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Silloth Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 54°52′12.1″N 3°23′35.7″W / 54.870028°N 3.393250°W / 54.870028; -3.393250
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Silloth Lifeboat Station
Silloth Lifeboat Station
Silloth Lifeboat Station is located in Cumbria
Silloth Lifeboat Station
Silloth, Cumbria
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationThe Boathouse
AddressLawn Terrace
Town or citySilloth, Cumbria, CA7 4AW
CountryEngland
Coordinates54°52′12.1″N 3°23′35.7″W / 54.870028°N 3.393250°W / 54.870028; -3.393250
Opened1860, 1967
Closed1896
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Silloth RNLI Lifeboat Station

Silloth Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Lawn Terrace, in Silloth, a port town sitting on the Solway Firth, approximately 20 miles (32 km) due west of Carlisle, on the north west coast of Cumbria.[1]

An Inshore lifeboat was first stationed in Silloth by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1860.[2]

The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828), on station since 2008.[2]

History

In agreement with the local population, who had made a significant financial contribution towards the cost of a boathouse and carriage, and who had agreed to maintain the service jointly with the RNLI, a new lifeboat station was established at Silloth in 1860. The cost of a new lifeboat had been met by well-known philanthropist Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts. A 30-foot x 7-foot Self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat. one with oars and sails, was placed on station, and named Angela and Hannah.[2][3]

In 1867, the Angela and Hannah was found to be unfit, and withdrawn from service. Transported by both the London and North-Western, and North British railway companies free of charge, a replacement 32-foot lifeboat was placed at Silloth. The lifeboat was again named Angela and Hannah, after Miss Burdett-Coutts and her sister.[4]

The Silloth lifeboat Angela and Hannah was launched at 07:30 on 24 January 1876 into gale-force conditions, to the schooner Tweed, on passage from Falmouth to Silloth, when she struck Powfoot Bank. With waves breaking over both vessels, 5 crew and the pilot were rescued. The lifeboat was towed back in by the Steam tug Arabian.[5][6][7]

In 1885, a new 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat was placed at Silloth. A gift of Miss Annie F Howis of Tulse Hill, and on her direction, the boat was named Emma Frisby (ON 81).[8]

At a meeting of the RNLI management committee on Thursday 13 August 1896, following a report by district inspectors, a one-line entry records "Decided that the Silloth Life-boat station be discontinued". The station was duly closed, and the lifeboat Emma Frisby (ON 81) was sold.[2][9][10]

In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies.[11]

More stations were opened, and in August 1967, a lifeboat station was re-established at Silloth, with the arrival of a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-146). The old boathouse was re-acquired, and converted to house the Inshore lifeboat. In 1975, the lifeboat was upgraded to the C-class, a larger faster twin-engined version of the D-class boat.[2][10]

The C-class lifeboat was replaced with a B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat, assigned to Silloth in 1979. Developed at Atlantic College in partnership with the RNLI, the Atlantic 21-class was the first generation of rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to be placed in service. The relief lifeboat Major Osman Gabriel (B-505) was placed at Silloth for a short time, until the permanent lifeboat Amelia Gregory Armstrong (B-545) arrived in 1980. The boathouse was extended to accommodate the launch tractor.[2][10]

On 19 March 1994, a 'Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' was awarded to Helm David Litt, for his seamanship and courage bringing the lifeboat through rocks in four-foot breaking waves to rescue three boys stranded at Southerness Point.[10]

In 1994, a new larger B-class (Atlantic 75) was assigned to the station. A new boathouse was constructed on the site of the old one, in order to accommodate the larger boat and launch tractor. Crew facilities were much improved, along with a new crew-room and lookout, and a retail outlet for souvenirs. A new slipway was also constructed. The cost of the lifeboat had been met by the fundraisers from the Lake District raising £20,000, and an appeal at Silloth and Carlisle raising £41,000. At a ceremony on 11 October 1995, the boathouse was formally opened by H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent, who then named the lifeboat Spirit of Cumbria (B-714).[12]

Helm Steven Henderson was awarded a 'Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' in 2002, for his command of the lifeboat during the rescue of two people from the yacht Susilla, in difficulty in force 7–8 winds, on 26 November, 2002.[10]

Launch of B-class (Atlantic 85) Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828)

Spirit of Cumbria (B-714) served the station for 13 years. Funded from the bequest of the late Mr Donald Wilkinson, she was replaced by a new B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat, Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828), placed on service on Saturday 15 November 2008.[2]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Silloth.[10]

  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
David Litt, Helm - 1994
Steven Henderson, Helm - 2002

Silloth lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON[a] Name In service[13] Class Comments
Pre-362 Angela and Hannah 1860–1867 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Pre-502 Angela and Hannah 1867–1885 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2]
Renamed Mary Louisa after 1876.
81 Emma Frisby 1885–1896 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
Station Closed in 1896
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No.[b] Name In service[2] Class Comments
D-146 Unnamed 1967–1969 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-144 Unnamed 1970–1975 D-class (RFD PB16)
C-502 John Gilpin 1975–1977 C-class (Zodiac Grand Raid IV)
C-503 Unnamed 1977–1979 C-class (Zodiac Grand Raid IV)
B-505 Major Osman Gabriel 1979–1980 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-545 Amelia Gregory Armstrong 1980–1995 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-714 Spirit of Cumbria 1995–2008 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-828 Elaine and Don Wilkinson 2008– B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type In service[2] Comments
TA20 EHO 416S Ford Tractor <1992–1994
TW15 E592 WNT Talus MB-764 County 1994–1998
TW02 LRU 581P Talus MB-764 County 1998–2003
TW38 N469 XAW Talus MB-764 County 2003–2013
TW35 N506 WNT Talus MB-764 County 2013–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 30-foot x 7-foot (6-Oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  2. ^ 32-foot (10-Oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  3. ^ 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.

References

  1. ^ "Cumberland XX.II". Maps. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  3. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. IV (38): 335. 1 October 1860. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. VI (69): 722. 1 July 1868. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Latest Shipping Intelligence". The Times. No. 28530. London. 20 January 1876. col C, p. 10.
  6. ^ "Royal National Lifeboat Institution". The Times. No. 28543. London. 4 February 1876. col E, p. 6.
  7. ^ "Tweed, of Greenock". The Lifeboat. IX (101): 587–588. 1 August 1876. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. XII (137): 640. 1 August 1885. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Summary of the meeting of the committeeOP THE COMMITTEE". The Lifeboat. XVI (182): 657–658. 2 November 1896. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Silloth's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Inshore Rescue Boats". The Lifeboat. XXXVIII (407): 3. March 1964. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Naming Ceremonies" (PDF). The Lifeboat. 54 (534): 87. Winter 1995. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  13. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
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