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© Simon Robson |
The Stations are Formed |
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After the carnage of the 'Tenth of February Gale', the villagers of Flamborough made appeals to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. These were supported by a report from the District Inspector of Lifeboats and lead to the stations being established in November of 1871. As Flamborough is a headland it was decide to form two lifeboat stations, one on the north side at North Landing, and one on the south side at South Landing. The North Landing station was known as the number one station, and South Landing was the number two station. The village lies in the middle and is the same distance from both stations. The crews were formed from the fishermen.
To accommodate the new lifeboats, two lifeboat houses were built. These were constructed of red brick with grey slate roofs. They were designed by Mr. C. H. Cooke, F.R.I.B.A., the Institutions honorary architect. The North Landing station cost £185 and the South Landing station cost £185 10s. The then Secretary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution said "Substantial and well-built houses have been provide which will probably excite the admiration of those who may celebrate the centenary of the Institution". It is a testament to the builders that both houses remained standing until 1992, when the South Landing station was demolished and re-built to accommodate the new Atlantic lifeboat. The original North Landing station still remains standing today. The North Landing station, which is now closed, remained unchanged until a slipway was constructed in 1890, at a cost of £250. The boathouse was extended and the slipway was modified in 1934 in readiness for the new motor lifeboat. An electric winch was installed at this time. Although the original South Landing station was closed in 1938 it remained in use as a store for fishing gear. This house remained in its original state until 1873, when a retaining wall was built. The wall costing £70 was to hold back the clay bank at the side of the boathouse, which had begun to slip as a result of heavy rain.
Due to the steepness of the slipways at both stations, launching carriages proved to be impractical. Additional men were required to form launching crews, who would be required to haul the lifeboats over the beach on greased wooden skids. This method must have been extremely difficult, especially at low water. It is recorded on many occasions that launching crews often entered the water, sometimes neck high to get the boats afloat.
Pictures by the late John Bates former Flamborough Lifeboat Press Officer |
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![]() Designed by Simon Robson ©1998-2007 |
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