History
The Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (AAPLS) was founded by the Rev. James and Mrs Frances Williams in 1828.They had witnessed the loss of 140 lives from the wreck of the vessel Alert in 1823, and spent the following five years raising funds and gaining support. [3]
In 1830, the Anglesey Association wrote to the RNIPLS requesting their help to place a lifeboat at Penmon. Lifeboat No.4, a 26-foot 6-oar non-self-righting 'Palmer' type lifeboat, was built by Harton, and transported by sea via Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), to Holyhead, arriving at Penmon on 28 January 1831. Landowner Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, 10th Baronet provided a site, and constructed a 32-foot x 10-foot stone-built boathouse, with doors at both ends to help launch in either direction, at the sound between Anglesey and Puffin Island. In 18 years, the first Penmon boat would launch 8 times, and rescue 27. [4]
Lifeboat No.4 was transferred to the new station at Moelfre in 1848, and a new 26-foot boat was provided to Penmon. Only one service call is recorded, and no lives saved, but on 29 March 1850, over 35 vessels were driven ashore by the conditions at Penmon, and the lifeboat-men spent many hours helping vessels and crew. [4]
The lifeboats of the AAPLS were transferred over to the management of the (now) RNLI in 1855. Soon afterwards, Capt. Ward, Inspector of Lifeboats, visited Penmon, and launching with the crew on exercise, found that the lifeboat was "too light". A replacement 28-foot 6-oar lifeboat costing £126 was ordered from Forrestt of Limehouse. She was a self-righting lifeboat, which would prove invaluable some years later. Called to the aid of the Jabez of Scarborough on the 23 March 1868, and with 5 rescuees aboard, the lifeboat was capsized. After self-righting, everyone managed to get back on board. However, the incident prompted calls for a larger boat. [5]
Costing £251, a 30-foot 10-oared self-righting boat was provided to Penmon in 1868, again built by Forrestt. A long way from the sea, the lifeboat was funded by the Settle, North Yorkshire branch of the RNLI, the boat being named Christopher Brown after their primary fundraiser. [1] [6]
A new boathouse was constructed in 1880 to house a 34-foot lifeboat, again funded by Settle RNLI branch, and again named Christopher Brown (ON 266). The lifeboat ended up being moored afloat for 2 years, during the reconstruction of the slipway, which was washed away in a storm. [4]
In 1914, the lifeboat station at Beaumaris was reopened, following the construction of a new boathouse and deep-water roller-slipway, to house a new motor-lifeboat, Frederick Kitchen (ON 621). Now surplus to requirements, Penmon Lifeboat Station was closed on 31 March 1915. The lifeboat on station at the time, Christopher Brown (ON 390), was withdrawn and sold. [1]
The boathouse was handed back to the landowner, Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, 12th Baronet, the grandson of the original landowner. The boathouse still stands, and is available as a Holiday Let. [4]
