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Tynemouth Lifeboat Station

Tynemouth Lifeboat Station
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station is located in Tyne and Wear
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station
Tyne and Wear
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationTynemouth Lifeboat Station
AddressFish Quay
Town or cityNorth Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE30 1JA
CountryUK
Coordinates55°00′32.7″N 1°25′58.4″W / 55.009083°N 1.432889°W / 55.009083; -1.432889
Opened1789
1862 RNLI
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Tynemouth Lifeboat Station is located on the River Tyne, at Fish Quay, North Shields, in the county of Tyne and Wear.

A lifeboat was first stationed across the River Tyne in South Shields in 1789, with a second lifeboat placed in North Shields in 1798, both operated by the Tyne Lifeboat Institution (TLI).

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) currently operates a Severn-class lifeboat 17-34 Osier (ON 1263), and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Little Susie (D-829).[1]

History

In the late 1700s, two lifeboats were operated at Tynemouth by the Tyne Lifeboat Institution (TLI), both built by Henry Greathead, to an amalgamated design of both Greathead and William Wouldhave. At the time, the mouth of the River Tyne was particularly treacherous in poor weather, many ships lost, but many lives saved.[2]

Safety would be radically improved in later years, with the construction of the North and South Tyne Piers, building starting in 1854, but only completed in 1910.[3]

The first lifeboat, known as Original, was wrecked in 1830. The Tyne Lifeboat Institution would not have the funds for a replacement until 1833. In 1832, a request for a lifeboat was placed by the Port of Newcastle Shipwreck Association with the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), who supplied a 26-foot Palmer-type non-self-righting lifeboat, arriving in October 1832, to be managed by the TLI. A new boathouse had been constructed at Prior's Haven. The boat was on service for 10 years, until it was badly damaged in 1842, and scrapped.[4]

Tyne lifeboat on display in South Shields

The Tyne Institution would maintain their fleet of lifeboats, providing 2 new boats and a new boathouse at South Beach, South Shields, in 1841–2. On 4 December 1849, the Tyne Institution lifeboat Providence was launched to the aid to the brig Betsy, which had run ashore at Herd sands. Whilst alongside the vessel, the Providence was capsized. Tyne was launched, and picked up three survivors still holding onto the Providence, and North Shields lifeboat Northumberland rescued the crew of the Betsy, plus one lifeboat man who had managed to get aboard. 20 of the 24 crew of the Providence were lost.[5]

It was as a result of this disaster that Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland, of Alnwick Castle, president of the RNIPLS, set a competition for the design of a Self-righting lifeboat, which was won by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth. This design would become the basis for lifeboats for many years afterwards.[6]

In 1862, following a series of shipwrecks in and around Prior's Haven, it was suggested that the (now) RNLI should place a lifeboat at a new station at Prior's Haven. A new boathouse was constructed, and the Constance, a 33-foot self-righting 10-oared lifeboat, arrived in November 1862. The Prior, a TLI boat, was relocated from Prior's Haven to South Beach, South Shields.[5][7]

Following the wreck of the Stanley in 1864, it was decided to place a second lifeboat at Tynemouth, with the RNLI building a new station at Black Middens. Both lifeboat services would operate alongside each other until the early 1900s, often responding to the same shipwreck, one or other standing by while a rescue was performed. However, in 1905, everything changed when the RNLI placed a motor-powered lifeboat at Tynemouth, followed soon after by the completion of the Piers. A motor lifeboat was far better placed to respond, and fewer rescues were required, with the mouth of the River Tyne now protected. The TLI would be renamed the Tyne Lifeboat Society (TLS) in 1905, maintaining the last of their lifeboats until the 1940s. The RNLI No.2 station was closed.[1][2]

After some years with the motor lifeboat moored afloat, the RNLI took over a boathouse belonging to the War-office in 1921. It was located right next to the Tyne Lifeboat Society boathouse at Clifford's Fort. The lifeboat was mounted on a trolley, which could be winched up or down a trolley-way. In 1941, bombs dropped in a war-time air-raid destroyed the Tyne Lifeboat house, containing the James Young lifeboat, and the RNLI boathouse, containing the John Pymont (ON 824).[8] A replacement boathouse and slipway would be constructed at the same location in 1947.

To commemorate the centenary of the Tynemouth lifeboat station, a stained glass window, showing a picture of the Original lifeboat, was unveiled by Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Northumberland at the Seamen's Chapel of Christ Church, North Shields on 16 September 1962.[9]

1965 would see the arrival of the first Tynemouth Inshore lifeboat, one of the earliest inshore D-class (RFD PB16) boats numbered D-12. When a new All-weather Arun-class lifeboat arrived in 1980, the boat would once again be moored afloat. A replacement station building, housing the Inshore lifeboat, launched with the use of a davit, and a mooring for the All-weather boat were provided in 1997. A 25-knot Severn-class lifeboat 17-20 Spirit of Northumberland (ON 1242) would be placed on service in 1999. After serving 22 years, she would be removed from service, and sent to the RNLI Headquarters at Poole, to be the second Severn-class boat to receive what is known as a SLEP upgrade (Severn Life Extension Programme), to allow a further 25 years of service.[1][10]

The Tyne lifeboat of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution is restored and on display at South Shields.[11] The Bedford lifeboat of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution has been restored, and is in storage awaiting a suitable display location.[12]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Tynemouth[9][13]

Capt. Herbert Edgar Burton - 1914
Robert Smith, Coxswain - 1914
  • Gold Medals, awarded by the Tynemouth Trust
The Tynemouth Lifeboat Crew - 1914
Henry Strachan, River Pilot - 1829
William Tully, a Pilot - 1832
T Thorp, storekeeper of the rockets - 1839
John Cunningham, Rocket Apparatus Superintendent - 1843
William Wheeler, Thames River Pilot - 1851
Lawrence Byrne, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard, - 1864
James Gilbert, Coxswain - 1886
James Gilbert, Coxswain - 1898 (Second-Service Clasp)
Captain H E Burton - 1913
Coxswain Robert Smith - 1913
James S. Brownlee, Second Coxswain - 1914
Cdr. Basil Hall, RN, Lifeboat Inspector - 1914
Robert Smith, Coxswain - 1916 (Second-Service Clasp)
James S. Brownlee, Second Coxswain - 1916 (Second-Service Clasp)
John Hogg, Coxswain - 1986
  • Silver Medal Service Certificate
Martin Kenny, Second Coxswain - 1986
John Watson, Motor Mechanic - 1986
Trevor Fryer, crew member - 1986
James Griffiths, crew member - 1986
David Lisle, crew member - 1986
John Norris, crew member - 1986
  • Silver Cup, awarded by HM King of Norway
Coxswain - 1918
  • Silver Medals, awarded by HM King of Norway
The Tynemouth Lifeboat Crew - 1918
  • Medals, awarded by HM King of Norway
The Crew of the private lifeboat Tom Perry -1918
Michael Campbell, Ordinary Seaman, RNVR - 1926
Edward Selby Davidson, Honorary Secretary of the Tynemouth Branch - 1941
George Lisle, Coxswain - 1941
Trevor Fryer, crew member - 1974
Frederick Arkley, crew member - 1974
  • The Maud Smith Award 1986
    (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)
Capt. John Hogg, Coxswain - 1986
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Trevor Fryer, Helmsman - 1982
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Martin Kenny, Coxswain - 1998
Kevin Mole, Helmsman - 2003
Michael Nugent, Coxswain - 2022
  • A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Kevin Mole, Mechanic - 1998
Geoffrey Cowan, Assistant Mechanic - 1998
Edwin Chapple, crew member - 1998
Michael Nugent, crew member - 1998
  • Commendations by the Lifesaving Operations Director of the Institution
Dan Howe, crew member - 2022
Michael Brown, crew member - 2022
Rob Blake, crew member - 2022
Andrew King, crew member - 2022
Joe Smiles, crew member - 2022
  • American Cross of Honour for services and good seamanship
Major H. E. Burton - 1916
  • The Morley Medal of the Outward Bound Trust
Kenneth Smith, crew member - 1959
  • Royal Humane Society's Testimonial on Parchment
PC Robert Rutherford, crew member, 1959
Kenneth Middlemiss, Honorary Secretary - 1993[14]

Tynemouth lifeboats

Tyne Lifeboat Institution

Name In service Station Comments
Original 1789–1830 South Shields, Coble Landing Built by Greathead.
Wrecked in 1830
Northumberland 1798–1842 North Shields, Clifford's Fort Built by Greathead
Unnamed 1832–1842 North Shields, Prior's Haven RNIPLS lifeboat, 26-foot Norfolk & Suffolk (P&S), managed by the TLI.[4] Badly damaged, and scrapped in 1842.
Tyne 1833–1887 South Shields, Coble Landing Built by J Oliver of South Shields
Providence 1841–1862 South Shields, South Beach
Prior 1842–1862 North Shield, Prior's Haven Transferred to South Beach in 1862 on arrival of RNLB Constance
Northumberland 1842–1884 North Shields, Clifford's Fort
Prior 1862–1878 South Shields, South Beach
Providence 1862–1872 South Shields, Coble Landing
Tom Perry 1872–1938 South Shields, Coble Landing
Willie Wouldhave 1878–1947 South Shields, South Beach Destroyed by arson, along with the boathouse, 1947
James Young 1884–1941 North Shields, Clifford's Fort Destroyed in a wartime air-raid, 1941
Bedford 1886–1937 South Shields, Coble Landing Built by Lancelot Lambert at the Lawe Building Yard. Fitted with an engine, 1935[12]

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

No.1 Station (Prior's Haven)

ON[a] Name In service[4] Class Comments
– Constance 1862–1864 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Sent for repairs, 1864.
– Robert Whitworth 1864–1865 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2]
– Constance 1865–1875 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
Damaged beyond repair, 1875.
– Charles Dibdin 1875–1888 37-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4]
204 Charles Dibdin 1889–1905 37-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 5]

No.2 Station (Black Middens)

ON[a] Name In service[4] Class Comments
– Pomfret and Goole 1865–1872 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 6]
216 Forester 1872–1900 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 7]
455 Forester 1900–1905 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 8]

All-weather motor lifeboats (Clifford's Fort and Fish Quay)

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name In service[4] Class Comments
343 – J. McConnell Hussey 1905–1911 38-foot Self-righting (Motor) Moored afloat
613 – Henry Vernon 1911–1918 40-foot Self-righting (motor)
646 – Henry Frederick Swan 1918–1939 40-foot Self-righting (motor)
824 – John Pymont 1939–1941 41ft Watson Destroyed in a wartime air-raid, 1941
646 – Henry Frederick Swan 1941–1947 40-foot Self-righting (motor)
852 – Tynsider 1947–1979 46ft 9in Watson
945 – Princess Alexandra of Kent 1979–1980 52-foot Barnett
1061 52-13 George and Olive Turner 1980–1999 Arun
1242 17-20 Spirit of Northumberland 1999–2021 Severn
1263 17-34 Osier 2021– Severn

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No.[b] Name In service[4] Class Comments
D-12 Unnamed 1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-49 Unnamed 1965–1966 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-50 Unnamed 1966–1968 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-144 Unnamed 1969–1970 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-172 Unnamed 1970–1981 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-280 Unnamed 1981–1989 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-385 Unnamed 1989–1998 D-class (EA16)
D-535 The Cromer Smuggler 1998–2008 D-class (EA16)
D-693 Mark Noble 2008–2018 D-class (IB1)
D-829 Little Susie 2018– D-class (IB1)
  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ 33-foot 10-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London.
  2. ^ Built for Bridlington, sent to Tynemouth for temporary cover.
  3. ^ 33-foot 10-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London.
  4. ^ 37-foot 12-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Woolfe of Shadwell
  5. ^ 37-foot 12-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Henderson of Partick
  6. ^ 32-foot 10-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London.
  7. ^ 33-foot 10-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London.
  8. ^ 34-foot 10-oared Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Thames Ironworks

References

  1. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. ^ a b Morris, Jeff (May 1995). The History of the Tynemouth Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–54.
  3. ^ "The Tyne's Piers". Port of Tyne. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
  5. ^ a b Landells, Steve. "The Story of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution and Volunteer Life Brigades". RNLI. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  6. ^ "The Beeching Model". The Lifeboat. 33 (369). September 1854. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Launch of a New Life-Boat at Tynemouth". RNLI. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Tynemouth Lifeboat Station". Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Tynemouth's Station history". RNLI. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Update: extending the life of our biggest lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  11. ^ "The Tyne Lifeboat". Visit South Tyneside. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b White, Andrew (21 May 2023). "South Shields lifeboat, the Bedford, restored by maritime trust". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  13. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0-907605-89-3.
  14. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
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