Boulmer Lifeboat Station | |
---|---|
General information | |
Status | Closed |
Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Location | The Lifeboat House |
Address | Beach View, Boulmer |
Town or city | Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3BN |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 55°25′12.0″N1°34′56.0″W / 55.420000°N 1.582222°W |
Opened | 1825 |
Closed | 1968 |
Boulmer Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located at the village of Boulmer in the county of Northumberland.
A lifeboat, provided by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), was first stationed here by the Newcastle Shipwreck Association in 1825.
The RNLI station was closed in 1968. [1]
A station was opened at Boulmer in 1925 under the management of the Newcastle Shipwreck Association (NSA), following a request by Mr. William Clarke to the (RNIPLS) for a lifeboat. A boathouse was constructed by the NSA, and a lifeboat was duly provided, a 27-foot 6in 10-oared North Country, or "Greathead", type lifeboat, built by Thomas Wake of Sunderland. [2]
This first Boulmer lifeboat would serve 27 years, and save 32 lives. On November 2nd 1844, the Boulmer lifeboat made three trips to the wreck of the Iris and would rescue 8 men. Lt. John Brunton, RN, of H.M. Coastguard was awarded the Silver Medal. [3] [4] [5]
In 1851, the Boulmer boat was reported as being in poor condition, and a request was made of the RNIPLS to provide a replacement. A 30-foot self-righting lifeboat built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth was provided, at a cost of £130. It was funded by Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland, and was named Prudhoe, the Duke having formerly been known as Lord Prudhoe. [2]
In 1853, Boulmer Lifeboat Station would be transferred to the management of the RNIPLS, which became the RNLI the following year. [1]
Prudhoe(I) didn't serve long at Boulmer. The boat was disliked by the crew, and a second replacement was requested. This time, a 30-foot 10-oar self-righting boat was supplied by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, arriving in Boulmer on 30 November 1854. This time costing £150, it was once again funded by the Duke of Northumberland, and was again named Prudhoe. Whether the boat was no good is up for speculation. It capsized when being towed back to Newcastle, but then went on to serve at Thorpeness, Newhaven and Fishguard, in service until 1885. [1] [2]
On 13 March 1913, in a severe gale, heavy seas, and dense fog, the french steam trawler Tadorne of Boulogne with 30 crew ran aground near Howick Haven. Three men tried to make shore in the ships boat, but two were drowned. The rest of the crew clung to the rigging, as large waves crashed over the boat. On surveying the scene, Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey of nearby Howick Hall despatched a messenger to raise the Boulmer lifeboat. After an extraordinary effort, and two trips, the Boulmer lifeboat managed to save 25 men off the trawler. Coxswain William Stephenson was awarded a Gold Medal from the French government, the RNLI Silver Medal, and two awards from the French Lifeboat Service, Societe Hospitaliers Sauveteurs Bretons. The wreck of the steam engine is still visible today. [2] [3] [6]
A Clayton launch and recovery tractor was trialled at Boulmer in 1922, but with little success. An article in "The Lifeboat" magazine of 1926 highlighted that some 115 people of the village Boulmer, around 80%, could be involved in the launch of the lifeboat. As a result, the women lifeboat launchers were awarded The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. [7]
In 1927, another Clayton launch tractor was placed at Boulmer, but a larger more powerful FWD Ltd tractor, T23, was trialled in 1928. The lifeboat and carriage were hauled a ½-mile across mud, and then 150 yards out to sea, launching in just 24 minutes, proving the tractor a great success. T26 was placed on service in 1930. [1]
Soon afterwards followed a motor-powered lifeboat. L. P. and St. Helen (ON 703), a 35-foot 6in Self-righting motor lifeboat built by S.E. Saunders of Cowes, so named after her benefactors, Miss Ann Lovelock, Mr A H Pett, and Miss Helen Turner, arrived in Boulmer in 1931. [1] [2]
In 1967, it was decided to withdraw the All-weather lifeboat from Boulmer. The boat was formally withdrawn on 31 March 1968, replaced on 1 April with an Inshore D-class (D-100) lifeboat on station for a 1-year trial. With only two service launches, and no lives saved, the D-class was also withdrawn at the end of the summer season. After 143 years of service, 199 service launches, and with 236 lives saved, Boulmer RNLI lifeboat station closed at the end of 1968. [2]
1969 saw the foundation of the Boulmer Volunteer Rescue Service.
The former RNLI boathouse was given over to the rescue service, which is still in operation to this day. [2]
The following are awards made at Boulmer. [3]
ON [lower-alpha 1] | Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] | Name | In service [8] | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-101 | – | Unnamed | 1825−1852 | 27-foot 6in North Country Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 1] |
Pre-247 | – | Prudhoe | 1852−1854 | 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 2] |
Pre-286 | – | Prudhoe | 1854−1867 | 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 3] |
209 | – | Robin Hood of Nottingham | 1867−1892 | 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 4] |
338 | – | Meliscent | 1892−1911 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 5] |
619 | – | Meliscent Arthur R. Dawesfrom 1912 | 1911−1931 | 35-foot Self-righting Dungeness (Rubie) (P&S) | [Note 6] |
703 | – | L. P. and St. Helen | 1931−1937 | 35ft 6in Self-righting motor | [Note 7] |
793 | – | Clarissa Langdon | 1937−1962 | Liverpool | |
966 | 37-04 | Robert and Dorothy Hardcastle | 1962−1968 | Oakley | |
Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] | Name | In service [8] | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
D-100 | Unnamed | 1968 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] | Reg. No. | Type | In service [1] | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
T2 | AH 5933 | Clayton | 1922 | |
T19 | TY 2547 | Clayton | 1927–1930 | |
T26 | UW 3882 | FWD Ltd | 1930–1954 | |
T61 | PLA 561 | Fowler Challenger III | 1954–1966 | |
T57 | NYE 351 | Fowler Challenger III | 1966–1968 | |
Blyth Lifeboat Station is located at the Port and seaside town of Blyth, in the south east corner of the county of Northumberland, approx. 13 miles (21 km) north of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Barmouth Lifeboat Station is located in Barmouth, a town at the mouth of the Afon Mawddach river in Gwynedd, Wales. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1828.
Arklow Lifeboat Station is located at South Quay in Arklow, County Wicklow, a harbour town at the mouth of the River Avoca, on the east coast of Ireland.
Ramsey Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Ramsey in the Isle of Man. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1829.
Palling Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located at the town of Palling in the county of Norfolk.
Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Fraserburgh, in the NE corner of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Cresswell Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located at the village of Cresswell in the county of Northumberland. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the RNLI in 1875.
Alnmouth Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located at the village of Alnmouth, near the town of Alnwick, in the county of Northumberland.
Hauxley Lifeboat Station was located in the village of Hauxley, in the county of Northumberland.
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station is located on the River Tyne, at Fish Quay, North Shields, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
Cullercoats Lifeboat Station is located on the north side of Cullercoats Harbour, in the town of Cullercoats, North Tyneside, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
Seahouses Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Seahouses, in the county of Northumberland.
Stromness Lifeboat Station is located in the harbour town of Stromness, the second largest town of Mainland, Orkney, in the isles of Orkney, Scotland.
Penmon Lifeboat Station was located at Penmon Point, north east of the town of Beaumaris, on the eastern tip of the Isle of Anglesey, Wales.
Lytham Lifeboat Station is a 'former' lifeboat station,, located in the Fylde coast town of Lytham, Lancashire.
Kingsdown Lifeboat Station was located on the shore off Wellington Parade, Kingsdown, a village situated at the north end of the White Cliffs of Dover, Kent.
Whitburn Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located in the village of Whitburn, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
Llanddulas Lifeboat Station was in the village of Llanddulas, located between Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy, on the north coast of Wales.
Berwick-upon-Tweed Lifeboat Station is located at Tweedmouth, on the south bank of the River Tweed, part of the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the county of Northumberland.
Wicklow Lifeboat Station is located at East Pier in the county town of Wicklow, County Wicklow, a harbour town at the mouth of the River Vartry, on the east coast of Ireland.