Robin Hood's Bay Lifeboat Station

Last updated

Robin Hood's Bay Lifeboat Station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Former lifeboat station, Robin Hood's Bay - geograph.org.uk - 6034370.jpg
Former lifeboat station, Robin Hood's Bay
Robin Hood's Bay Lifeboat Station
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Coordinates 54°25′48″N0°31′55″W / 54.430°N 0.532°W / 54.430; -0.532
Opened1881
Closed1931

Robin Hood's Bay Lifeboat Station was a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station, situated at Robin Hood's Bay, on the coast of North Yorkshire, England. The lifeboat station had been operating for just over 100 years intermittently when it was closed by the RNLI in 1931. The withdrawal of the lifeboat capability from Robin Hood's Bay was due to the Whitby lifeboat being able to be launched from Whitby, and into the bay at Robin Hood's Bay, before the bay lifeboat itself could be manhandled into the sea.

Contents

History

The first boat to be used as a lifeboat at Robin Hood's Bay was a coble converted into a lifeboat by the boatbuilder Harton of Limehouse in London. [1] Ships were often wrecked in the bay; some have stated that this is down to the ironstone in the reef which extends out to sea from Ravenscar. The iron was thought to have affected ships compasses, though this has never been proven. [2] The announcement of a new lifeboat and lifeboat station for Robin Hood's Bay was made in October 1839, [3] and this was used for 16 years before falling into disuse in 1855. [1] A ship named Emporium was wrecked off the coast between Robin Hood's Bay and Whitby, with a newspaper report stating their regret that the lifeboat hadn't been launched. It stated that an RNLI inspector had visited not long before the wreck, and he had said the boat was good, but the gear was not in order. [4]

In 1843, six of the lifeboat crew died when they launched in a storm to the rescue of a brig (the William and Ann), in distress in the bay. [5] They successfully helped the crew into the lifeboat when a hug wave capsized the boat. All lifeboatmen and crew of the brig drowned. [6] Although listed as ineffective or disused, the lifeboat at Robin Hood's Bay was mentioned in Hansard from 1874, stating that it was 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Whitby, and some 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Scarborough, the two next nearest lifeboat stations. [7]

The revival of a lifeboat, and the building of a new lifeboat station in 1881, was due to the efforts needed to get to the brig Visiter (or Visitor), which had become stranded in a storm in the bay off Robin Hood's Bay in January 1881. [8] The old lifeboat within Robin Hood's Bay was not seaworthy, and an approach by sea from one of the Whitby lifeboats proved useless. So the other Whitby lifeboat (the Robert Whitworth) was put on its carriage and taken the 8 miles (13 km) overland through 6 feet (1.8 m) snowdrifts to be launched form the slipway at Robin Hood's Bay, in a process that took over three hours. [9] [10]

In late 1881, the RNLI took over running the lifeboat, and they presented the station with a 32 feet (9.8 m) boat named the Ephraim and Hannah Fox, which initially only had one local volunteer (the rest of the men preferred to stay with the rocket brigade). A crew from Whitby made up the numbers on the lifeboat until such a time as all men on the boat were recruited locally. [5] [11] [12] The lifeboat house was built to a standard design by the official RNLI architect, and was placed just inland from the main slipway into the sea at Robin Hood's Bay, on land donated by Sir Charles Strickland. [13] The Ephraim and Hannah Fox served for 23 years, being replaced in 1903 by the Mary Ann Lockwood. The second boat served for 28 years and was launched 35 times, with records stating that her crews rescued 53 people during that period. [14]

A rescue undertaken in 1908, resulted in the lifeboat being washed ashore by heavy seas, and all the oars being smashed by the swell. However, all the lifeboat crew and the crew of the Reperio were saved. [15] Another rescue occurred in October 1919, when the Cap Palos, a five-masted schooner was stranded in the bay, and the lifeboat went out four times to rescue the crew. The heavy swell later washed the ship ashore, and she spent a year on the beach at Robin Hood's Bay before being refloated and towed to Whitby. [16] [note 1]

The lifeboat station at Robin Hood's Bay was closed in 1931, as it was found that the Whitby lifeboat could in the bay before the Robin Hood's Bay lifeboat could be manhandled into the sea. [19] The cobbled slipway at Robin Hood's Bay (known as Way Foot), is steep and the combined weight of the lifeboat and carriage was 7 tonnes (7.7 tons). This made launching the lifeboat very time-consuming. [20] [21] Another problem was during the winter storms, when it was almost impossible to get the lifeboat back safely, and the crew had to spend hours out at sea with those they had rescued before they could return. [22] In all, only four boats had been used at Robin Hood's Bay between 1830 and 1931. [23]

RNLI Collection Box The Fish, collecting box for the RNLI (2) - geograph.org.uk - 2822700.jpg
RNLI Collection Box

One of the boards commemorating rescues undertaken by the lifeboat crews between 1893 and 1929, is hung on the wall of the old parish church on the hill overlooking Fylingthorpe, Raw and Robin Hood's Bay. [24] The lifeboat house building is now a shelter and public convenience. [25] [8]

At the top of the cobbled slip, just a few yards from the old boathouse, still stands a unique RNLI Coin Collection Box, in the shape of a (Cod) Fish, dating from 1887. It is listed on the National Heritage List for England as a grade II listed building, and meets the criteria for listing "as an example of Victorian public statuary and can be seen as a memorial to fishermen lost at sea and the bravery of RNLI volunteers." [26]

Robin Hood's Bay lifeboats

Dates in serviceClassON [lower-alpha 1] NameComments
1881−190332-foot Self-righting (P&S)234Ephraim and Hannah FoxBoat measured 32 feet (9.8 m) by 8 feet (2.4 m). [10]
1903–193134-foot Self-righting (P&S)499Mary Ann LockwoodBoat measured 34 feet (10 m) by 8.5 feet (2.6 m). [14] On decommissioning from the RNLI, the boat was converted into a cabin cruiser at Smith and Son boatbuilders in Goole, for a private buyer. [27]
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

See also

Notes

  1. The Cap Palos was repaired, but when she set sail from Whitby, she experienced a heavy south-westerly gale and returned to the Whitby Roads (an area of deep water just offshore from the mouth of the River Esk). However, she broke free from her mooring and drifted southwards with the Whitby lifeboat following for seven hours before a rescue could be effected. The Cap Palos lies in 50 feet (15 m) of water between Scarborough and Flamborough. [17] [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal National Lifeboat Institution</span> Rescue charity operating in Britain and Ireland

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Hood's Bay</span> Village in North Yorkshire, England

Robin Hood's Bay is a village in North Yorkshire, England. It is 6 miles (10 km) south of Whitby and 15 miles (24 km) north of Scarborough on the Yorkshire Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padstow Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat Station is based at Trevose Head west of Padstow

Padstow Lifeboat Station has been at Trevose Head west of Padstow, Cornwall, since 1967. Before that it was at Hawker's Cove on the Camel estuary between the town and the sea. The lifeboat station is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and since 2006 has been the base for Tamar-class RNLB Spirit of Padstow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penlee Lifeboat Station</span> Base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Penlee Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations for Mount's Bay in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The lifeboat station operated at various locations in Penzance from the early 19th century. It moved to Penlee Point near Mousehole in 1913, thus gaining its current name, but was moved to Newlyn in 1983 without any change of name. The station is remembered for the loss of the entire lifeboat crew on 19 December 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clovelly Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Devon, England

Clovelly Lifeboat Station, serving the North Devon village of Clovelly and surrounding coastal waters, is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). It was established in 1870. The station is flanked by Appledore to the northeast and Bude to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkshire Coast</span> Coastline of Yorkshire, England

The Yorkshire Coast runs from the Tees estuary to the Humber estuary, on the east coast of England. The cliffs at Boulby are the highest on the east coast of England, rising to 660 feet (200 m) above the sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flamborough Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Flamborough Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located at Flamborough in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. There used to be two lifeboat stations at Flamborough; one on the north side of Flamborough Head, and on one the south side. Since 1993, the village has just one lifeboat station on the southern side of Flamborough Head. The station operates a B-class Inshore Lifeboat Elizabeth Jane Palmer (B-820).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridlington Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Bridlington Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station based in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Having been instituted in 1805, it is the oldest working RNLI lifeboat location in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withernsea Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI lifeboat station in the East Riding of Yorkshire

Withernsea Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is one of four RNLI stations in the East Riding of Yorkshire, with another five in North Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humber Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Humber Lifeboat Station is an All-weather lifeboat station based at the mouth of the River Humber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarborough Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Scarborough Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) operated lifeboat station in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. A lifeboat was established at Scarborough in 1801, which makes it the third oldest lifeboat station in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filey Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Filey Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in the town of Filey, North Yorkshire, England. It is one of eight operational RNLI lifeboat stations situated on the Yorkshire Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitby Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Whitby Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. It is one of nine situated along the Yorkshire coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redcar Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Redcar Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station based in the town of Redcar in North Yorkshire, England. The station is the furthest north in Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Station is located on the north side of the harbour, in the village of Staithes, in the county of North Yorkshire, England.

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

Teesmouth Lifeboat Station was a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station, situated on the mouth of the River Tees, South Gare, North Yorkshire, England. The lifeboat station had been operating at Teesmouth for 177 years when it was closed by the RNLI in 2006. The withdrawal of the lifeboat capability from Teesmouth was subject to much criticism from the local council and the volunteers who crewed the boat, but the RNLI stated that there was an over-provision of lifeboat cover on the north-east coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runswick Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Runswick Lifeboat Station was located in the village of Runswick Bay, approximately 7 mi (11 km) north-west of Whitby, in the county of North Yorkshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bay Hotel</span> Public house in North Yorkshire, England

The Bay Hotel is a public house in Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire, England. The pub is known for being a destination for coast-to-coast walkers, for once being washed into the sea, and also for having its windows wrecked by the bowsprit of ship during a heavy storm. The Bay Hotel stands of the very edge of the sea wall at Robin Hood's Bay facing out towards the sea, and is the second inn to be sited at that location. It is a grade II listed building.

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

Upgang Lifeboat Station was located just over 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Whitby Harbour, midway between Whitby and Sandsend, on the coast of North Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runswick Bay Rescue Boat</span> Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England

Runswick Bay Rescue Boat operates out of the former RNLI Tractor shed, and is located in the village of Runswick Bay, in the county of North Yorkshire, in England.

References

  1. 1 2 Leach, Nicholas (2018). The Lifeboat Service in England; the North East Coast, Station by Station. Stroud: Amberley. p. 121. ISBN   978-1-4456-6832-1.
  2. Farnhill 1990, p. 73.
  3. "A life-boat has long been wanted at Robin Hood's Bay, on the coast of Yorkshire". The Times. No. 17170. 11 October 1839. p. 7. ISSN   0140-0460.
  4. "The disaster to "The Emporium"". York Herald. No. 4277. 28 October 1854. p. 3. OCLC   1325754826.
  5. 1 2 Farnhill 1990, p. 72.
  6. "Another dreadful shipwreck – Whitby". The Times. No. 18213. 7 February 1843. p. 5. ISSN   0140-0460.
  7. "Pilotage, wrecks and casualties". Parliamentary papers (House of Commons and Command). 61. London: Great Britain Parliament House of Commons: 172. 1874. OCLC   220735047.
  8. 1 2 Chrystal 2012, p. 48.
  9. "Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre | Robin Hoods Bay epic lifeboat rescue and terrible tragedy". scarboroughsmaritimeheritage.org.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. 1 2 Lidster 1995, p. 18.
  11. Ellis, Jane (2018). "19; The 'Visiter' sea rescue, Robin Hood's Bay". The History Tree. Danby: North Yorkshire Moors Association. p. 70. ISBN   9780956577955.
  12. Lidster 1995, pp. 18−19.
  13. "Whitby". The Yorkshire Herald and the York Herald. No. 7673. 23 September 1881. p. 7. OCLC   1325754826.
  14. 1 2 Lidster 1995, p. 20.
  15. "Shipping accidents". The Times. No. 38, 843. 30 December 1908. p. 8. ISSN   0140-0460.
  16. Lidster 1983, p. 8.
  17. "Two wrecks at sea". Hull Daily Mail. No. 10, 964. 16 November 1920. p. 6. OCLC   500154670.
  18. Defieux, Charles (29 November 1971). "Of ships and men; schooner built here". The Vancouver Sun. No. 86–48. p. 36. OCLC   1080970201.
  19. Lidster 1995, p. 19.
  20. Page, William (1968). The Victoria history of the county of York, North Riding volume 2. London: Dawsons of Pall Mall for the University of London Institute of Historical Research. p. 535. ISBN   0712903100.
  21. Lidster 1983, p. 16.
  22. Lidster 1983, p. 25.
  23. Chrystal 2012, p. 46.
  24. "Old church of St Stephen, Fylingdales, North Yorkshire" (PDF). visitchurches.org.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  25. Gower, E. (1978). Robin Hood's Bay. Clapham: Dalesman Books. p. 9. ISBN   0852064624.
  26. Historic England. "THE FISH, ROBIN HOODS BAY (1391560)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  27. "East coast lifeboat to be converted at Goole". Hull Daily Mail. No. 14, 388. 27 November 1931. p. 9. OCLC   500154670.

Sources