don't yet know where he came from. There are two possible areas of interest: Colne, Lancashire and around Broughton in Furness, Cumbria which have Hartley families and similar naming patterns but these will need much more research.

Philip would probably have served an apprenticeship to learn his trade but I haven't found a record of this either. However, on 22nd December 1722, he married Elizabeth Walker at St Helen's church, Overton by licence. The marriage allegation still exists and shows that he signed his name. The subsequent marriage record states that he was from Sunderland and she was from Overton.

Philip and Elizabeth lived at Sunderland between 1722 and about 1730. They had their first four children there: John (1723), Walter (1725), Eleanor (1725) and Philip (1729/30). All were baptised at St Helen's church, Overton and the records all show that Philip was a roper living at Sunderland.

Around 1730, the family moved to Lancaster, where Philip continued to work as a roper. He was made a Free Burgess of the Borough of Lancaster in 1731/32. Perhaps the move was so that he could work on his own account as I have found that there was at least one other roper (John Burrow) working at Sunderland in 1729. Another record shows that in 1730, Robert Lawson, who is also described as a roper at Sunderland, took on an apprentice: John Webster.

Philip and Elizabeth had five further children in Lancaster: Elizabeth (1732), Thomas (1734), Bridget (1737-40), Ann (1739) and Bridget (1741). In 1747, Philip was still working as a roper and took on an apprentice: Will Brewer. Philip died in February 1766 and was buried on 16th February at St Mary's church, Lancaster."

Alison asked us if we could add to the story. Unfortunately, we couldn't, other than confirm she was correct, including that he paid duties for an Apprentice William Brewer on August 22nd, 1747.

As Philip was working as a rope maker here between 1722 and 1730, he may have been employed by Robert Lawson, who, apart from building the warehouses, was actively involved in developing support crafts for shipbuilding. His construction of the ‘block-makers shop’ (number 2, Gravel Cottage) dates from this period.

Photographs of Peggy

We received a message from Donald Taylor, a past resident of Sunderland Point, asking if we were interested in some photos he had taken around 1978 of Tom and Harold Gardner onboard the former pilot boat Peggy. (Peggy has a great history, a former lifeboat, saving many lives)

Donald wrote ‘I lived for several years at 19 Second Terrace and was there when the great flood of November 11 to 12 1977 happened, a demonic night impossible to forget. For the few hours around midnight that the tide was up the houses on Second Terrace we were an island with the flat white foaming sea surrounding us front and back. My front door at number 19 was burst open by a small boat drifting past. I managed to close it again, although by then there was about a metre of water in the house!’

We were thrilled to see the photos.

Peggy at her moorings, we think it’s Philip Smith senior at the whitebait nets, the numerous seagulls are hoping for a feast.

Peggy, off the Old Hall (see one of the old mooring posts), is on its way to meet a boat destined for Glasson Dock.

On the shoulder of the ship as it makes its way up the estuary

Tom Gardner is visible at the wheelhouse.

We knew of Donald, but not much about him. We asked, and he kindly gave us this brief biography.

‘I was a student at the Slade School of Fine Art during the late 1960s, tutored by Slade Professor Sir William Coldstream in portrait painting, then awarded a two-year Rome Scholarship to study at the British School in Rome.

I then worked as Keeper of Fine & Applied Art at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, where I curated the collection of works by LS Lowry, whom I knew well. In 1974, a colleague from Rome, Professor Tim Potter, then working at the University of Lancaster, mentioned a post there, so I moved to Lancaster.’

Donald says he was on Castle Hill and noticed number 19 at Sunderland Point advertised to let at estate agents, Morris and Irvine. He decided on the spot to move there; this was 1975.

‘I so enjoyed living and working on portraits at the little cottage next to the barn and the old cotton tree, despite the midnight cyclonic storm and flood on Saturday 11th November 1977.

I left on April Fools’ Day 1981, to take up a senior position at the then-aspiring University of Bolton (now University of Greater Manchester) with the task of developing a first-degree course for their School of Art. I’m happy to say that I was successful, and their art & design degree now attracts students from far and wide.

I retired some years ago and will be 80 this year.

Although I paint portraits, I have never made an autoritratto – self-portrait, so a photograph will have to do.’

Donald Taylor in 2025

Shortly after receiving this material, Donald sent us some of his paintings, and one jumped out. It’s a great painting, and the subject is in the news right now.

The dock at Glasson at night, Silver River in the foreground: Artist Donald Taylor 2003

Farewell to Silver River

Silver River returning from a rare voyage up to Lancaster: Photo Donald Taylor

It’s been confirmed by our correspondent at Glasson Dock that Silver River made her final Sailing from Glasson on August 22nd (2025). It has been decommissioned and is now up for sale.

For as long as anyone can remember, Silver River has been chugging between the Dock and Ramsey, Isle of Man. It’s taken general cargo of all descriptions, including ice cream vans, in preparation for the TT races.

Silver River preparing for its final voyage: Photo Philip Smith

As a regular passerby, the coming and going earned a place in the heart and folklore of the village, and some gathered on the shore to wave goodbye. We understand the ship toot toot-ed in response.

Good Bye Silver River: Photo Rachael Knowles

Sea Shanty Crew

Sunderland’s Point own Sea Shanty crew have pushed the boat out this year, performing all over the north-west in a sizzling summer of singing. The crew - celebrating their 10th anniversary - also wowed audiences with three gigs at the Edinburgh Festival.