Seaham Lifeboat Station | |
---|---|
General information | |
Status | Closed |
Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Location | East Durham Heritage & Lifeboat Centre |
Address | Seaham Harbour Marina |
Town or city | Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7EE |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 54°50′18.4″N1°19′37.9″W / 54.838444°N 1.327194°W |
Opened | 1856 |
Closed | 1979 |
Seaham Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located at the harbour town of Seaham, in County Durham.
Lifeboats were first stationed here in 1855, by the Marquess of Londonderry, and in 1856, by the Fishermans Friendly Society. A lifeboat station operated by the RNLI replaced both in 1870. [1] [2]
Seaham lifeboat station was closed in 1979, when faster lifeboats were placed at flanking stations. [1]
Construction of Seaham harbour was started in 1828 by landowner Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, in order to ship out coal from nearby Rainton. He provided a lifeboat in 1855, and a boathouse was constructed at the south end of Terrace Beach. A second lifeboat was provided in 1856, out of funds raised by the Seaham fishermen, named Friend of All Nations. Both received equipment grants and lifebelts from the RNLI. No records have been found of any service carried out. [3]
A request was made to the RNLI in 1870 for the provision of a lifeboat for Seaham, which was accepted. A 33-foot 10-oared self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat (one with oars and sails), was ordered from Woolfe & Son of Shadwell, and a boathouse, costing £189-2s-11d, was constructed on the east side of Lighthouse cliff, the land provided by George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry. The lifeboat and launch carriage had cost £388-7s-6d, and was funded by a gift of £400 to the RNLI, raised by the needlework of four sisters. The boat arrived in Seaham on 1 September 1870, and at a ceremony attended by several thousand people, the boat was named Sisters Carter of Harrogate. [2] [4]
When the Lady Ann was wrecked against the Seaham harbour north pier wall, with huge waves crashing over the top, the lifeboat wasn't launched, but the lifeboatmen rescued 3 crew using ropes. Despite courageous efforts by John Marshall Jnr., who climbed aboard the wreck, they were unable to save the Master. John Marshall Jnr. was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. [5] [6]
In 1908, construction began of a new boathouse and deep-water slipway on the outer wall of South Dock, along with an extra pier for protection. Completed in 1909, the boathouse and slipway cost £3,744-18s-7d. A 42-foot lifeboat, the Bradford (ON 350) was placed on station in 1909. Although an older boat from 1893, she had been fitted with an engine in 1906, and for a short time, Seaham operated two lifeboats. [2]
In 1911, a 38ft Watson-class motor lifeboat Elliot Galer (ON 602) was placed on service, and both No.1 station lifeboat Skynner (ON 155), and No.2 station lifeboat Bradford (ON 350) were withdrawn. The No.2 boathouse and slipway became the No.1 station. [1] The Elliot Galer would rescue 15 from The Stewarts's Court on 21 August 1918, after it had been torpedoed by German submarine UB-112. [7]
In 1950, Seaham got a new lifeboat. The George Elmy (ON 873) was a non-self righting Liverpool-class lifeboat, and would come to be launched 26 times, and rescued 20 lives. On service to the fishing boat Economy on 17 November 1962, and having rescued the 5 crewmen on board, she capsized on the return to Seaham harbour. All 5 lifeboatmen, and 4 crew of the Economy were lost, including a nine-year-old boy. [8]
After a couple of relief boats were placed on station following the disaster, Seaham would receive a new lifeboat in 1963, a self-righting Oakley lifeboat The Will and Fanny Kirby (ON 972). She would go on to be launched 46 times, and save the lives of 66 people. On 11 November 1973, 18 Anglers were rescued off the North Pier, having been cut off. Coxswain Arthur Farrinton was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal. [2] [9]
The Will and Fanny Kirby had a top speed of 8½-knots. In 1977, a 15-knot Waveney-class lifeboat 44-018 The Scout (ON 1044) was placed at Hartlepool, and with an 18-knot Arun-class scheduled for Tynemouth the following year, it was decided to close Seaham Lifeboat Station in 1979. [1] [2]
In the 109 years since 1870, the Seaham lifeboat was launched 137 times, and saved the lives of 289 people. The Will and Fanny Kirby would be stationed at Flamborough in 1983. The 1855 boathouse had been demolished, although there is still the pathway to the beach. The remains of the 1909 boathouse and slipway can still be seen. The 1870 boathouse now forms part of the East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre, and houses the George Elmy (ON 873) lifeboat, which is fully restored. [1] [10]
The following are awards made at Seaham. [2] [6]
In memory of those lost whilst serving Seaham lifeboat. [2]
ON [lower-alpha 1] | Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] | Name | In service [4] | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | – | Unknown | 1855−1870 | [Note 1] | |
– | – | Friend of All Nations | 1856−1870 | [Note 2] | |
Pre-543 | – | Sisters Carter of Harrogate | 1870−1887 | 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 3] |
155 | – | Skynner | 1887−1911 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 4] |
350 | – | Bradford (Seaham No.2) | 1909−1911 | 42-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 5] |
602 | – | Elliot Galer | 1911−1936 | 38ft Watson | |
791 | – | Elizabeth Wills Allen | 1936−1950 | Liverpool | |
873 | – | George Elmy | 1950−1962 | Liverpool | [11] |
797 | – | Howard D | 1962−1963 | Liverpool | |
793 | – | Clarissa Langdon | 1963 | Liverpool | |
972 | 37-05 | The Will and Fanny Kirby | 1963−1979 | Oakley | [12] |
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.
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.
Eyemouth Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Eyemouth, in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.
Moelfre Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Moelfre, on the north east coast of Anglesey, Wales.
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.
Hoylake Lifeboat Station is located on the North Parade promenade in the town of Hoylake, on the Wirral Peninsula, in Merseyside.
Fleetwood Lifeboat Station is located on The Esplanade at the port of Fleetwood, a Lancashire town at the north end of The Fylde, situated at the mouth of the River Wyre.
Buckie Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Buckie, Moray, on the Moray Firth coast of NE Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1860.
Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Clacton-on-Sea in the county of Essex. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the RNLI in 1878.
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.
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.
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station is located on the River Tyne, at Fish Quay, North Shields, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
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.
Bull Bay Lifeboat Station was located at Bull Bay, near the town of Amlwch, on the north coast of Anglesey, Wales.
Sunderland Lifeboat Station has two locations in the port city of Sunderland, which sits at the mouth of the River Wear, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
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.
St Helier Lifeboat Station is located at St Helier, capital of the Bailiwick of Jersey, and main port of the island of Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency and largest of the Channel Islands.