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Grace Darling tells her story in a single video episode - how her family look after a lighthouse in the Farne Islands and the daring sea rescue she undertakes in 1838.

Grace Darling 1815 – 1842

Grace Darling is remembered for the rescue she undertook with her father in the Farne Islands in 1838.

The SS Forfarshire had broken up on rocks within sight of the lighthouse at Longstone, which was home to Grace and her parents.

Grace was determined to undertake a rescue immediately but was persuaded by her father to wait until morning and better light.

Grace and her father then set out through the stormy sea and collected some of the survivors.

They rowed back to Longstone Lighthouse where Grace and her mother looked after the survivors while her father returned to the shipwreck to collect the last of the survivors.

Grace soon found herself celebrated in print… even Queen Victoria wrote to her with a reward.

Today Grace's memorial can be found in the churchyard at Bamburgh, where there is also a museum about her.

Teacher Notes

As a research exercise, students could find out some key facts about Grace Darling. For example:
'Where was Grace Darling born?'
'What is Grace Darling's date of birth?'
Who was Queen at the time of Grace Darling's rescue?

Ask the class to consider how attitudes to young women have changed since Victorian times:
How do you think Grace was treated by newspapers and the Victorian public?
Do you think she would be treated the same way today?

Curriculum Notes

This clip is suitable for teaching History at KS2 in England, Wales, Second Level in Scotland) and KS1 and KS2 in Northern Ireland.

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