Grace Darling- Victorian Celebrity, an heroic rescue & piece of history returns home ITV News report - YouTube

There's a special, heroic story just beyond the bounds of Bambra Castle. The heroine? The humble 22-year-old daughter of a lighthouse keeper on the Farine Islands. On a wild and stormy night in 1838, Grace Darling risked her life. Rowing alongside her father, she rescued nine shipwrecked passengers. Now, almost 200 years later, a special piece of her past has returned home. Amazed by her daring actions, this embroidered shawl was gifted to Grace. The treasure was auctioned off and donated to the museum. This is the original family boat that Grace rowed to the rescue on that fateful night. Her heroic efforts put her story, but also the role of lifeboats, firmly in the public consciousness. It also made Grace the first female to be awarded a medal for gallantry by the RMLA. The tale of bravery has a permanent place in the town. So this is Grace's memorial over to the right here. It's a little tiny village that a lot of people haven't heard of throughout the rest of the country. But when they come here, then they hear this story about Grace Darling, who lived on the lighthouse. They must be immensely proud of her. And the epic rescue has a poignant connection for some visitors. My second great-grandfather actually performed a rescue over an anvil on the SS Bay. So when I was quite little, I was quite interested in that. And I think the interest in that also came from my interest in Grace Darling's own rescue. Not many people in that time would have done it themselves. Never mind, a young woman, fully dressed in a whole outfit and corset, and she still got out there and saved so many people's lives. Grace remained in her beloved Banburra until her death. Her enduring and inspiring legacy, securing her status as the Darling of this town. Vanessa Taft, News at Ten, Northumberland.