Grace Horsley Darling. © NMM

Being idealised as a Victorian heroine

Grace Darling’s father was a lighthouse keeper at the Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands off Northumbria, which was owned by Trinity House, based at Tower Hill. 

The Darlings became the most famous of all lighthouse families.

The rescue of the passengers from the Forfarshire. © NMM

Grace Darling became a Victorian celebrity with books, poems, magazine articles, paintings and even a rose created in her honour. She was even asked to appear in Batty’s circus. Bewildered by such attention, Grace preferred to continue her modest life and remained on the island.