| Barmouth Lifeboat Station | |
| Map Type: | Wales |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Address: | The Promenade, |
| Location City: | Barmouth, Gwynedd, LL42 1NF |
| Location Country: | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates: | 52.721°N -4.0558°W |
| Building Type: | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Opened Date: | 1828 |
| Owner: | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website: | Barmouth Lifeboat Station |
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.[1]
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) currently operate a All-weather lifeboat, 13-30 Ella Larsen (ON 1337), on station since 2019, and a Inshore lifeboat, Craig Steadman (D-814), on station since 2017.[2]
Following a request by the Rev. Frederick Ricketts, a lifeboat was provided to the town by the RNIPLS in 1828. The first lifeboat was a 26-foot six-oar type, which arrived aboard the sloop Dove on 25 October 1828. The unnamed boat served until 1853.
Local funding provided the first boathouse. It was initially said that a new boathouse would be constructed, but it is possible that an older 1800s building was converted. There are reports of a stone building measuring 30' x 9', with a doorway 6' 6" x 6', and costing £95. It is thought that this building is now the Harbour Master's office.[3]
On 28 December 1851, with the existing lifeboat deteriorating, Capt. Kenyon of Barmouth wrote to the RNIPLS, requesting that the lifeboat be replaced. In October 1853, a new 27-foot 8-oared, self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, costing £135, was built by Forrestt of Limehouse, and was delivered to Caernarfon free of charge by the London and North Western and the Chester and Holyhead Railway companies. The lifeboat was then sailed down to Barmouth by the crew.[3]
In 1859, both the Barmouth and lifeboats were taken away, and were extended by 6-feet, the Barmouth lifeboat now being 33-foot long, rowing 12-oars.[3]
In order to accommodate the boat, a new boathouse was constructed NaNmiles south east of the town, where the lifeboat could launch directly into the Afon Mawddach. However, in 1864, the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway began work on the Pwllheli to Aberystwyth Railway, which required the construction of the Barmouth Bridge across the Afon Mawddach. As a result, the line was bridged right over the top of the slipway, creating a unique situation where the boathouse was located to the north of the railway line, and the lifeboat launching underneath the railway line, to the river on the south side.[3]
The third lifeboat at Barmouth was the Ellen, a double banked 10-oar vessel, placed on station in 1867. She was provided by an 'anonymous' gift, from a lady known only as E.P.S. In 1885, the Jones-Gibb (ON 64), with 12 oars double-banked, was placed at Barmouth, remaining in service until 1905. She was followed by a second Jones-Gibb (ON 538) in service until 1939.[4]
On 20 March 1982, Barmouth received a new All-weather lifeboat, a lifeboat, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, costing £240,000, and the first lifeboat to be fitted with Radar. A naming ceremony was planned for later in the year, to coincide with a Royal Visit to Barmouth, and on a cold wet 25 November 1982, Diana, Princess of Wales, named the boat Princess of Wales (ON 1063).[3]
A new lifeboat station was constructed on the promenade, to the west of the town in 2004. Costing £1.23 million, it provided up-to-date facilities for the crew, and is able to house both the All-weather lifeboat, the Inshore lifeboat, and both launch tractors. A new All-weather lifeboat arrived in March 2019, and was named 13-30 Ella Larsen (ON 1337) later that year.
Barmouth is an RNLI "Explore" category station whereby, subject to operational requirements and availability of staff, visitors can look around the station. An RNLI Visitor Centre, and gift shop, are also housed within the building.
During the lifetime of the station thirteen awards for bravery have been presented.
The following are awards made at Barmouth[1] [5]
For rescuing seven men from the vessel Neptune on 2 February 1825
Edmond Lewis - 1825
For rescuing a woman who had fallen over a cliff on 21 June 1971
John Henry Stockford - 1971
Colin Pugh - 1971
Dr Robert Airdrie Haworth - 1971
For rescuing a woman who had fallen over a cliff on 21 June 1971
John Henry Stockford - 1971
Colin Pugh - 1971
Dr Robert Haworth - 1971
For rescuing two men from the fishing vessel Boy Nick on 22 November 1978.
Evan Jones, Coxswain - 1979
For the rescue of two men from the vessel Isabel on 18 September 1858
Rev. O. Lloyd, Honorary Secretary - 1858
For saving the boat and crew of the American ship Troy on 19 November 1859
Rev. O. Lloyd, Honorary Secretary - 1858
For rescuing four swimmers off Barmouth on 16 July 1957
George Berridge - 1957
William Morris, Motor Mechanic - 1957
For the rescue of three from the trawler Gardelwen on 31 October 1982
Edward Leonard Vaughan, Acting Coxswain - 1982
For the rescue of three from the trawler Gardelwen on 31 October 1982
Kenneth Ingram, Mechanic - 1982
Harry Allday, Acting Second Coxswain - 1982
Robert Buckley, crew member - 1982
John Stockford, crew member - 1982
Llewelyn Griffin, crew member - 1982
For rescuing four swimmers off Barmouth on 16 July 1957
William Morris, Motor Mechanic - 1958
For entering the sea to rescue a man who had jumped from Barmouth Viaduct on 19 October 1980
John Henry Stockford - 1980
George Kenneth Jeffs, Coxswain Assistant Mechanic - 1989NYH[6]
| ON | Op.No. | Name | In service[7] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | – | 1828–1853 | 26-foot Palmer | [8] | |
| – | 1853–1867 | 27-foot Peake | [9] | ||
| Pre-505 | – | Ellen | 1867–1885 | [10] | |
| 64 | – | Jones-Gibb | 1885–1905 | 37-foot Self-Righting (P&S) | [11] |
| 538 | – | Jones-Gibb | 1905–1939 | 38-foot Watson (P&S) | [12] |
| 817 | – | 1939–1949 | [13] | ||
| 864 | – | Chieftain | 1949–1982 | [14] | |
| 1063 | 37-38 | Princess of Wales | 1982–1992 | [15] | |
| 1185 | 12-26 | Moira Barrie | [16] | ||
| Ella Larsen | 2019– | [17] | |||
| Op.No. | Name | In service | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-268 | 1979–1988 | |||
| D-374 | 1988–1997 | |||
| D-524 | Pilgrim | 1997–2007 | ||
| D-514 | Lord Kitchener | 2007 | ||
| D-678 | 2007–2017 | |||
| D-814 | Craig Steadman | 2017– | [18] | |
| Op. No. | Reg. No. | Type | In service | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T97 | C282 LNT | Talus MB-H Crawler | 2004 | |
| T121 | DX04 YZG | Talus MB-H Crawler | ||
| SLARS (Clayton) | 2019– | |||