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Cemlyn Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 53°24′50.7″N 4°30′51.3″W / 53.414083°N 4.514250°W / 53.414083; -4.514250
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Cemlyn Lifeboat Station
Remains of Cemlyn Lifeboat Slipway
Cemlyn Lifeboat Station is located in Anglesey
Cemlyn Lifeboat Station
Cemlyn, Anglesey
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationCemlyn Bay
Town or cityCemlyn, Anglesey, LL67 0DY
CountryWales
Coordinates53°24′50.7″N 4°30′51.3″W / 53.414083°N 4.514250°W / 53.414083; -4.514250
Opened1828 / 1877
Closed1872 / 1919

Cemlyn Lifeboat Station was located on the west side of Cemlyn Bay, near the village of Cemlyn, on the north coast of Anglesey, Wales.

A lifeboat was stationed here by the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1828. Management was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1855.[1]

Cemlyn Lifeboat Station was closed in 1919.[1]

History

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The Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was founded by the Rev. James and Mrs Frances Williams in 1828. They had witnessed the loss of 140 lives from the wreck of the vessel Alert in 1823, and spent the following five years raising funds and gaining support.[2]

With the help of the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, they managed to purchase a lifeboat for Cemlyn. A 25-foot 8in 5-oar non-self-righting lifeboat costing £160 was constructed by Harton, arriving on 3 November 1828. The Rev. Owen Williams, James' son, was appointed Coxswain.[3]

When the steamship Leeds hit Harry Furlong Rocks, the Cemlyn lifeboat was launched, but another steamship Commerce had come to her aid. The majority of passengers transferred between ship in small boats, but one boat got away, unable to reach land or the Commerce. In dangerous conditions, the Cemlyn lifeboat managed to rescue the three men on board. For this service, Coxswain Owen Lloyd Williams was awarded the Silver Medal.[4][5]

On 18 December 1845, The barque Frankland, on passage from Bahia, Brazilto Liverpool, was driven ashore and wrecked at Cemaes Bay. For their gallantry in rescuing 18 crew, Silver Medals were awarded to crew members Robert Griffiths, Richard Owen and Owen Highland.[4][6]

In 1853, this lifeboat was transferred to Rhoscolyn, and Lifeboat No.4 was brought to Cemlyn from Moelfre, a 26-foot non-self-righting boat built by Harton. This lifeboat would launch nine times, and rescue 18, during her 12-year period on service. In 1855, the Anglesey Association transferred all their lifeboat to the management of the RNLI.[1]

By 1872, raising a crew at Cemlyn was getting so difficult, that the RNLI decided to close the station, and open a new one a few miles along the coast at Cemaes. The Cemlyn boat, by now the Sophia, a 30-foot self-righting pulling and sailing (P&S) lifeboat (one with oars and sails), built by Forrestt at a cost of £133-6s-3d, and on station since 1865, was transferred to Cemaes. However, within just a few years, sufficient experienced men moved to Cemlyn that it was requested that the station be reopened. A new boathouse was constructed, and a 32-foot self-righting (P&S) lifeboat arrived in October 1877. Provided by the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds (Ashton Unity), the boat was named Good Shepherd.[3]

Four further lifeboats would serve at Cemlyn, but calls became fewer. Between 1904 and 1919, the lifeboat was called just seven times, and no lives were saved. In 1919, it was decided to close Cemlyn Lifeboat station.[3]

Cemlyn Lifeboat Memorial

The last boat on station, Sir John (ON 408) was transferred to the relief fleet, before being sold in 1926.[1]

Very little evidence remains of any boathouse at Cemlyn, just part of a launchway.[7]

In 1978, a memorial was erected near the site of the former lifeboat station, to commemorate both the 150th anniversary of Cemlyn Lifeboat Station, the first one on Anglesey, and the founders, Rev. James and Mrs Frances Williams.

Station honours

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The following are awards made at Cemlyn.[3][4]

Rev. Owen Lloyd Williams, Coxswain - 1835
Robert Griffiths - 1846
Richard Owen - 1846
Owen Highland - 1846
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Rev. Owen Lloyd Williams, Coxswain - 1853
Rev. Owen Lloyd Williams, Coxswain - 1854
Augustine Vincent, Officer, P&O Steam Navigation Co. - 1854

Cemlyn lifeboats

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ON[a] Name In service[8] Class Comments
Pre-131 Unnamed 1828–1853 Palmer [Note 1]
Pre-151 Lifeboat No.4 1853–1865 Palmer [Note 2]
[Note 3]
Pre-306 Sophia 1865–1872 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4]
Station Closed 1872–1877
Pre-609 Good Shepherd 1877–1888 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 5]
154 Good Shepherd,
B. J. Nicholson(1891–) 		1888–1904 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 6]
57 Annie Collin 1904–1912 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 7]
? Unknown 1913–1914 Relief lifeboat [Note 8]
408 Sir John 1914–1919 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 9]
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 25-foot 8in 5-oared non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Harton.
  2. ^ 26-foot non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Harton.
  3. ^ Originally at Penmon, and then Moelfre.
  4. ^ 30-foot 6-oared Self-righting lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse.
  5. ^ 32-foot Self-righting lifeboat.
  6. ^ 34-foot 10-oared Self-righting lifeboat, built by Watkins and Co.
  7. ^ 34-foot self-righting lifeboat.
  8. ^ Relief lifeboat
  9. ^ 35-foot Self-righting lifeboat.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. ^ "The Lifeboats of Holyhead and Anglesey". People's Collection Wales. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Morris, Jeff (July 1986). The Closed Lifeboat Stations of Anglesey. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 15–19.
  4. ^ a b c Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0-907605-89-3.
  5. ^ "List of Historic Place names". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  6. ^ "The Late Gales". The Times. No. 19118. London. 27 December 1845. col B, p. 7.
  7. ^ "Lifeboat Station, Cemlyn Bay". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  8. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
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