Swanage Lifeboat Station


Swanage Lifeboat Station is located on Peveril Point, a headland on the east-facing coast of the Isle of Purbeck and is part of the town of Swanage in Dorset, England.
A lifeboat was first stationed at Swanage by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on 16 September 1875.
The station underwent extensive re-development in 2015/16 with a new purpose built boat house to accommodate its new All-weather lifeboat, and was opened in 2017.
The station currently operates 13-13 George Thomas Lacy, a All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2016, and Roy Norgrove, a Inshore lifeboat, on station since 2023.
WWW rnli.org/find-my-nearest/...

History

On 23 January 1875, the brigantine Wild Wave of Exeter, carrying a cargo of coal bound for Poole, was wrecked at Peveril Point. Efforts to save the crew failed on the first day, but putting out the following day, the crew of four men and a boy were rescued. H.M. Coastguard Officer John Lose was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.
Prompted by the wreck, an application for a local lifeboat was made to the RNLI by local residents. On 4 March 1875, at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management, following the visit and recommendation by the Inspector of Lifeboats, the establishment of a station at Swanage was agreed.
A lifeboat house, with a stone slipway for launching the boat, was constructed on a suitable site granted by the Earl of Eldon, costing £526. A 35-foot 'Pulling and Sailing lifeboat, one with both sails and oars, was sent to the station. The boat was presented to the Institution by S. J. Wilde on behalf of his aunt, the late Miss M. K. Wilde of London.
A large crowd gathered on 16 September 1875 to witness the service of dedication and naming ceremony of the new lifeboat. After prayers by the Rev. B. D. Travers, the boat was named Charlotte Mary, at the request of the benefactor, in memory of her two sisters. Joined by lifeboats from and, the new Swanage boat was launched, and its self-righting capabilities demonstrated to the assembled spectators.
The lifeboat's first service was on 13 March 1876, when it saved a ketch, the William Pitt of Poole, when it drifted ashore near Bournemouth.
In 1890, the slipway was lengthened. In 1902, gas was laid onto the lifeboat house, and the station's first motor lifeboat arrived in 1928.

1992 renovation

Work was carried out on the boathouse in 1992 to make room for the station's new lifeboat. This included an extension to the side of the boathouse and an increase in the roof's height. Work was also undertaken on the slipway.
On 3 September 1992, the new lifeboat was named 12-23 Robert Charles Brown, in honour of Robert Charles Brown BEM, who was a lifeboatman at the station for over fifty years.

Inshore lifeboats

On 3 April 1993 a Inshore lifeboat was sent to the station for evaluation, and a new slipway was built the following year to accommodate it. In 1995, the ILB was given permanent status, and a new Inshore lifeboat Phyl Clare 2 was placed on service on 8 April.
A shoreworks project including extra parking which cost £13,333 was completed in July 2002.
On 27 August 2003, a new ILB, the Jack Cleare was placed on service, with Phyl Clare 2 being withdrawn.
On 12 July 2012, the Phyl & Jack was placed on service, with the Jack Cleare being withdrawn. This lifeboat was funded in part by a gift and bequest from Mrs Phyl Cleare.
In December 2023, Swanage Lifeboat station welcomed Roy Norgrove as their new Inshore Lifeboat, replacing Phyl & Jack which had been on service for 12 years.

2016 rebuild

In November 2014, the RNLI's contractors arrived on site to start modifications of the boathouse. The Robert Charles Brown had its final slipway launch on 1 February 2015.
On 8 April 2016, the lifeboat arrived, and was officially placed on service on 20 April. The Robert Charles Brown left Swanage for the last time on 22 April, after more than 23 years of service. On 8 November, trials for the new Shannon class slipway began, and the boat moved into its boathouse on 14 December. On 13 February 2017, the Phyl & Jack was moved into its new boathouse.
On 29 April 2017, the lifeboat 13-13 was officially named the George Thomas Lacy, and the new lifeboat station was officially opened. The new lifeboat station was opened to the public on 1 May. The new station cost a total of £8 million, more than £465,000 of which was raised locally.

Rescues and awards

Over the years, Swanage Lifeboat Station crew have been involved in many rescues. Ten RNLI medals for gallantry, five silver and five bronze have been awarded, the last in 1996.