Fingerpost to Sambo's Grave . Sunderland Point , Lancashire , England , United Kingdom , Europe .
Up until the 18th century, Sunderland Point was the main port serving Lancashire. Trade was undertaken with the West Indies involving cotton, rum, sugar and to a lesser degree, slaves. Sambo, it is thought, was a young slave, possibly bought at auction, and taken into service by either a sea captain or a merchant with the idea of using him as a personal attendant. How old he was, how long he served and the manner of his death are all unknown today, but there are two theories as to what happened. One states that he was the sole survivor of a shipwreck, perishing shortly after being washed ashore. This would appear to be a verbal tradition, not appearing in print until fairly recent times. A more traditional version tells us that Sambo's master, having being called away unexpectedly on urgent business, left his charge to wait for him in or around Sunderland. The lad then either perished through the cold, or more romantically, fearing that he had been abandoned forever on an alien shore, died of a broken heart. Sambo was buried in an isolated field close to the sea shore, his grave being initially marked by a plain wooden cross. Its splendid isolation however, combined with its associated legends started to draw a large number of curious visitors. One, the Reverend James Watson, a retired headmaster from Lancaster, visited the site in 1795. He was so moved by the story and the aura of the area that he collected a shilling from any visitor willing to donate. With this money he has a proper memorial stone carved complemented by a brass plaque bearing the following inscription Here lies Poor SAMBOO A faithful NEGRO Who (Attending his Master from the West Indies) DIED on his arrival at SUNDERLAND. Full sixty Years the angry Winter's Wave Has thundering dashed this bleak and barren Shore Since SAMBO's Head laid in this lonely GRAVE, Lies still and ne'er will hear their turmoil more. Full many a Sandbird chirps upon the Sod And many a Moonlight Elfin round him
Size: 5060px × 3366px
Location: Sambo's Grave . Sunderland Point , Lancashire , England , United Kingdom , Europe .
Photo credit: © Stan Pritchard / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: fingerpost, grave, ground, lancashire, point, sambo, signpost, slave, sunderland, unconsecrated
