Penarth Lifeboat Station

Penarth Lifeboat Station
Gorsaf Bad Achub Penarth
Penarth Lifeboat Station
Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationThe Esplanade, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, CF64 3AU, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°25′57″N 3°10′08″W / 51.43250°N 3.16889°W / 51.43250; -3.16889
Opened
  • 1861– 1905
  • 1980–present (ILB)
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Penarth RNLI Lifeboat Station

Penarth Lifeboat Station (Welsh: Gorsaf Bad Achub Penarth) is located on the Esplanade in Penarth, a town and seaside resort on the north coast of the Bristol Channel, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Cardiff, in the county of Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

A lifeboat was first stationed at Penarth by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1861. The station was closed in 1905, with services transferred to other local stations until 1980, when the station reopened on Penarth seafront with an Inshore lifeboat.[1][2]

The station currently operates an Atlantic 85-class Inshore lifeboat, (B-839) Maureen Lilian (B-839), on station since 2010, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, Spirit of Penarth II (D-822), on station since 2018.[3]

History

The Bristol Channel has always been a hazardous stretch of water because of the extreme tidal range. There are very strong currents or rips close inshore, with speeds that exceed 7 knots (13 km/h), for several hours at each tide. The rise and fall of the tides at Penarth are the second highest recorded anywhere in the world [4]

At a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday, 6 September 1860, a letter of 13 August was read, from James B. Bryan, Chief Officer of H.M. Coastguard Penarth, requesting that a lifeboat be placed at Penarth, which would receive good county support. Another letter, of 7 August 1860, had been received from Mr George Gay, an architect and builder, of Cotham Park, Bristol, who wished to present the Institution with £180 for the purchase of a lifeboat, and £20 as a donation. It was agreed that a lifeboat would be provided to Penarth, with the gift appropriated to the station.[5][6]

A 30-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars, was sent to Penarth in January 1861, and named George Gay after the donor.[7]

The lifeboat was housed in a shed, built near to where Penarth Yacht Club now stands, at the southern end of Penarth beach, and controlled by staff located at the Coastguard cottages and Trinity House lookout tower on Tower Hill near Marine Parade.

The manually powered (rowing) or "pulling boats" were 30 feet in length and were powered by 12 oars. They had cork in their hull and shaped air-cases fore and aft.[8] The boats were self-righting and their double-ended designs could operate a rudder from either end, so there was no need to turn.

The Penarth lifeboat was renamed Baroness Windsor in 1865, remaining so named until the lifeboat was found to be completely rotten in 1868, and replaced. The new boat, a 32-foot self-righting lifeboat, was again named George Gay.[9]

In 1883, when the Yacht Club and the raised concrete esplanade were constructed along Penarth seafront, an All-weather lifeboat was relocated to a yard and temporary slipway near the Taff Vale Railway Marine Hotel on the Dock Beach, where it remained until 1905.[10]

The Penarth lifeboat was withdrawn from service in 1905 and all services transferred to the new Barry Dock Lifeboat Station, and the station at Weston-super-Mare. The lifeboat on station at the time of closure, Joseph Denman (ON 295), was transferred to Fishguard. Penarth would have no lifeboat service for the next 75 years, until a new station opened in 1980.[11]

Some historic rescues by the Penarth lifeboat

Date of incident Vessel in distress Penarth Lifeboat Details
18 November 1864 Far West George Gay The Penarth lifeboat was towed by the paddle tug Marquis to the English and Welsh grounds near the mouth of the River Usk, where the full-rigger Far West of Newport was aground with 22 crewmen, having lost her anchors, hawsers and windlass off Lundy. The Penarth lifeboatmen were put aboard, her anchors recovered and she was eventually re-floated, before being towed to Bristol for repairs.[12]
17 November 1867 Marie Baroness Windsor The brig Marie from Griefswald, Prussia lost her anchor and cables and was driven up the Bristol Channel and into shallow waters by high winds, after rescue attempts by three tugs and two pilot skiffs failed. After ten hours of rowing, the Penarth lifeboat managed to manoeuvre under her lee and rescued all 11 sailors. The lifeboat crew were as exhausted as the rescued seamen and suffering from exposure.[13]
1 November 1872 Jernbyrd George Gay (II) The Norwegian barque Jernbyrd and the Magna Charta from Halifax, Nova Scotia, collided during a heavy gale in Penarth Roads. The Canadian ship freed herself but the Norwegian vessel was holed below the water line and the Penarth lifeboat launched to assist. The Norwegian captain asked the lifeboat to stand by while his crew attempted repairs; they stayed alongside all night until dawn when the ship was towed to Cardiff for repairs.[14]
8 December 1872 Eleanor George Gay (II) During a bad storm the brig Wallace rolled over and sank with all hands and a Nova Scotian barque also sank with its full crew. The Penarth lifeboat launched to assist the Eleanor of Quebec that had gone aground on Cardiff Sands. They rescued five crew members but the ship’s mate refused to leave his vessel. The following day the lifeboat rowed out twice with crew members who re-boarded and were able to re-float her and sail to Cardiff.[14]
7 March 1877 Crocodile Joseph Denman The Penarth lifeboat launched to assist the brig Crocodile from Dartmouth, that had gone aground on Cardiff Sands in high winds. The brig was re-floated on the flood tide and continued its journey to Cardiff docks.[15]
14 October 1881 Febo Joseph Denman The barque Febo from Genoa was driven up the Bristol Channel by a stiff gale until she was off Penarth Roads in poor shape, her fore and main masts broken at deck level and her anchors lost. The Penarth lifeboat launched and put several lifeboat men on board to jury-rig temporary sails. The vessel was taken in tow by a tugboat and the lifeboat took 14 crew members to the shore.[16]
27 January 1884 Juan de la Vega Joseph Denman The Spanish brigantine was bound for Cardiff with a heavy cargo of pit-props and found itself in difficulty off Lavernock Head. The lifeboat men from Penarth repaired the rigging and commenced pumping her out while she was towed to Cardiff dock by a tug.[17]

1980s onwards

With the regular daily hovercraft service between Penarth to Weston-super-Mare, coupled with an increase in leisure boating generated by a new water skiing club, it was decided in 1980 to re-establish lifeboat services at Penarth, with the provision of an inflatable D-class Inshore lifeboat. The new boat was located at the original site next to Penarth Yacht Club, housed in an unused storehouse and launched down the yacht club’s jetty.[18]

The current boathouse was built in 1995 to house a B-class lifeboat. Also provided were a Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor, a workshop, an RNLI souvenir shop, a fuel store and improved crew facilities. The following year a B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat arrived, for a temporary duty at the station. That boat was replaced four months later by the Atlantic 75-class Spirit of Penarth (B-725) and the D-class (EA16) Severn Rescuer (D-534). The D-class lifeboat is launched using a TC45 tractor and carriage.[19]

In 2010 Spirit of Penarth (B-725) was withdrawn from service, and replaced with the Atlantic 85-class Maureen Lilian (B-839).[20]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Penarth[21]

For the rescue of three men from the Mosquito-class yacht Firefly, 16 June 1907
Daniel Rees, Solicitor – 1907
For the rescue of three men from the Mosquito-class yacht Firefly, 16 June 1907
Ivor Rees, Engineer – 1907
  • Thanks of the Institute inscribed on Vellum
For the rescue of a yacht close to Lavernock point on 2 May 2011.
Jason Dunlop, Helm – 2012
Aran Pitter, crew member – 2012
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
For rescuing a man cut off by the tide on 25 May 2002.
Simeon Rabaiotti, Helm – 2002

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Penarth lifeboat.[1]

  • Lost whilst attempting to rescue a man, who had gone overboard from his own boat, in high winds and rough seas, 11 November 1891
John Charles Frederick Jackson, lifeboat man (53)
Mr Redmond

Penarth lifeboats

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

ON[a] Name Built On station[22] Class Comments[23]
Pre-371 George Gay 1860 1861–1865 30-foot Self-Righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Renamed Baroness Windsor in 1865.
Pre-371 Baroness Windsor 1860 1865–1868 30-foot Self-Righting (P&S)
Pre-516 George Gay 1868 1868–1875 32-foot Self-Righting (P&S) [Note 2]
Pre-601 Joseph Denman 1875 1875–1881 30-foot Montrose Self-Righting (P&S) [Note 3]
239 Joseph Denman 1881 1881–1897 37-foot Self-Righting (P&S) [Note 4]
295 Joseph Denman 1890 1897–1905 37-foot Self-Righting (P&S) [Note 5]
Previously T. P. Hearne at Ballycotton.
Station Closed in 1905
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

D-class

Op. No.[b] Name On station[24] Class Comments
D-120 Unnamed 1980–1981 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-279 Unnamed 1981–1989 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-384 John Cresswell 1989–1998 D-class (EA16)
D-534 Severn Rescuer 1998–2008 D-class (EA16)
D-692 Connie Dains 2008–2018 D-class (IB1)
D-822 Spirit of Penarth II 2018– D-class (IB1) [25]

B-class

Op. No.[b] Name On station[26] Class Comments
B-515 Vee Webber 1996 B-class (Atlantic 21) Previously Blue Peter II at Beaumaris
B-725 Spirit of Penarth 1996–2010 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-839 Maureen Lilian 2010– B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type On station[27] Comments
TW27Hc M741 RUX Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 1996–2006
TW26Hc M423 OAW Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2006–2021
TA87 WA58 LHG New Holland B3045 2009–2023
TW60Hc DX54 UYM Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2021–
TA140 WJ72 TFX New Holland Boomer 50 2023–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c 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, gift of Mr George Gay of Bristol, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £157.
  2. ^ 32-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr George Gay of Bristol, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £247.
  3. ^ 30-foot x 8-foot (8-oared) Montrose-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Hon. Mrs Denman of London, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £275.
  4. ^ 37-foot x 8-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Hon. Mrs Denman of London, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £392.
  5. ^ 37-foot x 8-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Hon. Mrs Denman of London, built by Watkins of Blackwall, London, costing £545 when new.

References

  1. ^ a b "Penarth's station history". Penarth Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 120.
  3. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 129.
  4. ^ Tide information
  5. ^ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee". The Lifeboat. IV (39): 372. 1 January 1861. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  6. ^ "George Gay". Parks and Gardens. The Hestercombe Gardens Trust. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. IV (41): 474. 1 July 1861. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  8. ^ "'Report of the committee appointed to examine the lifeboats submitted to compete for the premium offered by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland'". River & Rowing Museum. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  9. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. VII (73): 237. 1 July 1869. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Glamorgan Sheet XLVII". Maps. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  11. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 120.
  12. ^ "Far West, of Newport". The Lifeboat. V (57): 706. 1 July 1865. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Marie, of Griefswald". The Lifeboat. VI (67): 501. 1 January 1868. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Janbyrd & Magna Charta". The Lifeboat. IX (94): 192. 2 November 1874. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Crocodile". The Lifeboat. X (105): 176. 1 August 1877. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Febo". The Lifeboat. XI (123): 453. 1 February 1882. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Juan de la Vega". The Lifeboat. XII (133): 420–421. 1 August 1884. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  18. ^ "The re-opening of Penarth lifeboat station" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XLVII (477): 235. Autumn 1981. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Talus MB-4H Tractor". Details of the MB-4H production. Clayton Engineering Ltd. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  20. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 84.
  21. ^ "Penarth's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  22. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 8–27.
  23. ^ Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–88.
  24. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 88–99.
  25. ^ "Naming ceremony for Penarth RNLI's newest lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  26. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 80–84.
  27. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 108–109, 111–112.
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