ANN SUMNER

The Ann Sumner was a typical 19th-century wooden schooner, a workhorse of the British coastal trade. These sailing vessels were the lifeblood of commerce, braving the unpredictable North Sea to transport goods between ports. In February 1888, the 88-ton Ann Sumner was on one such voyage, carrying a cargo of chalk from London to Seaham.

On Valentine's Day, February 14th, the schooner was caught in a fierce winter storm that so often plagues the Northumberland coast. Battered by the elements, the vessel foundered and sank approximately two-thirds of a mile north of the Newcome Knowl Buoy. The sinking was swift and tragic, claiming the lives of three of her crew members, a somber reminder of the perils of sailing in the age before modern navigation and communication.

Lying at a shallow depth of just 10 meters, the remains of the Ann Sumner are now scattered across the seabed. Over 130 years of North Sea storms have taken their toll, leaving behind a field of wooden timbers, iron fittings, and perhaps remnants of her chalk cargo. While not an intact wreck, it offers an interesting dive for novices and history enthusiasts alike, providing a tangible link to the region's maritime past. Its 'dangerous' classification is due to its shallow depth, making it a hazard to surface navigation.