Storm Babet hit the UK last week causing flooding across the country. Whilst it caused carnage acros the Nation, it also may have solved an ancient mystery as it washed up a ship wreck on a Yorkshire beach thought to be from 200 years ago.
The rough sea spat out a huge wooden structure on to Marske beach, which is along the top of the Yorkshire coast. It was spotted by dog walkers on Saturday 21st October who came across the supposed wreckage on the beach.
The walkers were greeted by planks of wood held together by chunky wooden pegs. And, posts to social media groups left residents in the area to debate what it could be. It’s believed by many to be part of the Whitby Whaling boat The Esk, which was grounded just off the coast of Marske back in September 6th 1826.
Nothing has been confirmed as of yet, but reports of how The Esk was stranded after being swept onto the rocks during a violent storm was compiled by Heritage Getaway who gather Historic England Research Records from the time.
The boat was said to be returning to Whitby from greenland at the time, and that only three of the crew members on board were saved with 24 said to have perished in the devastating storm.
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Pictures were taken by Jacqui Harrison show the supposed wreck that is supposedly meant to be part of The Eske shipwreck from 200 years previous.
Not everyone is convinced that it is the ancient ship though. Chris Scott Wilson, a local author and expert on The Esk, said it had an ‘interesting story’, but he doesn’t believe that the two are linked.
In a MailOnline interview he said: “It has been remarked the debris currently seen on the beach has been spotted in previous years when there have been low tides.
“However, taking into consideration this part of the coast was notorious for ship wrecks in the days of sail – during one storm over 60 vessels were driven ashore between the Humber and the Tyne, although most were refloated – that dramatically lowers the odds the debris is actually from The Esk.
“It would be wonderful to think it is part of the remains of that whaling ship, and that the sea has yielded up that which it took almost 200 years ago.”
Check out Jacqui’s video of the wreckage washed up on Marske beach below:
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