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]
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 Palmer type, which arrived aboard the sloopDove on 25 October 1828. The unnamed boat served until 1853.[3]
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 Peake 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 Criccieth lifeboats were taken away, and were extended by 6-feet, the Barmouth lifeboat now being 33-foot long, rowing 12-oars.[3]
1859 Barmouth Lifeboat Station
In order to accommodate the boat, a new boathouse was constructed 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) 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 Rother-class 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 D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, and both launch tractors. A new Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat arrived in March 2019, and was named 13-30 Ella Larsen (ON 1337) later that year.[5]
Shannon class Ella Larsen
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.
Station honours
During the lifetime of the station thirteen awards for bravery have been presented.
^32-foot Surf-class non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 12hp 'Weyburn' F2 petrol-engines, delivering 6½ knots, costing £3,492.
^35-foot 6in Liverpool-class non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 18hp 'Weyburn' AE4 petrol-engines, delivering 7¼ knots, costing £9,943.
^37-foot 6in Rother-class self-righting lifeboat, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, costing £240,000.
