Original version

BBC Somerset

BBC Radio Somerset Special

Entertainment

BBC Radio Somerset's specials, covering different people, groups, sports, events and more.

BBC Radio Somerset Special: The Nornen: The Story of the Ship in the Sand

The Nornen

The Nornen: The Story of the Ship in the Sand

BBC Radio Somerset - BBC Radio Somerset Special, The Nornen: The Story of the Ship in the Sand

The 125 year old story of the shipwreck at Berrow near Burnham-on-Sea.

On the coast near Burnham-on-Sea lie the ghostly remains of a long-forgotten ship. In this drama documentary you can hear the story of The Nornen which ran aground 125 years ago.

Every day at low tide, when the sand and mud of the Bristol Channel are exposed to the elements, the Somerset coast gives up one of its secrets. On the coast near Burnham-on-Sea lie the ghostly remains of a long-forgotten ship, driven on to the mud flats at Berrow in a ferocious storm. The date was 3rd March 1897 and the stricken vessel was a 150ft Norwegian sailing ship called The Nornen. This week, 125 years on, the remnants of the rotting hull stick out from the sand like the ribs of a beached whale; they have become a coastal landmark and a part of West Country folklore. This drama/documentary uses the voices of Somerset actors, the views of local historians and specially-composed songs to tell the story of the Nornen, its terrifying final hours and the bravery of the men who fought to save the helpless crew from a watery grave.  
 
Produced and presented by Luke Knight.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

BBC Radio Somerset Special

The Nornen: The Story of the Ship in the Sand

Genres

Brand

BBC Somerset

About BBC Radio Somerset