| Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station | |
| Map Type: | Wales |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Address: | South Marine Terrace |
| Location City: | Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 1JY |
| Location Country: | Wales, UK |
| Coordinates: | 52.4088°N -4.0889°W |
| Building Type: | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Opened Date: | 1843, RNLI 1862 |
| Owner: | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website: | Aberystwyth RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is located at South Marine Terrace, in the coastal resort of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, which sits on Cardigan Bay, on the west coast of Wales.
A lifeboat was first placed at Aberystwyth in 1843. Management of the station was taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1862.
In 2023, the station received a new Inshore lifeboat, RNLB Florence and Ernest Bowles (B-937), which is launched by submersible tractor. The station also has a smaller Inshore lifeboat, Wren (A-78).[1]
The first lifeboat at Aberystwyth was a 27-foot, 6-oared boat funded by public subscription in 1843 and under the control of the harbour master. No records exist of any service carried out.[2]
It is said that there were calls for a lifeboat service at Aberystwyth, after the wreck of the Aquila on 19 February 1861, whilst on passage from Llanelli to Aberdovey.[3] [4]
In 1862, the RNLI took over the station, completing a chain of RNLI stations along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Strumble Head to the Llŷn Peninsula. A new 32-foot 10-oared self-righting 'puling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was placed at the station, and named Evelyn Wood.[2] [5] [6]
The first lifeboat house was built on Victoria terrace, near to the Glengower Hotel today. It cost £125-5s-6d. In 1875, a new boathouse was constructed on Queens Road, at a cost of £250. This was later used as a BBC studio between 1990 and 2000, and then a store for Ceredigion County Council. Since 2020, it has been used by Ceredigion Archives, with regulated temperature and humidity, following a grant from the Welsh Government.[7]
A severe gale on 29 December 1900 saw Coxswain David Williams launch the lifeboat to a fishing smack; in heavy seas three lifeboatmen (Jack Williams, Tom Jones and J.C. Rea) were thrown overboard but were rescued by their fellow crewmen. Despite the loss of most of their oars, they managed to beach the lifeboat and hold it until the tide ebbed. In the meantime the fishermen, whose boat was wrecked on the rocks, made it safely to shore.[8]
In February 1946 Frederick Angus (ON 757) was at sea for more than 24 hours in severe weather standing by the broken-down submarine and helping to rescue her crew.[9]
In 1964, the lifeboat Aguila Wren (ON 892)was withdrawn, and Aberystwyth became the first RNLI lifeboat station to change from offshore to solely inshore lifeboats.
The Arancia IRB was established at Aberystwyth in 2011 and was dedicated in Holy Trinity Church, it is believed to be the first and only lifeboat to be dedicated within a church.[10] [11]
This station is classed as an RNLI "Observe" lifeboat station; it welcomes visitors via appointment.[12]
Groups (schools, clubs, organisations) who wish to visit the station can request a tour and presentation via the stations website.[13]
A number of awards have been made to recognise exemplary service to the RNLI.
Aberystwyth has been served by a number of lifeboats in its more than 150 years of operation by the RNLI and more than 170 years in total.[14] [15] [16] [17]
| ON | Name | In service[18] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | 1843–1862 | 27-foot Pulling (6 oars) | Independent lifeboat under Harbourmaster's control | |
| Evelyn Wood | 1862–1876 | 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) | First RNLI lifeboat,(10 oars) | |
| Pre-573 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |||
| Pre-653 | Lady Haberfield | 1881–1887 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |
| 128 | Elizabeth Lloyd | 1887–1906 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |
| 562 | John and Naomi Beattie | 1906–1932 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | (10 oars) |
| 757 | Frederick Angus | 1932–1949 | ||
| 745 | Lady Harrison | 1949–1951 | ||
| 892 | Aguila Wren | 1951–1964 | ||
All Weather Lifeboat withdrawn in 1964
| Op. No. | Name | In service | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-1 | 1963 | |||
| D-19 | 1964 | |||
| D-30 | ||||
| D-140 | 1967–1969 | |||
| D-28 | 1969–1970 | |||
| D-186 | 1970–1983 | |||
| C-509 | Oats | 1983–1993 | Originally D-509 until reclassified as a C-class | |
| B-590 | Wolverson X-Ray | 1993–1994 | ||
| B-704 | Enid Mary | 1994–2007 | ||
| B-822 | 2007–2023 | |||
| A-73 | 2011–2012 | |||
| A-78 | Wren | 2012– | ||
| B-937 | Florence and Ernest Bowles | 2023– | ||
| Op. No. | Reg No. | Class | In Service | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T41 | JXR 66 | Case LA | 1948–1953 | |
| T57 | NYE 351 | Fowler Challenger III | 1953–1964 | |
| TW03 | RLJ 367R | Talus MB-764 County | ||
| TW40 | P472 PUJ | Talus MB-764 County | 1996–2002 | |
| TW54Hc | Talus MB4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 2002–2009 | ||
| TW46Hb | V938 EAW | The first MkII Bendy | ||
| TW28H | N671 UAW | Talus MB4H Hydrostatic (Mk3) | 2013–2014 | |
| TW19Hc | J120 VNT | Talus MB4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 2014– | |