A press-cutting photograph (N.D.M.4355), from an un-dated issue of the Northern Daily Mail, showing the charred remains of a wooden shipwreck on the Middleton side of the channel, possibly the wooden trawler Margaret (HL 92). Mr. G. Hudspith remembers "When I was a young boy of ten, I used to go for sea coal with my older brother on Middleton beach and vaguely remember an old wreck there (not to be confused with the wreckage of an iron ship found on the other side of the jetty on the Commissioner's harbour beach)."
Donor : Hartlepool Mail
Creator : Northern Daily Mail
Location
In 1999, a section of hull from a wooden shipwreck was reported washed up on Middleton beach, close to the Banjo Pier. Maritime archaeologists from Tees Archaeology visited the site to photograph and record the remains. Although it was not possible to positively identify the wreck, it is likely to be that of the wooden trawler Margaret (HL 92), which suffered an engine explosion in 1960 and was abandoned as a total loss. Local information suggests the vessel was set on fire one Bonfire Night and the wreckage at the Banjo Pier showed clear evidence of burning.
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