St Mary's Island

St Mary’s Island is a small sandstone island near Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear. It sits opposite Curry’s Point and is joined to the mainland by a rocky causeway for about sixteen hours each day. The island was once called Bates Island after the Bates family who owned it. It has also been known as Bait Island, though the reason is unclear. The main landmark is St Mary’s Lighthouse, built in 1898. The island’s name comes from a medieval chapel dedicated to St Helen. Inside was the Lady Light, later mistakenly linked to St Mary. The chapel stood next to a burial ground where monks and locals were buried. Traces of the chapel were lost when the lighthouse replaced it in 1898. In the 19th century, an inn called the Square and Compass operated on the island under Mr George Ewen. The lighthouse served until 1984, when it was decommissioned. Visitors can now climb its steps to the lantern room or visit the Visitors’ Centre. The island is a Local Nature Reserve, offering coastal views and a quiet place to walk. The lighthouse remains the most striking feature, standing as a reminder of the island’s past.