In north Lancashire, many lives have been lost crossing the sands of Morecambe Bay to reach the Furness peninsula. The tide comes in at the speed of a galloping horse. Once you can hear it, it is too late to escape! The route fords the River Kent and the River Leven, and there are quicksands and deep pools along the way.

In 1857, the railway opened between Ulverston and Carnforth, crossing the Kent and Leven on long viaducts, and providing a faster and safer route to Furness. Sadly, people still drown on the sands today. In 2004, at least 21 illegal Chinese immigrants were drowned by the incoming tide while harvesting cockles.

Between Sea and Land – A Trip to the Whitsuntide Fair by Henry Peacock

Tune; Rambleaway as sung by Roger Wilson. Performed by the Albion Band on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_0LBEbiVhU

Twice every day the tide fills Morecambe Bay
Sweeping aside anything in its way
Ellen and Thomas worked on Flookburgh sands
Reaping the harvest between sea and land

Ellen, my darling girl, Thomas then said
It won’t be long now before we are wed
And friends and relations come from far and wide
To watch as we walk down the aisle side by side

Chorus; Sailors take to the sea, others never leave land
        But in Flookburgh the folk lead their lives on the sand

In Ulverston we’ll find the Whitsuntide Fair
We’ll take all our friends and we’ll have some fun there
And so they set off at the break of the day
Over the sands that surround Morecambe Bay

Thomas bought Ellen a new dress to wear
A ring for her finger and a bow for her hair
The sun was going down at the end of the day
As they departed on their homeward way

Chorus

The sands hold great dangers for wandering souls
Where the rush of the tide carves out steep-sided holes
Their cart in the dark, I am sorry to say
Was heading towards a deep pool in their way

Early next morning nine bodies were found
The coroner pronounced his verdict of drowned
Who thought that a day that began so carefree
Would end on the sands in such dark tragedy?

Chorus

At noon on the Sunday the muffled church bells
Sadly rang over the grey Furness Fells
And friends and relations came from far and wide
As Ellen and Thomas were laid side by side

Twice every day the tide fills Morecambe Bay
Sweeping aside anything in its way
Today as you cross the sands safely by train
Remember those poor souls whose trip was in vain

Chorus;        Sailors take to the sea, others never leave land
        But in Flookburgh the folk live and die on the sand