Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Location | Sennen Cove, TR19 7DF |
Country | United Kingdom |
Coordinates | 50°04′41″N5°42′13″W / 50.077933°N 5.703734°W |
Opened | 1853 |
Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations for the sea around Land's End, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed at Sennen Cove in 1853. Since 2009 it has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Sennen Cove is situated just to the north of Land's End, the most westerly point in mainland England. Following the loss of the New Commercial on the Brisons in January 1851, the RNLI built a boathouse at the top of the beach in 1853 and extended it in 1864 when a larger lifeboat was sent to the station. In 1876 a new boathouse was built on the landward side of the road, [1] but in 1896 it was replaced by a new one on the site of the original building. [2] [3]
A motor lifeboat was sent to the station in 1922. In preparation for this, the boathouse was given a new slipway in 1919 and a turntable was provided inside so that the lifeboat could be hauled up the slipway bow-first and then turned ready for its next service. Ten years later a second slipway was provided. [2]
In 1994 an ILB was added to the station. This is kept in the boathouse. When it was to be launched it was craned onto the slipway and taken down to the water on a carriage, but a new slipway was provided to make launching the ILB easier at low tide. At the same time the boathouse was modified to take a longer Tyne-class boat, and in 2001 the roof was removed and a new one installed ready for the receipt of a taller, faster Tamar-class lifeboat. New crew facilities were installed at the same time. [2]
The volunteer crews of the RNLI do not expect reward or recognition for their work, but the records include many rescues that have been recognised by letters, certificates and medals from the RNLI management. This list is just some of the most notable.
An RNLI silver medal was awarded in 1868 to both Coxswain Nichols and Coastguard Officer S Morrison for rescuing the sole survivor of the Devon. A later coxswain, Henry Nicholas, received a silver medal in 1909 for a meritorious service to the Fairport when it was in trouble. [1]
In 1919 the Sennen Cove Lifeboat was recognised for rescuing eight people from the SS Falmouth Castle. A silver medal and three bronze medals being given to members of the crew. That same year saw Henry Nicholas receive another silver medal along with Second Coxswain Thomas Pender, while the 12 crew members were awarded bronze medals for saving eight people from a motor launch. One of the crew was 17-year-old Henry Nicholas Junior. He later became coxswain and was awarded another bronze medal in 1964 for leading the rescue of five people from the trawler Victoire Roger which had caught fire. [1]
A search for the sinking MV Union Crystal saw Coxswain/Mechanic H E Pengilly awarded with a silver medal. Another sinking vessel, the Tungufoss, resulted in seven lives being saved and Coxswain/Mechanic Maurice Hutchens receiving a silver medal in 1981. In 1995 Coxswain Terence George was awarded a bronze medal for the rescue of five people from the fishing vessel Julian Paul. [1]
The following are awards made at Sennen Cove [4]
The lifeboat station stands on the beach at the head of two slipways. The masonry walls date from 1929 but the shallowly curved metal roof was added in 2001. Inside, as well as the boathouse, is a three-storey crew facility. The ground floor is a changing room for the ILB crew, above that is a similar facility for the ALB crew, and on the top floor is a crew room. [2]
The RNLI aims to reach any casualty up to 50 miles (80 km) from its stations, and within two hours in good weather. To do this the Tamar class lifeboat at Sennen Cove has an operating range of 250 nautical miles (460 km) and a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h). [6] Adjacent lifeboats are at Penlee Lifeboat Station to the south, St Mary's to the west, and St Ives to the north. [7]
At Sennen | ON | Op. No. | Name | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1853–1864 | — | — | (no name) | Peake | 25 ft 8 in (7.82 m) boat. [8] |
1864–1880 | — | — | Cousins William and Mary Ann of Bideford | Self-righter | 33 ft (10 m) boat. [8] |
1880–1893 | 182 | — | Denzil and Maria Onslow | Self-righter | 34 ft (10 m) boat. [8] |
1893–1922 | 357 | — | Ann Newbon | Self-righter | 34 ft (10 m) boat. [8] |
1922–1948 | 674 | — | The Newbons | Self-righter | 40 ft (12 m) motor lifeboat. Sold in 1951 for use as a yacht. [9] |
1948–1973 | 856 | — | Susan Ashley | Watson | Later used at Barry Dock and Tynemouth. Retired in 1981 and preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard since 1996. [10] |
1973–1991 | 999 | 37-28 | Diana White | Rother | Reported in 2023 to be out of use at Katikati, New Zealand. [11] |
1991–1998 | 1176 | 12-19 | The Four Boys | Mersey | Later stationed at Amble. Sold in 2018 and then used as a pilot boat at Mostyn. [12] |
1998–2010 | 1121 | 47-016 | Norman Salvesen | Tyne | Previously stationed at Wick. Sold in 2014 for further use and reported in 2023 to be at Conwy. [13] |
2010– | 1294 | 16-14 | City of London III | Tamar | [14] |
At Sennen | Op. No. | Name | Type | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
1994–1995 | D-450 | Anthony | EA16 | Initially deployed in the Relief Fleet in 1993. [15] |
1995–1996 | D-448 | Sea Ranger | EA16 | Initially deployed in the Relief Fleet in 1993. [15] |
1996–2004 | D-490 | Spirit of the ACC | EA16 | [15] |
2004–2013 | D-624 | Spirit of The Royal Logistic Corps | IB1 | [16] |
2013- | D-763 | Amy Brown | IB1 | [17] |
Cromer Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Cromer in the English county of Norfolk. The station operates two lifeboats – one for inshore work and the other for offshore work.
The Lizard Lifeboat Station refers to several Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat stations located on the Lizard in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The first was established at the southernmost point of the peninsula in 1859. Since then successive stations have all been in operation at different locations on The Lizard. The current station is located at Kilcobben Cove 0.5 mi (0.80 km) east of the village of Lizard.
The Mumbles Lifeboat Station is at Mumbles Pier, located at the south-western corner of Swansea Bay, near the village of Mumbles, within the city and county of Swansea, in the historic county of Glamorgan, 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.
Appledore Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Appledore, Devon, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1825 and the present station was opened in 2001. It operates a Tamar-class all-weather boat (ALB) and an Atlantic 85 B Class inshore lifeboat (ILB).
St Ives Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at St Ives, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was built for the town in 1840 and the present boathouse was opened in 1994. It operates a Shannon-class All-weather boat (AWB) and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
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.
Weymouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Weymouth in Dorset, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. It currently operates a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Salcombe Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Salcombe, Devon in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. The Salcombe Lifeboat has twice capsized, in 1916 with the loss of 13 lives, and in 1983 with no loss of life. Since 2008 the station has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Poole Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Poole, Dorset in England. The first lifeboat was stationed at Poole Harbour in 1865 and the present station was opened in 1988.
Torbay Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Brixham, Devon in England. Brixham Lifeboat Station was opened in 1866 but since 1924 has been known as 'Torbay'. Since 2005 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) together with a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Baltimore Lifeboat Station is located at Bull Point, near Baltimore, County Cork, on the south-west coast of Ireland.
Rhyl Lifeboat Station is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the North Wales town of Rhyl. For over 150 years, the Lifeboat Crew in Rhyl have been saving lives at sea. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1852 and the present station was opened in December 2001. The station operates a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat (ALB), and an D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Bembridge Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. The station is located on the eastern approaches to The Solent, south of the area known as Spithead. The station is on one of the busiest shipping lanes in United Kingdom waters. The main boathouse stands away from the shore on a piled platform with slipway, and is linked to the shore by a pier gangway.
Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Shoreham-by-Sea in the English county of West Sussex.
St Davids Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station. It was opened in 1869 and to date has been involved in saving over 360 lives at sea in more than 420 launches. The station operates both an all-weather (ALB) and an inshore (ILB) lifeboat.
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.
Holyhead Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the coastal town of Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. It is one of the three oldest lifeboat stations situated on the North Wales coast, a disused building of which houses the Holyhead Maritime Museum.
Moelfre Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Moelfre, on the north east coast of Anglesey, Wales.
Swanage Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located on Peveril Point in the town of Swanage in Dorset, England. It operates two lifeboats, the Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat 13-13 George Thomas Lacy and the D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB) Roy Norgrove (D-884).