History
In February 1873, and with no lifeboat available in the area, a vessel, possibly the Ada, on passage from Liverpool to Dublin on 2 February 1873, was wrecked in the area of Rogerstown Estuary. The crew were left clinging to the rigging all day, before they were rescued. [4]
Only the previous day, the nearest lifeboat, located approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) to the north at Skerries, had been capsized whilst on service to the schooner Sarah of Runcorn. Six of the seven lifeboat crew had drowned. [5] [6]
It was suggested that "it would be desirable to form a Life-boat establishment at Rogerstown, other wrecks having previously occurred in the neighbourhood." [7]
Following a visit, and the recommendation of the Assistant-Inspector of Life-boats, Capt. D. Robertson, R.N., who reported that there was sufficient local support, and available crew, at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 6 March 1873, it was agreed to establish a lifeboat station at Rogerstown, County Dublin. [8]
A lifeboat house was constructed, to the designs of Mr C.H. Cooke, FRIBA, Honorary Architect to the Institution, and in February 1874, a 32-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars, double-banked, was sent to the station. [7]
The cost of this new Life-boat Station was gifted to the Institution by Thomas Peake of Newcastle-under-Lyne. [8]
On 17 February 1874, a large crowd assembled for a service of dedication, performed by the Rev. E. Wrightson, and to witness the naming ceremony, the lifeboat being named The Tileries, Tunstall, in accordance with the donor's wishes. [7]
No records have been found of any service carried out by the Rogerstown lifeboat. The last recorded visit by a district inspector, was read at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 2 Mar 1882, but no actions were noted. [9]
After just 8 years since its establishment, Rogerstown Lifeboat Station closed in 1882. The lifeboat house is thought to be long since demolished. The last, and only, lifeboat to serve at Rogerstown, The Tileries, Tunstall, was transferred to Balbriggan, where the usual local name Maid of Annan was adopted.
