Home History of Seaham - Stories and remarkable and memorable events in the history of Seaham Ships, Shipbuilding and the Docks Wreck of the "butter-boat" Niord off Seaham Hall (1899)

Wreck of the "butter-boat" Niord off Seaham Hall (1899)

“Whisky Galore” or rather “Butter and Bacon Galore”

The SS Politician
Those of us of a certain age will remember the story of the SS Politician which was a cargo ship that ran aground in 1941 off Eriskay in the Hebrides. Her cargo included 22,000 cases of malt whisky which was gleefully recovered by the islanders who hid their loot in every cave and cranny on the island. HM Customs and Revenue men pursued and prosecuted those islanders they caught removing and concealing the cargo as no duty had been paid on the 260,000 bottles of whisky. Compton MacKenzie used the story of the SS Politician for his book “Whisky Galore” which was made into a film in 1949 by Ealing Studios.
Well – If Compton MacKenzie had been around at the turn of the 19th Century, he may well have written a book called “Butter and Bacon Galore” set on the wild coast of North-East England. On 3rd January 1899 a steamer, SS Niord, from Randers in Denmark, laden with butter, eggs and bacon for the market at Newcastle ran aground and was stranded near Seaham Hall. The beach at Seaham became crowded with people from all over the local district. Huge piles of butter and sides of bacon were carried off by men and some of the women disguised their haul in shawls pretending to be carrying babies. Those that were caught were hauled before the local magistrates in double quick time. On 6th January, just three days after the SS Niord ran aground, a number of Seaham folk were charged with the larceny of butter and bacon from the wreck.
A Seaham resident wrote a letter to the Editor of the Sunderland Echo in which he describes Seaham Harbour, Seaham Colliery and Ryhope as full of looted butter. Orders for butter with local grocers were cancelled for many weeks after the incident because of the huge quantity of contraband concealed supplies. Many locals recall that there was such a glut of butter in the town that no-one could face butter on their bread for a long time after the event.
Read the story below of Seaham’s “Butter and Bacon Galore” as reported in the local newspapers of the day.....

 

Sunderland Echo 3rd January 1899

 

Location of the wreck of the SS Niord

Photo credit: Keys to the Past (Durham County Council)

 

Sunderland Echo 4th January 1899

 

Crowds on the beach around the wreck of the SS Niord

Photo credit: Keys to the Past (Durham County Council)

 

 

Sunderland Echo 5th January 1899

 

Sunderland Echo 6th January 1899

 

Sunderland Echo 7th January 1899

 

Sunderland Echo 10th January 1899

 

Sunderland Echo 16th January 1899

 

Sunderland Echo 28th January 1899

 

Sunderland Echo 31st January 1899

 

Sunderland Echo 5th April 1899