A poignant grave at Sunderland Point captivates visitors, who regularly leave fresh flowers at the resting place of a boy named Sambo. This charming Lancashire village isolates from the mainland during high tide at Overton, connected solely by a winding road through the marshes at low tide. The area remains cut off for hours each day.
Historical Ties to Transatlantic Trade
Ships once docked here to unload goods from North America, serving as a key stopover in the transatlantic slave trade. Lancashire boasts deep connections to this era, with a Black community established in Lancaster during the 18th century. The region’s first slaving voyage departed in 1745, though trade with North America began as early as the 1670s. Lancaster ranked as Britain’s fourth-largest slave trading port, trailing far behind London, Bristol, and Liverpool.
The Tragic Tale of Sambo
Accounts describe Sambo as a young boy from Africa, enslaved and brought to Sunderland Point by his master. He fell ill soon after arrival and passed away. Denied burial in consecrated ground, his remains received interment in a remote seaside spot, apart from other graves.
The grave stayed unmarked for years until a retired schoolmaster unearthed the story, raised funds for a memorial, and crafted its epitaph. Historical records trace the narrative to 1794 or 1795, involving Reverend James Watson, former headmaster of Lancaster Grammar School, and George Jackson, landlord of the Ship Inn. Watson spent summers in a leased cottage nearby. The earliest printed reference appears in the 1822 Lonsdale Magazine by author ‘JT,’ noting the brass plaque.
Iconic Epitaph on the Grave
The epitaph, installed in 1796 and attributed to Reverend James Watson, reads:
Full many a Sand-bird chirps upon the Sod
And many a moonlight Elfin round him trips.
Full many a Summer’s Sunbeam warms the Clod.
And many a teeming cloud upon him drips.
But still he sleeps — till the awakening Sounds.
Of the Archangel’s Trump now life impart.
Then the GREAT JUDGE his approbation founds.
Not on man’s COLOUR but his worth of heart.
Modern Protections and Attractions
In 2018, authorities built new sea defenses to shield the site from high flood risk, preserving this hallowed ground. Today, visitors encounter a scenic bird hide, seating areas, and the Horizon Line Chamber—a camera obscura art installation. A Kapok tree, likely from West Indies imports, thrived nearby for nearly two centuries until a fierce storm toppled it on New Year’s Day 1998.
Finding Sambo’s Grave
From Sunderland Point, follow the inland path toward the western shore. The signposted trail passes houses and a small church, narrowing into a hedgerow-lined walkway. Pass through a barred metal gate, turn left, and spot the walled enclosure about 200 yards along the shoreline. For a longer stroll, head right along the eastern shore past quaint cottages.
