Island 462 - Pace Hill, Seahouses, Northumberland

Pace Hill is a tiny tidal island located immediately to the east of Seahouses Harbour.  It is accessible at low tide by a short walk across the rocks.  The island has a very small amount of grass growing on it and also a small building, which is an old powder house.  This was built to store gunpowder, used in blasting, when the Long Pier and New Harbour were being constructed at Seahouses in 1886.  Pace Hill was chosen for safety purposes as the location for the powder house, as it is well away from any other buildings.

The powder house is built of sandstone.  It has a rectangular base, straight walls and a barrel vaulted roof.  It is a grade 2 listed building and it was repaired in 2012.  The repairs were carried out by Beadnell based Len Smith Builders for the North Sunderland Harbour Commissioners and half the costs were paid by Northumberland County Council.  The entrance is secured by a locked gate, which was donated in memory of Thelma Archbold (Seahouses born and bred), who died in 2014.

Pace Hill cut off an hour after high tide

 

Map showing the location of Pace Hill

 

Pace Hill at low tide

 

Approaching the Powder House

 

Powder House

 

Plaque on the Powder House gate

 

Looking west from Pace Hill towards Seahouses

 

Looking towards the Farne Islands from Pace Hill

 

Back of the Powder House

 

Powder House

 

Graffiti on the rocks

 

Looking south east down the breakwater towards Pace Hill