Bull Bay Lifeboat Station

Last updated

Bull Bay Lifeboat Station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Bull Bay on Anglesey (geograph 7348244).jpg
Bull Bay 1868 Lifeboat House
Isle of Anglesey UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bull Bay (Porth Llechog), Anglesey
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationLifeboat House
AddressBull Bay
Town or city Amlwch, Anglesey, LL68 9SW
Country Wales
Coordinates 53°25′19.9″N4°22′13.8″W / 53.422194°N 4.370500°W / 53.422194; -4.370500
Opened1868
Closed1926

Bull Bay Lifeboat Station was located at Bull Bay (Porth Llechog), near the town of Amlwch, on the north coast of Anglesey, Wales.

Contents

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1868. [1]

Bull Bay Lifeboat Station was closed in 1926. [1]

History

The RNLI decided in 1867, to open a new lifeboat station at Bull Bay. A new boathouse was commissioned, and in the November of that year, £400 for a new lifeboat was received from a Miss Holt, of Anglesey. An order was placed for a 32-foot 10-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, (one with oars and sails), which arrived on station in March 1868. [2]

In dense fog on 9 March 1877, the Ocean liner Dakota of the Liverpool and Great Western Steamship Company, ran ashore under the cliffs near East Mouse, on passage from Liverpool to New York with 530 passengers and crew. Fortunately conditions were calm, so many local boats, along with the Bull Bay lifeboat and Rocket Brigade, went to the aid of the vessel. 20 people were brought ashore in the lifeboat, which then stood by as all the other small boats ferried passengers and crew ashore. No lives were lost. The vessel broke in two the following day and was a total wreck. [3] [4]

A new lifeboat was placed at Bull Bay in 1884. Costing £290, a 34-foot 10-oared self-righting lifeboat, built by Woolfe and Son, with a launch carriage costing a further £118. The boat was funded by Miss Curling of Camberwell, and was duly named Curling (ON 67). [2]

Coxswain John Hughes retired in 1890. He has served as coxswain since the station opened in 1868. In recognition of his many service calls, he was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. [5]

Douglas Lifeboat station - geograph.org.uk - 3160491.jpg

In 1904, a new boathouse with roller-slipway was constructed over the shore, standing on steel piles, very much in the design of the one pictured at Douglas, IOM. Constructed at a cost of £2000, it was to house a new 38-foot non-self-righting Watson-class (P&S) lifeboat, which cost £993. The lifeboat, which would turn out to be the last one stationed at Bull Bay, was funded from the legacy of Miss Marianne Cullen of Nottingham, and was named James Cullen (ON 528) [1] [2]

On 20 February 1915, the cargo ship S.S. Cambank of Cardiff was torpedoed and sunk off Point Lynas, Anglesey by Submarine U-30 of the Imperial German Navy. 4 of the 25 crew were lost, but the remaining 21 were picked up from the ships boat by Bull Bay lifeboat James Cullen. [6] [7]

Bull Bay lifeboat had a good regular service record, the lifeboat being launched 41 times over a period of 58 years, and rescuing 63 lives. However, it was decided that the station would be closed, and the James Cullen was withdrawn in June 1926. [1] [2]

The lifeboat was sold in 1926, later being renamed Vika, Meine Leibe and finally Pride of Anglesey, before being broken up in Rochester, Kent in 1996. [1]

The 1904 boathouse was removed, although the concrete pile footings can still be seen today.

The 1868 boathouse still stands. For many years it has been the home to the Bull Bay Yacht and Boat Club, but as of 2024, it is up for sale. A local group are hoping to raise enough funds for the purchase, to create a community hub. [8]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Bull Bay. [5]

John Hughes, Coxswain - 1890

Bull Bay lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] NameIn service [9] ClassComments
Pre-517Eleanor1868–188432-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
67Curling1884–188934-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2]
243Curling1889–190334-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
57Annie Collin1903–190434-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4]
528James Cullen1904–192638-foot Watson (P&S) [Note 5]
  1. 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.

See also

Notes

  1. 32-foot self-righting lifeboat.
  2. 34-foot 10-oared self-righting lifeboat, built by Woolfe & Son of Shadwell.
  3. 34-foot self-righting lifeboat, built by Henderson & Co.
  4. 34-foot self-righting lifeboat.
  5. 38-foot Watson non-self-righting lifeboat.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull Bay, Anglesey</span> Bay and village in Anglesey, Wales

Bull Bay is a village and bay on the northern coast of Anglesey, Wales, close to Amlwch. Its Welsh name, Porth Llechog, means "sheltered bay". The English name is derived from Pwll y Tarw, which is located near the shore close to the bay.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angle Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Wales

Angle Lifeboat Station is located near the village of Angle, on the southern side of the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eyemouth Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Scotland

Eyemouth Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Eyemouth, in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moelfre Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales

Moelfre Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Moelfre, on the north east coast of Anglesey, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arklow Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Ireland

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.

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.

Donna Nook Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located north of the village of North Somercotes, in the East Lindsey district of the county of Lincolnshire.

Grimsby Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located at the Port of Grimsby, in the county of Lincolnshire. A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1882.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wick Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Scotland

Wick Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town and royal burgh of Wick, Highland, in the NE corner of Scotland, in the historic county of Caithness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ackergill Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Scotland

Ackergill Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, located at Ackergill Harbour, Highland, in the NE corner of Scotland near the town of Wick, in the historic county of Caithness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alnmouth Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Northumberland, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penmon Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhoscolyn Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales

Rhoscolyn Lifeboat Station was located at Porth-y-Corwgl, near the village of Rhoscolyn, on the west coast of Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cemlyn Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales

Cemlyn Lifeboat Station was located on the west side of Cemlyn Bay, near the village of Cemlyn, on the north coast of Anglesey, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cemaes Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales

Cemaes Lifeboat Station was located in Porth yr Ogof cove, Trwyn yr Wylfa, on the west side of Cemaes Bay, near the fishing port village of Cemaes, on the north coast of Anglesey, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanddwyn Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales

Llanddwyn Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station, located on Ynys Llanddwyn, a small tidal island near the village of Newborough, Anglesey, on the south west coast of Anglesey, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsdown Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Kent, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mornington Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in County Meath, Ireland

Mornington Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station in the village of Mornington, on the south side of the River Boyne estuary, near Drogheda in County Meath, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanddulas Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Conwy County Borough, Wales

Llanddulas Lifeboat Station was in the village of Llanddulas, located between Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy, on the north coast of Wales.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Morris, Jeff (July 1986). The Closed Lifeboat Stations of Anglesey. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 25–28.
  3. "SS Dakota 1877". Wrecksite. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  4. "Disasters at Sea". The Times. No. 28939. London. 11 May 1877. col C, p. 8.
  5. 1 2 Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0-907605-89-3.
  6. "The sinking of the Cambank". The Times. No. 40784. London. 22 February 1915. col F, p. 9.
  7. "Cambank". Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  8. "Bull Bay Community Boathouse" . Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  9. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.