Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station
Encyclopedia
Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution
(RNLI) search and rescue operations for the sea around Land's End
, Cornwall
in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat
was stationed at Sennen Cove
in 1853. Since 2009 it has operated a all weather boat (ALB) and an inshore lifeboat (ILB).
at the top of the beach in 1853 and extended it in 1864 when a larger lifeboat was sent to the station. In 1876 a new boathouse was built on the landward side of the road, but in 1896 it was replaced by a new one on the site of the original building.
A motor lifeboat was sent to the station in 1922. In preparation for this the boathouse was given a new slipway in 1919 and a turntable was provided inside so that the lifeboat could be hauled up the slipway bow-first and then turned ready for its next service. Ten years later a second slipway was provided.
In 1994 an ILB was added to the station. This is kept in the boathouse. When it was to be launched it was craned onto the slipway and taken down to the water on a carriage, but a new slipway was provided to make launching the ILB easier at low tide. At the same time the boathouse was modified to take a longer boat, and in 2001 the roof was removed and a new one installed ready for the receipt of a taller, faster lifeboat. New crew facilities were installed at the same time.
An RNLI silver medal was awarded in 1868 to both Coxswain
Nichols and Coastguard Officer
S Morrison for rescuing the sole survivor of the Devon. A later coxswain, Henry Nicholas, received a silver medal in 1909 for a meritorious service to the Fairport when it was in trouble.
In 1919 the Sennen Cove Lifeboat was recognised for rescuing eight people from the SS Falmouth Castle. A silver medal and three bronze medals being given to members of the crew. That same year saw Henry Nicholas receive another silver medal along with Second Coxswain Thomas Pender, while the 12 crew members were awarded bronze medals for saving eight people from a motor launch. One of the crew was 17 year old Henry Nicholas Junior. He later became coxswain and was awarded another bronze medal in 1964 for leading the rescue of five people from the trawler Victoire Roger which had caught fire.
A search for the sinking MV Union Crystal saw Coxswain/Mechanic H E Pengilly awarded with a silver medal. Another sinking vessel, the Tungufoss, resulted in seven lives being saved and Coxswain/Mechanic Maurice Hutchens receiving a silver medal in 1981. In 1995 Coxswain Terence George was awarded a bronze medal for the rescue of five people from the fishing vessel Julian Paul.
at Sennen Cove has an operating range of 250 nautical miles (463 km) and a top speed of 25 knots (49 km/h). Adjacent lifeboats are at Penlee Lifeboat Station
to the south, to the west, and to the north.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
(RNLI) search and rescue operations for the sea around Land's End
Land's End
Land's End is a headland and small settlement in west Cornwall, England, within the United Kingdom. It is located on the Penwith peninsula approximately eight miles west-southwest of Penzance....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
was stationed at Sennen Cove
Sennen Cove
Sennen Cove is a small coastal settlement in the parish of Sennen, in Cornwall, United Kingdom. According to the Penwith District Council, the population of this settlement was estimated at 180 persons in 2000.-Geography:...
in 1853. Since 2009 it has operated a all weather boat (ALB) and an inshore lifeboat (ILB).
History
Sennen Cove is situated just to the north of Land's End, the most westerly point in mainland England. The RNLI built a boathouseBoathouse
A boathouse is a building especially designed for the storage of boats, normally smaller craft for sports or leisure use. These are typically located on open water, such as on a river. Often the boats stored are rowing boats...
at the top of the beach in 1853 and extended it in 1864 when a larger lifeboat was sent to the station. In 1876 a new boathouse was built on the landward side of the road, but in 1896 it was replaced by a new one on the site of the original building.
A motor lifeboat was sent to the station in 1922. In preparation for this the boathouse was given a new slipway in 1919 and a turntable was provided inside so that the lifeboat could be hauled up the slipway bow-first and then turned ready for its next service. Ten years later a second slipway was provided.
In 1994 an ILB was added to the station. This is kept in the boathouse. When it was to be launched it was craned onto the slipway and taken down to the water on a carriage, but a new slipway was provided to make launching the ILB easier at low tide. At the same time the boathouse was modified to take a longer boat, and in 2001 the roof was removed and a new one installed ready for the receipt of a taller, faster lifeboat. New crew facilities were installed at the same time.
Service awards
The volunteer crews of the RNLI do not expect reward or recognition for their work, but the records include many rescues that have been recognised by letters, certificates and medals from the RNLI management. This list is just some of the most notable.An RNLI silver medal was awarded in 1868 to both Coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
Nichols and Coastguard Officer
Her Majesty's Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the service of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating air-sea rescue.HM Coastguard is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all civilian maritime Search and Rescue within the UK...
S Morrison for rescuing the sole survivor of the Devon. A later coxswain, Henry Nicholas, received a silver medal in 1909 for a meritorious service to the Fairport when it was in trouble.
In 1919 the Sennen Cove Lifeboat was recognised for rescuing eight people from the SS Falmouth Castle. A silver medal and three bronze medals being given to members of the crew. That same year saw Henry Nicholas receive another silver medal along with Second Coxswain Thomas Pender, while the 12 crew members were awarded bronze medals for saving eight people from a motor launch. One of the crew was 17 year old Henry Nicholas Junior. He later became coxswain and was awarded another bronze medal in 1964 for leading the rescue of five people from the trawler Victoire Roger which had caught fire.
A search for the sinking MV Union Crystal saw Coxswain/Mechanic H E Pengilly awarded with a silver medal. Another sinking vessel, the Tungufoss, resulted in seven lives being saved and Coxswain/Mechanic Maurice Hutchens receiving a silver medal in 1981. In 1995 Coxswain Terence George was awarded a bronze medal for the rescue of five people from the fishing vessel Julian Paul.
Description
The lifeboat station stands on the beach at the head of two slipways. The masonry walls date from 1929 but the shallowly curved metal roof was added in 2001. Inside, as well as the boathouse, is a three-storey crew facility. The ground floor is a changing room for the ILB crew, above that is a similar facility for the ALB crew, and on the top floor is a crew room.Area of operation
The RNLI aims to reach any casualty up to 50 miles (80.5 km) from its stations, and within two hours in good weather. To do this the Tamar class lifeboatTamar class lifeboat
Tamar class lifeboats are all-weather lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland...
at Sennen Cove has an operating range of 250 nautical miles (463 km) and a top speed of 25 knots (49 km/h). Adjacent lifeboats are at Penlee Lifeboat Station
Penlee Lifeboat Station
Penlee Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution search and rescue operations for Mount's Bay in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The lifeboat station was opened at Penlee Point in Mousehole in 1913 but was moved to Newlyn in 1983...
to the south, to the west, and to the north.
Current fleet
16-14 City of London III (Official Number 1294, on station 2010) B-624 Spirit of the RLC (on station 2004)Former lifeboats
'ON' is the RNLI's sequential Official Number; 'Op. No.' is the operational number painted onto the boat.Pulling and sailing lifeboats
| ON | Name | Built | At Sennen Cove | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | 1852 | 1853–1864 | 25 in 8 in (7.82 m) long. | ||
| – | Cousins William and Mary Ann of Bideford | 1864–1880 | Peake | ||
| Denzil and Maria Onslow | 1880–1893 | Peake | 33 feet (10.1 m) long. | ||
| Ann Newbon | 1893–1922 | Peake | 35 feet (10.7 m) long. | ||
Motor lifeboats
| ON | Op. No. | Name | Built | At Sennen Cove | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 674 | – | The Newbons | 1922 | 1922–1948 | Sold 1951 for use as a yacht. | |
| 856 | – | Susan Ashley | 1948 | 1948–1973 | Later used at and . Retired in 1981 and now on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard Chatham Historic Dockyard Chatham Historic Dockyard is a maritime museum on part of the site of the former royal/naval dockyard at Chatham in Kent, England.Chatham Dockyard covered 400 acres and was one of the Royal Navy's main facilities for several hundred years until it was closed in 1984. After closure the dockyard was... . |
|
| 999 | 37-28 | Diana White | 1973 | 1973–1991 | Reported as a pleasure boat in Tauanga, New Zealand. | |
| 1176 | 12-19 | The Four Boys | 1991 | 1991–1998 | Stationed at from 1999. | |
| 1121 | 47-016 | Norman Salvesen | 1988 | 1998–2010 | Formerly stationed at . | |
Inshore lifeboats
| Op. No. | Name | At Sennen Cove | Class | Type | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-450 | Anthony | 1994–1995 | D | EA16 D class lifeboat The D class lifeboat EA16 is a class of inflatable boat formally operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It has been replace by the D class lifeboat -Utilization:... |
In service 1993–2006 then transferred to the training fleet. |
| D-490 | Spirit of the ACC | 1995?–2004? | D | EA16 | |