Wells-next-the-Sea lifeboat station | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Architectural style | Steelframe Boathouse with brick and block construction |
Location | Wells Lifeboat Station, Beach Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1DR |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 52°58′22.5″N0°51′6.12″E / 52.972917°N 0.8517000°E |
Opened | 1830 Taken over by RNLI in 1869 |
Owner | RNLI |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Feature | Lifeboat house (1869) |
Designated | 8 September 1993 |
Reference no. | 1277330 [1] |
Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in the town of Wells-next-the-Sea in the English county of Norfolk. [2] The station, run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), operates both inshore and offshore lifeboats. The inshore boat is a D-class (IB1) lifeboat named Peter Wilcox (D-707), whilst the offshore lifeboat is Shannon-class 13-46 named Duke of Edinburgh (Civil Service No.53) (ON 1161). The station boathouse is located at the beach on the western side of Wells Harbour mouth. [3]
Early sea rescues in Wells were performed by private citizens who often attempted to use their rescue efforts to claim salvage rights to the rescued vessel for their own profit. [4] [5] The first organised rescue service at Wells was run by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association (NSA) and began in 1830 when an existing unnamed lifeboat that had been at Cromer was sent to Wells. [3]
By the 1860s, there was no longer a lifeboat stationed at Wells, and the NSA operation had fallen into decline. At the same time, maritime incidents off the shores of North Norfolk were rising. In 1868 the residents of Wells partnered with the newly formed Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to set up an organised lifeboat service in the town. A boathouse was constructed on the Wells quay to accommodate a self-righting RNLI lifeboat, the RNLB Eliza Adams. The station officially opened in 1869 and was used until 1895, when the station was relocated to be closer to the open sea. [6] [7] The old boathouse is still standing; a Grade II listed building, it is used jointly as the Harbour Masters Office and a maritime museum. [1]
On 29 October 1880, the 171-ton brig Ocean Queen was caught in a gale and sought shelter at Wells-next-the-Sea. At 1:00 pm, the Eliza Adams launched to the aid of another brig, the Sharon Rose, which had run ashore on the beach at nearby Holkham. Seven sailors were rescued and the lifeboat returned to Wells, where it discovered the Ocean Queen close to the harbour entrance, flying a distress flag. After a partial crew change, the Eliza Adams returned to sea to assist the Ocean Queen, which had been driven ashore nearby. The lifeboat was unable to assist and returned to port, but was swamped by a large wave en route and capsized; 11 of the lifeboat's 13 crewmen drowned. The crew of the Ocean Queen remained aboard their vessel, and were able to walk ashore once the storm had abated and the tide receded.
On 4 October 1883, a gale blew the schooner Emma of Jersey onto the East Bar near Wells, stranding her. Wells lifeboat RNLB Charlotte Nicholls was launched to assist. [8] The Emma was heavily damaged, so the Charlotte Nicholls took her five crewmen back to Wells. [8]
By the 1890s, it had become evident that the location of the 1869 boathouse was problematic. At low water the lifeboat could not get out into the open sea and was overly reliant on the tide. In 1893, the lifeboat RNLB Baltic (ON 198) was launched for three rescues, but arrived too late to provide actual assistance at any of them. [7] [9] Construction began on a new station 1.2 miles (1.9 km) north of the existing station in 1894 and was completed in October 1895. The Baltic (ON 198) was replaced by a vessel bearing the same name, the RNLB Baltic (ON 375). [7] [9]
Although motor lifeboats had been available since at least 1911, Wells was not provided with one until 1936 because of the need for an appropriate boat launch. The station received a Surf-class lifeboat, the RNLB Royal Silver Jubilee (ON 780), which had been designed by James Barnett and was light enough for the beach launch required at Wells. [10] She was also the first Surf-class to be propelled by a basic water jet system, which was ideal for the shallow water at Wells. [10]
By the mid-1960s, the North Norfolk coast had seen an increased use of marine incidents resulting from pleasure boating and beachgoing. An inshore service was established in 1963 to alleviate the workload for the All-weather lifeboat Cecil Paine and decrease response times.[ citation needed ]
Over 18 and 19 May 1963, the cabin cruiser Seamu had run aground at low tide at the entrance to Blakeney harbour. The Cecil Paine was launched to assist, arriving on scene at 10:50 pm. Seas were rough and winds were high. The coxswain made several attempts to approach, but sandbanks and high winds made it difficult. After four attempts, the two crewmen of the Seamu were finally taken aboard the Cecil Paine to safety. The coxswain was awarded an RNLI Bronze Medal. [11]
Until 1976, the inshore service was provided by a series of unnamed D-class (RFD PB16) lifeboats. The first inshore boat at Wells to have a name was RNLB Spirit of Rotary (D-246), which was on the station from 1976 until 1987. In January 1978 a severe storm destroyed the IRB house and damaged the doors to the main boathall. A new IRB house was built onto the side of the main station.[ citation needed ]
On the morning of 15 February 1979, gale force nine to ten winds were blowing blizzard conditions across the North Sea. The Merchant Vessel Savinesti of Romania had broken down; dragging her anchor, she was in imminent danger of running aground 37 miles (60 km) south-west of Spurn Point. [3] Wells lifeboat Ernest Tom Neathercoat was launched to service that morning, but struggled to make headway through temperatures well below freezing and rough seas which eventually knocked out her radar, MF radio and echo-sounding systems. [3] She eventually arrived and stood by the Savinesti for two hours until the arrival of the Arun-class lifeboat RNLB City of Bradford IV (ON 1052) out of Humber Lifeboat Station, which was to take over the service. [12] [13] By this point, the winds had increased to hurricane force 12, waves were up to 40 feet high, and it was still snowing heavily. At this time the Wells lifeboat was released from the service and sent back to Wells, arriving between 6:00 and 7:00 pm after approximately 11 hours at sea. The coxswain was awarded an RNLI Silver Medal. [14]
The 1895 beach road station has been improved and renovated on several occasions, but the bulk of the structure is still original. [3] The crew facilities were expanded with an additional level in 1983, and a boathouse extension was added in 1986 to house the inshore lifeboat. [3]
In 1990 the station was allocated a new Mersey-class lifeboat, the 12-003 Doris M. Mann of Ampthill (ON 1161), prompting significant alterations to the boathouse in order to accommodate it. [7] [15] The house had to be almost completely re-built whilst retaining the historic integrity of the 1895 structure. In the mid 1990s work was also carried out to combat coastal erosion on the sandy headland where the boat house is located. This was achieved by re-using greenheart [7] timbers re-claimed after the demolition of the Eastbourne [7] slipway. Extra new groynes were also installed to retain the beach in front of the station, vital for the continued beach launching of the lifeboats.[ citation needed ]
A new bigger boathouse was required to house the soon to arrive new Shannon-class lifeboat for Wells-next-the Sea, to be built to the west of the existing boathouse, parts of which are more than 125 years old. Work on the construction of the new boathouse started in September 2020, [16] and was completed in October 2022. [17]
Demolition of the 1895 boathouse soon followed in November 2022. [18]
Part funded by a successful local campaign in 2014–2015 and part by the Civil Service charity The Lifeboat Fund, Shannon-class 13-46 Duke of Edinburgh (Civil Service No.53) (ON 1353) arrived at Wells-next-the-Sea in October 2022, replacing Doris M. Mann of Ampthill (ON 1161) in early 2023. [19]
The following are awards made at Wells-next-the-Sea [20] [21]
ON [lower-alpha 1] | Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] | Name | In service [25] | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | – | Unnamed | 1830–1850 | North Country-type, pulling | |
– | – | Eliza Adams | 1869–1880 | 33-foot Self-Righting (P&S) | [26] |
– | – | Charlotte Nicholls | 1880–1888 | 37-foot Self-Righting (P&S) | [26] |
198 | – | Baltic | 1888–1895 | 37-foot Self-Righting (P&S) | |
375 | – | Baltic | 1895–1913 | 35-foot 3in Cromer | |
425 | – | James Stevens No. 8 | 1913–1916 | Liverpool (P&S) | |
665 | – | Baltic | 1916–1936 | Liverpool (P&S) | |
780 | – | Royal Silver Jubilee | 1936–1945 | Surf | [27] |
850 | – | Cecil Paine | 1945–1965 | Liverpool | |
832 | – | Lucy Lavers | 1962 1963–1964 | Liverpool | (Relief fleet) |
982 | 37-15 | Ernest Tom Neathercoat | 1965–1990 | Oakley | |
961 | 37-03 | Calouste Gulbenkian | 1978–1979 1983 1987–1988 | Oakley | (Relief fleet) |
1161 | 12-003 | Doris M. Mann of Ampthill | 1990–2023 | Mersey | [28] |
1124 | 12-001 | Peggy and Alex Caird | 1998 | Mersey | (Relief fleet) |
1162 | 12-004 | Royal Shipwright | 2003 | Mersey | (Relief fleet) |
1353 | 13-46 | Duke of Edinburgh (Civil Service No.53) | 2023– | Shannon | [29] |
Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] | Name | In service [25] | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
D-11 | Unnamed | 1963–1964 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
D-9 | Unnamed | 1964–1965 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
D-29 | Unnamed | 1965 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
D-8 | Unnamed | 1965–1966 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
D-82 | Unnamed | 1966–1968 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
D-25 | Unnamed | 1968–1969 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
D-113 | Unnamed | 1969–1976 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
D-246 | Spirit of Rotary | 1976–1987 | D-class (Zodiac III) | |
D-352 | Jane Ann | 1988–1996 | D-class (EA16) | |
D-512 | Jane Ann II | 1996–2006 | D-class (EA16) | |
D-661 | Jane Ann III | 2006–2016 | D-class (IB1) | |
D-797 | Peter Wilcox | 2016– | D-class (IB1) | |
Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] | Reg. No. | Type | In service [25] | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
T19 | TY 2547 | Clayton | 1936–1939 | |
T32 | FYE 221 | Case L | 1939–1954 | |
T59 | FYE 221 | Fowler | 1954–1969 | |
T68 | YUV 742 | Fowler | 1969–1974 | |
T67 | YLD 792 | Fowler | 1974–1979 | |
T63 | PXF 163 | Fowler | 1979–1983 | |
T72 | 518 GYM | Case 1000D | 1983 | |
T60 | OXO 323 | Fowler | 1983–1985 | |
T99 | C82 NUX | Talus MB-H Crawler | 1986–1993 | |
T91 | UAW 558Y | Talus MB-H Crawler | 1993–1995 | |
T99 | C82 NUX | Talus MB-H Crawler | 1995–2006 | |
T96 | B688 HUJ | Talus MB-H Crawler | 2006–2023 | |
SC-T27 | HF22 BWJ | SLARS (Clayton) | 2022– | Patricia Jean Bettany |
Walmer Lifeboat Station was established in 1830. Over two thousand ships are believed to have been wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, and the masts of several wrecks are visible from the shore at low tide. Hence there have always been two lifeboats located at the joined towns of Deal and Walmer along the coast opposite the sands.
Sheringham Lifeboat Station is an RNLI operated lifeboat station located in the town of Sheringham in the English county of Norfolk. Since 1992, the station has been inshore operations only - currently with an Atlantic 85 rigid inflatable - offshore lifeboats are to the east at Cromer and the west at Wells-next-the-sea.
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.
Exmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Exmouth, Devon, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1803 and the present station was opened in 2009. In 2014 a new Shannon-class 25-knot all-weather boat (ALB) went on station. Also operated is a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Baltimore Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution station situated in Baltimore, Ireland, and was established in 1919.
Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Aldeburgh in the English county of Suffolk.
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).
RNLB Foresters Centenary is a retired Liverpool-class lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), stationed in the English coastal town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. The lifeboat was on station for 25 years between 1936 and 1961 when she was sold. She has been restored to her original condition and is exhibited in Sheringham Museum.
RNLB Cecil Paine is a retired Liverpool-class non-self-righting lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It was the second motor lifeboat to be stationed in the English coastal town of Wells-next-the-Sea in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom, and was on station at Wells from 25 July 1945 until she was sold in June 1965.
Hunstanton Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution operated lifeboat station located in the village of Old Hunstanton in the English county of Norfolk. This is the only lifeboat station on the east coast of England which faces westward, being positioned on the east side of the square-mouthed bay and estuary known as The Wash.
Skegness Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station located in the town of Skegness, Lincolnshire, England, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The station is located on the seafront of the south-east coast, north of the Wash and south of the Humber Estuary. This area of the British coastline is characterised by many shoals and constantly changing sandbanks, many of which lie between the town and the East Dudgeon Lightship. The building dates from 1990 and was the first in the British Isles constructed especially for a Mersey-class lifeboat. The boathouse also accommodates an Inshore Lifeboat and a souvenir shop.
Selsey Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Selsey, West Sussex on the south coast of England.
Bembridge Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the village of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom.
Yarmouth Lifeboat station is an RNLI station located in the town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. The station has been based in Yarmouth's harbour since 1924. Previously the station had been in Totland Bay, west of Yarmouth, until it was decided that the station need a motor lifeboat. The current Severn-class lifeboat is moored afloat and shore facilities are on the quayside in Yarmouth. The station covers the western Solent with its all-weather lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) (ON-1249) which has been on service at Yarmouth since 2001.
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. It underwent extensive re-development in 2010 with a new purpose built boathall to accommodate its new Tamar-class all-weather lifeboat (AWB). It operates two lifeboats, the Tamar-class Enid Collett and the D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Joan Woodland (D-784).
Happisburgh Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Inshore lifeboat station close to the village of Happisburgh in the English county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. Since 2003 the station boathouse has been re-located from the village to an area south called Cart Gap. This is because the beach below Happisburgh disappeared due to coastal erosion and the stations slipway and access was washed away. The original boathouse in the village is now used for training.
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the town of Eastbourne in East Sussex. Founded two years before the RNLI was established, the station has operated continuously since 1822 and its lifeboats have been responsible for saving over 700 lives. There are two active lifeboat stations in Eastbourne, an all-weather station with the Trent-class 14-02 Esme Anderson at Sovereign Harbour and the D-class (IB1) The David H (D-876) at the inshore lifeboat station a couple of miles to the west at Fisherman's Green. An older lifeboat station, west of Eastbourne Pier, is now used as an RNLI museum.
Aberdovey Lifeboat Station is an RNLI lifeboat station in the coastal village of Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, West Wales, on the Dyfi estuary in Cardigan Bay. It was established in 1853, but there has been a lifeboat serving the village since 1837.
Moelfre Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Moelfre, Anglesey. A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1848 by the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck.
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.