Banff and Macduff Lifeboat Station

Banff and Macduff Lifeboat Station
Banff and Macduff Lifeboat Station
	Banff and Macduff Lifeboat Station 1877
	Macduff, Scotland
General information
Status	Closed
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	Banff Bridge Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Country	Scotland, UK
Coordinates	57°39′46.7″N2°30′41.5″W / 57.662972°N 2.511528°W
Opened	1860
Closed	1924

Last updated June 28, 2024

Banff and Macduff Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station, located in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The lifeboat station in this part of Aberdeenshire has been located in various locations in Banff & Macduff, and between 1923 and 1969, the lifeboat was located at Whitehills, three miles to the west of Macduff. Supporters and volunteers treat the station as 'one', regardless of the location. The current Macduff Lifeboat Station became operational in March 1974.^[1]

History

In June 1859, the RNLI put out the message that it was "desirous to extend its work of usefulness to the Coasts of Scotland"...by the superintendence of an Honorary Committee of residents in each locality, who on their part undertake to collect locally what amount they are able of Donations towards the first Cost, and of Annual Contributions towards the permanent expenses of their several Establishments."^[2]

In response, Capt. MacDonald, Commander of H.M. Coastguard, Banff, had written to the RNLI, and his letter and response was discussed at a meeting of the Banff Harbour Trustees in Dec 1859. By January 1860, generous funds and donations were already forthcoming, amounting to £100, and the RNLI agreed to provide a lifeboat, which arrived at the end of August 1860.^[3]

The first lifeboat station was built at Banff Harbour, and according to the Banffshire Journal and General Advertiser of 4 September 1860, is noted as being a substantial granite building, about 40 feet long, and 18 feet wide within the walls, and which cost about £140.^[4]

At a meeting of the local committee of the Institution in July 1866, it was unanimously agreed that the lifeboat station be moved from Banff Harbour to Palmer Cove on the East side of Banff Bay. Invitations to tender for the work were placed in the local newspaper on 31 July 1866. However, it would be 11 years later, in 1877, prompted by storm damage to the foundations of the 1860 boathouse, that a new boathouse would be constructed at Palmers Cove, next to Banff Bridge. The 1860 boathouse was demolished, with as much material as possible being used for the construction of the new one. During this period, the boat was stored in the grounds of Duff House.^[4]

In 1902, the station was officially renamed "Banff & Macduff", although it appears to have been known by that name in most publications since 1860. But in 1923, the lifeboat was relocated to Whitehills Harbour, with the name changed to Whitehills Lifeboat Station in 1924.^[3]

The 1877 boathouse was placed for up for sale in December 1924, and was purchased by Banff Town Council for £135. The boathouse still stands, and on the front gable, there are three stones, marked 1877, RN and LBI (Royal National Life Boat Institution). For a while it was used as the Craigmyle tearoom, but is currently a private residence.^[4]

For later history, please see

Station locations and names

Dates	Station Name	Location
1860–1877	Banff	Deveronside/High Shore
1877–1902	Banff	Banff Bridge
1902–1923	Banff & Macduff	Banff Bridge
1923–1924	Banff & Macduff	Whitehills

Banff and Macduff lifeboats

ON^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Name	In service^[1]	Class
Pre-363	Banff, later John Zell	1860–1870	30-foot Self-righting (P&S) eight oars
Pre-548	Banff later John and Sarah	1870–1888	32-foot Self-righting (P&S) ten oars
150	Help For The Helpless	1888–1902	34-foot. Self-righting (P&S)
479	George and Mary Berrey	1902–1923	35-foot Self-righting (P&S) (ten oars)

↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Notes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macduff Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Scotland, UK

Macduff Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.

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Buckie Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Buckie, Moray, on the Moray Firth coast of NE Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1860.

Whitehills Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in Whitehills, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

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References

1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
↑ "Life-boats for our own coasts". The Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser. 3 June 1859.
1 2 "Macduff's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
1 2 3 Bruce, Stanley A. (2021). Banff and Macduff Lifeboats, The Early Years, 1860–1877 (PDF). Stanley A. Bruce. pp. 1–99. Retrieved 3 April 2024.

External links

Macduff Lifeboat Station
Macduff Lifeboat Facebook Page.

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[5] ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

[LBES_2021-1] 1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.

[Elgin1859-2] "Life-boats for our own coasts". The Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser. 3 June 1859.

[History-3] 1 2 "Macduff's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 3 April 2024.

[BanffSB-4] 1 2 3 Bruce, Stanley A. (2021). Banff and Macduff Lifeboats, The Early Years, 1860–1877 (PDF). Stanley A. Bruce. pp. 1–99. Retrieved 3 April 2024.

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