Summer Walk No6, LV50 Lightship & South Harbour - Tuesday 19th July 2022.

On Tuesday 19th July, the sixth walk on Morpeth Camera Club's Summer Programme saw nineteen members
gather in the South Harbour at Blyth. This is an excellent location for photography and as part of the evening,
a visit had been arranged for the group have a tour of the interior & exterior of the LV50 Lightship moored in
the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club marina.



Built in 1879, the LV50 is one of the oldest floating timber lightships remaining in the UK and is part of the
National Historic Fleet. After being retired from duty as a lightship by Trinity House in 1951, the vessel was
rescued from the breakers yard by the RNYC in 1952 to become their club ship and moved to Blyth. In 2014
the Friends of LV50 was formed with the intention of researching, promoting and preserving the heritage of
the lightship and through their efforts we can now see, visit and appreciate this unique piece of maritime
history.



Club members enjoyed a fascinating tour of the lightship and gained an insight into life on board and the
role that the vessel played in keeping the seas safe in areas where lighthouses could not be built. At 100ft
long, 21ft wide and a 9ft draft it was an impressive subject to photograph together with various artefact's,
old photographs and paintings below deck. During our visit we had access to the marina and surrounding
area and on a warm sunny evening conditions were perfect with the high tide and flat calm water giving
many photographic opportunity's. After refreshments on board, several members captured the sunset over
harbour to end a very successful evening.



Davy Bolam.