Textures, Sunderland Point

Textures, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

A final swan song from Sunderland Point with some light on textures. For me, this represents the place fairly well: a flat, rugged landscape with scattered tidal debris.

I've just made an appointment in my mind to visit Sunderland Point on a severe and blustery day at high tide. Crashing waves and floating wood - ahh, bliss...

Red evening boats, Sunderland Point

Evening, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

3 Red Boats, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

I can't help it, digging into the files for more shots from Sunderland Point; this time red boats in fading light. That's the last of them until our next trip there - I promise!

Sunderland Point: Bench, House, Groin (or Groyne...)

Bench, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

After writing all day for other purposes, it's hard to motivate myself to tell you anything more about Sunderland Point. But did I tell already that it is cut off by the tide twice a day?

What makes it special is crossing the road to the island-no-more just as the water drops below the tarmac. The road is awash with mud, and the marshy banks alongside are broken by huge pools of water rushing out with the fast-moving tide. That's really special to see, and I'll try to capture it for you next time we go there just after high-tide.

Until then, here is the last of the views of that area which the causeway road takes you to: A bench (above), a house and an old wooden groin.

Squashed neighbour, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Groin, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Views of Sunderland Point

Family home, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Siblings, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Boats, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

I promised you more detail about the wonderful Sunderland Point today. But I'll let a few pictures speak for the place again today instead, and add a few more tomorrow before giving you my take on the place and explaining why it's so interesting.

1. A rather cool family relax in their wonderful front garden
2. A pair of well-loved siblings explore the water's edge
3. A view of boats with the tide in, but falling

Family looking, Sunderland Point

Family looking, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Took Yumiko, Yasmin & Caolan to Sunderland Point today (after Caolan's birthday party, I might add - happy 8th birthday, little man). They looked around and liked what they saw.

On a beautiful day, we took the long way round to Sambo's grave, passing cows on the beach and much else besides (more tomorrow about that). Once there, Yasmin and Caolan took one look at the 'mushroom' tribute stones and sped the few steps back to the beach to collect some stones of their own. A few quick trips back and forth later, and here is their result:

Yasmin & Caolan's stones, Sambo's grave, Sunderland Point, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Sambo's Grave, Sunderland Point

Sambo's grave sign, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Note: This is the first of three posts in which I'll discuss things I enjoy doing in England. The first is exploring places of historical and political interest close to home. For more ideas on the theme of 'Exploring England', see the Guardian's Enjoy England pages.

For Sambo, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

There are often fascinating places on our doorstep which we don't take the time to explore. Perhaps it's because they are so close that we don't make the effort? They are not 'exotic' enough - something like that?

Anyway, I set out to Sunderland Point yesterday to see what it was all about, and, particularly, to visit Sambo's grave. Sambo? Who is Sambo? Surely you've heard of him, educated reader? But just in case you haven't, let me show off my newly-acquired knowledge to save you from your ignorance.

Sambo's grave is a memorial to a young, black slave who is believed to have arrived at the port in Sunderland Point by ship in 1736. He was an African stolen into slavery and first brought to the West Indies before beginning the long journey to Lancaster with his master. Unfortunately for Sambo (as if his life was not tragic enough), shortly after arrival he was taken ill and died near a local inn. Perhaps his immune system was not prepared for the infections carried by the North West Englanders?

Sambo was buried in an unmarked grave, until, in 1795, a certain Rev Watson led an effort to have a memorial erected. It is believed that this teacher penned the following elegy found on the grave:

Full sixty years the angry winter's wave

Has thundering dashed this bleak and barren shore

Since Sambo's head laid in this lonely grave

Lies still and ne'er will hear their turmoil more.

Full many a sandbird chirps upon the sod,

And many a moonlight elfin round him trips

Full many a summer's sunbeam warms the clod

And many a teeming cloud upon him drips.

But still he sleeps - till the awakening sounds,

Of the Archangel's trump new life impart,

Then the Great Judge his approbation founds,

Not on man's colour but his worth of heart.

In the picture below, you'll see that people lay little gifts and stones with messages on them beside the grave. Perhaps it's the overwhelming sense of guilt we should rightly feel that prompts people to pay homage to this single African slave? Or perhaps it's just the love of a sentimental story that pushes these little showings of affection and compassion for a boy who died so long ago. Whatever individual reasons people have for visiting and caring for Sambo's grave, they've prompted my own small scream of indignation into the wind at Sunderland Point.

More tomorrow about the wondrous place that is Sunderland Point. I have much to share about it, but refuse to spoil Sambo's post with such mundaneness tonight. But if you have any interest in reading more about Lancaster's links with the Slave trade, see my previous post on William Lindow.

p.s. Yesterday's post (what are they?) contained a picture of stones on sticks, onto which people have written little messages to Sambo and placed near his memorial. An example I saw there was: You left no footprints but we found you in our hearts. Diane.