Bridlington Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 54°04′43″N 0°11′52″W / 54.0785°N 0.1978°W / 54.0785; -0.1978
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Bridlington Lifeboat Station
Bridlington Lifeboat Station from the south
Bridlington Lifeboat Station is located in East Riding of Yorkshire
Bridlington Lifeboat Station
Location within the East Riding of Yorkshire
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationBridlington Lifeboat Station
AddressThe Spa Promenade
Town or cityBridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO15 3JH
CountryEngland
Coordinates54°04′43″N 0°11′52″W / 54.0785°N 0.1978°W / 54.0785; -0.1978
Opened2017
Cost£3 million[1]
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Official webpage

Bridlington Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station based in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Having been instituted in 1805, it is the oldest working RNLI lifeboat location in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.[2]

A new lifeboat station was opened closer to the sea in September 2017, replacing an older facility built in 1903. There are two lifeboats based at Bridlington; a Shannon-class All-weather Lifeboat (ALB), 13-22 Antony Patrick Jones (ON 1329), and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Ernie Wellings (D-852).[3]

History[edit]

In 1804, the residents of Bridlington raised the £150 needed to pay for a lifeboat, which became operational in 1805 with the first lifeboat house recorded as being operational in 1806. In December 1852, the local committee in charge of the boat relinquished control to the RNLI after they took the decision not to launch during bad weather. This was seen as the wrong decision, as three men on a stricken ship drowned, and so the committee decided the best option was to transfer control to the RNLI.[4]

A lifeboat station was built near to the harbour, but was vacated in 1903 in favour of a new build slightly to the south along Marine Drive.[5]

In 1871, a huge storm hit the east coast of England and became known as the Great Gale of 1871. Many boats were wrecked, including The Harbinger, a private lifeboat which is sometimes erroneously referred to as an RNLI boat. The storm took its toll on dozens of ships, which were trying to stay safe in Bridlington Bay, which was sometimes referred to as the Bay of Safety. Between 70 and 150 people died, including six members of the lifeboat crew from The Harbinger.[6] At the time, the RNLI boat was known as the Institution Boat and The Harbinger was known as the Fishermen's Boat.[7] After the gale, it was commented upon by some, that the design of The Harbinger led to its capsizing. A local benefactor paid for a new boat (The Seagull), of a new design and paid for a lifeboathouse to accommodate it, something that The Harbinger never had and she later became weathered after being exposed to the elements.[8]

Between 1884 and 1898, there was as secondary lifeboat in the village of Barmston some 6 miles (9.7 km) to the south of Bridlington. This was crewed by the RNLI men from Bridlington, though how long it would take them to reach the lifeboathouse at Barmston from Bridlington is unknown.[9][10][11]

A lifeboat station was opened in 1903 on South Marine Drive,[12] and in 1921, along with Boulmer Lifeboat Station, Bridlington undertook trials in launching lifeboats across open beaches into water with the aid of a specially adapted tractor.[13]

In 2017, the previous lifeboat station on South Marine Drive in the town, was replaced with a larger facility on the seashore which enabled the RNLI to house both their All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) and their Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) in the same facility. Previous to this, the ILB was housed in a separate facility from the ALB.[14] The new build lifeboat station also allows the launch vehicle and boat to stay permanently fixed when not in use. This allows for a speedier deployment into the sea when an emergency call is made.[15]

Notable launches[edit]

Old Bridlington Lifeboat Station

Great Gale of 1871[edit]

Main article: Great Gale of 1871

The Bridlington RNLI Lifeboat was launched many times and rescued 16 people from three wrecked ships.[2] The local rescue boat, Harbinger, a gift from Count Gustave Batthyany, also took to the sea and rescued sailors, but capsized and six of her crew of nine were drowned.[16]

Seagull Lifeboat (1898)[edit]

After the sinking of The Harbinger, a private donation paid for a second lifeboat (outwith of the RNLI's responsibility) which was called The Seagull. This operated in conjunction with the RNLI lifeboat until 25 March 1898, when the RNLI were called out to rescue the crew of The Seagull. The Seagull had been dashed against the sea-wall and ropes had been thrown to aid the crew. One of the RNLI crewman who had been decorated for his bravery during the Great Gale of 1871, drowned during the rescue.[17][18]

March 1915[edit]

Whilst the lifeboat was being launched to go to a stricken Minesweeper in Bridlington bay, one of the carriage horse riders was knocked off his horse, swept out to sea and drowned.[19] Two of the horses and all twelve sailors aboard the minesweeper drowned too.

The Tillie Morrison, Sheffield (1952)[edit]

On 19 August 1952, two girls, Joan Ellis and Gillian Fox, were swimming in the sea off the coast at Flamborough when they got into difficulties. The Flamborough lifeboat could not be launched as its slipway was under repair, so the Bridlington lifeboat, the Tillie Morrison, Sheffield was launched instead. Unfortunately, both girls drowned and during the search, and the lifeboat was capsized by rough seas, killing one of the lifeboatmen, bowman Robert Redhead. It was later speculated that the Bridlington lifeboat crew were unfamiliar with the area they were searching, and so were not aware of the dangerous waters around Flamborough Head.[20] A plaque at Thornwick Bay commemorates the tragedy.[21]

Station Honours[edit]

The following are awards made at Bridlington[22][23]

John Usher - 1828
George Gray - 1834
Thomas Frankish, ‘a youth’ - 1865
Henry Hutchinson, fisherman - 1890
Christopher Brown - 1893
Fred Brown - 1893
Thomas Clark - 1893
Richard Purvis - 1893
John Usher - 1893
John Edward King, Coxswain - 1973
John E King, Coxswain - 1968
John E King, Coxswain - 1972 (Second-Service clasp)
Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1979
Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 2000 (Second Service Clasp)
Andrew Brompton, Assistant Mechanic - 2000
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
John E King, Coxswain - 1967
H T Wood - 1967
Bridlington Lifeboat Crew - 1968
John E King, Coxswain - 1969
F Walkington, crew member - 1970
George William Traves, crew member - 1973
Denis Atkins, crew member - 1973
Roderick William Stott, crew member - 1973
Anthony John Ayre, crew member - 1973
Fred Walkington, crew member - 1973
Kenneth Bently crew member - 1973
Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1980
Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1985
Andrew Brompton, Helmsman - 1986
Adrian Trower, Helmsman - 2006
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
R Cooper - 1967
Bridlington Lifeboat Crew - 1969
Coxswain John E King and the five remaining crew members - 1970
John E King, Coxswain - 1972
K Bentley, crew member - 1972
Andrew Brompton, Helmsman - 1989
Andrew Day, Helmsman - 2000
Duncan Stewart, Helmsman - 2004
Fred Walkington, Retired Coxswain - 2001[24]
Roland Stork, Former Coxswain - 2004[25]
Richard Dunk - 2019[26]

Bridlington Lifeboats[edit]

All-weather lifeboats[edit]

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name In service Class Comments
– – Unknown 1805–1824 Cost defrayed by Lloyd's of London[27]
– – Unknown 1824–1865 28-foot North Country-class (P&S) [27]
– – Robert Whitworth 1865–1866 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [28]
– – Robert Whitworth (II) 1866–1871 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [28]
– – John Abbott 1871–1885 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [29]
9 – William John & Francis[c] 1885–1898 34-foot 1in Self-righting (P&S)
10 – George and Jane Walker 1898–1899 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) This lifeboat was specially designed for Barmston.[30] It spent 14 years at Barmston before being moved to Bridlington in 1898.[31]
433 – George and Jane Walker (II) 1899–1931 35-foot Self-righting (P&S)
747 – Stanhope Smart 1931–1947 35ft 6in Self-righting motor [32]
851 – Tillie Morrison, Sheffield 1947–1953 35ft 6in Self-righting motor [33][34]
914 – Tillie Morrison, Sheffield II 1953–1967 Liverpool
980 – William Henry and Mary King 1967–1988 Oakley [35]
1124 12-001 Peggy and Alex Caird 1988–1995 Mersey
1169 12-12 Marine Engineer 1995–2017 Mersey
1329 13-22 Anthony Patrick Jones 2017– Shannon Named by Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, in April 2018
[36]

Inshore lifeboats[edit]

Op. No.[b] Name In service[37] Class Comments
D-92 Unnamed 1966–1970 D-class (RFD PB16) [31]
D-188 The Lord Feoffees 1971–1983 D-class (RFD PB16) [31]
D-299 The Lord Feoffees 1984–1991 D-class (RFD PB16) [31]
D-426 Lords Feoffees II 1992–2000 D-class (EA16) [38]
D-557 Lords Feoffees III 2000–2009 D-class (EA16)
D-721 Windsor Spirit 2009–2021 D-class (IB1) [39]
D-852 Ernie Wellings 2021– D-class (IB1) [40]

Launch and recovery tractors[edit]

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type In service[37] Comments
T11 BT 4414 Clayton 1921–1922
T5 IJ 3424 Clayton 1922–1930
T16 YW 3377 Clayton 1930–1932
T25 UW 3881 FWD Ltd 1932–1948
T42 JXR 933 Case LA 1948–1954
T62 PLA 698 Fowler 1954–1965
T58 OJJ 312 Fowler 1965–1974
T60 OXO 323 Fowler 1974–1978
T87 XA 9192 Talus MBC Case 1150B 1978–1986
T100 D466 RAW Talus MB-H Crawler 1986–1998
T108 F133 FUJ Talus MB-H Crawler 1998–2000
T101 D335 SUJ Talus MB-H Crawler 2000–2008
T120 P514 HAW Talus MB-H Crawler 2008–2017
SC-T09 HF65 HUA SLARS (Supacat) 2017–2019
SC-T15 LK18 FVU SLARS (SC Innovation) 2019–
  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.
  3. ^ Spellings vary between Frances and Francis.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Plans for a new lifeboat station". York Press. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Coastal rescue". BBC News. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Bridlington's lifeboats". rnli.org. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  4. ^ Chrystal 2012, p. 69.
  5. ^ Jones 2013, p. 72.
  6. ^ "The fateful day as a Great Gale killed 150 mariners". The Yorkshire Post. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  7. ^ Jones 2013, p. 3.
  8. ^ "Genuki: BRIDLINGTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892., Yorkshire (East Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  9. ^ "BARMSTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892". genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  10. ^ "The history of Barmston". Bridlington Free Press. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  11. ^ "North division: Barmston". British History Online. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Plans for Bridlington new lifeboat station get go ahead". ITV News. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  13. ^ Leach 2018, p. 36.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Poppy (26 September 2017). "New Bridlington lifeboat station is now complete". Bridlington Free Press. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  15. ^ Davidson, Trudi (7 November 2017). "Huge crowds expected to greet Bridlington's new £2.2m new lifeboat". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Bridlington station history". RNLI. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  17. ^ Jones 2013, p. 76.
  18. ^ Stanway, Kate (1909). Britannia's Calendar of Heroes. London: G Allen & Sons. p. 94. OCLC 5957418.
  19. ^ "Bridlington Station history". RNLI. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Lifeboat disaster recalled on its 60th anniversary". The Yorkshire Post. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  21. ^ Campbell, James (August 2021). "The bravery and tragedy in the waves honoured by plaque at coastal beauty spot". Hull Daily Mail.
  22. ^ "Bridlington's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  23. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0 907605 89 3.
  24. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  26. ^ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  27. ^ a b Walkington 2005, p. 141.
  28. ^ a b Jones 2013, p. 4.
  29. ^ Jones 2013, p. 75.
  30. ^ Ellis, Linda (2014). A snapshot of Bridlington in the 1920s. Bridlington: Lodge Books. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-326-02004-0.
  31. ^ a b c d Walkington 2005, p. 142.
  32. ^ Leach 2018, p. 38.
  33. ^ "Llandudno: Historic lifeboat will return to former glory". North Wales Post. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  34. ^ "Name Tillie Morrison". National Historic Ships. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  35. ^ Leach 2018, p. 2.
  36. ^ Leach, Nicholas (1 December 2017). "New Shannon for Yorkshire arrives in style… and hail". Fishing News. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  37. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  38. ^ Floyd, Mike, ed. (Winter 1993). "What and Where? The Lifeboat Fleet of the RNLI...". The Lifeboat. 53 (526). Poole: RNLI: 131. ISSN 0024-3086.
  39. ^ "Pub raises money for new lifeboat". BBC News. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  40. ^ "Bridlington RNLI to honour Ernie Wellings in lifeboat naming ceremony". RNLI. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

Sources[edit]

  • Chrystal, Paul (2012). Lifeboat Stations of North East England; From Sunderland to The Humber, Through Time. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-1376-5.
  • Jones, Richard M. (2013). The Great Gale of 1871. Cirencester: Mereo. ISBN 978-1-909544-72-7.
  • Leach, Nicholas (2018). The Lifeboat Service in England; the North East Coast, Station by Station. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-6832-1.
  • Walkington, Fred (2005). The Bridlington Lifeboat; the first 200 years, 1805–2005. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 1-86077-335-4.
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