Storm Babet sees ancient shipwreck appear on Marske beach

A large chunk of oak decking, believed to be part of the famous Whitby whaleboat the Esk, washed up on Marske beach during Storm Babet.

The oak decking had been resting at the bottom of the ocean since 1826 when it was ripped apart in a storm.

The huge timbers were held together with wooden dowels which are still strong today.

Richard and Susan Cochrane, from Northallerton, went to see the wreck at Marske after Susan's sister who regularly walks the beach tipped them off.

Richard did some research and found that the Esk is the closest wreck it could be.

He said: "I'm a keen photographer. 

"We went to have a look at the wreck to put some pictures in the Northallerton camera club.

"It was a huge chunk of decking, you could see how it was put together.

"There is very little information about the wreck out there.

"The Esk was coming back from Greenland and it was laden with oil.

"A big storm came along and the boat floundered on the beach.

"There were huge waves, I just picture hundreds of people watching helplessly on the clifftops.

"The idea that Storm Babet was so strong that it washed that huge piece of decking all the way up the beach is incredible.

"It must weigh a few tonnes, it's made out of solid oak.

"I read an account from lifeguards, which I found online, which described how on every large piece of wood there would be five or six people clinging to it.

"There were 29 people on the crew and only three survived."

Susan was fascinated by the way in which the boat had been put together.

She said: "You can see how well built it was with the structure that is still intact. 

"It's remarkable how far up the beach it was washed up."

The couple were hoping that a marine museum might be interested in having a look at the wreck.

They described large crowds gathering on the beach as people examined a substantial piece of history.