Wikipedia

Dart Lifeboat Station

Dart Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) inshore lifeboat operations at Dartmouth, Devon in England. The present station was opened in 2007 although an earlier lifeboat was stationed in the town from 1878 to 1896. It operates a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat, and a B-class (Atlantic 85) inshore lifeboat.

Dart Lifeboat Station
Dart Lifeboat Station is located in Devon
Dart Lifeboat Station
Map of Devon showing Dartmouth
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationCoronation Park, North Embankment, TQ6 9NL
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates50°21′17″N 3°34′41″W / 50.354724°N 3.577995°W / 50.354724; -3.577995
Opened1867-1896 first station
2007 new station
Owner RNLI

History

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Dartmouth is a small port on the west side of the natural harbour formed by the River Dart. In the 1860s the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway established more quays on the opposite bank at Kingswear.[1] The RNLI approved that Dartmouth Lifeboat Station be established at Dartmouth in July 1876 but it was 1878 before a lifeboat arrived. During the summer the lifeboat was kept in a boat house at Sand Quay, but during the winter it was kept afloat in Warfleet Creek where it was quicker to respond to any ships in distress. It would prove difficult for the rowing lifeboat to leave the estuary of the Dart if the wind was blowing from the sea unless a tug was able to help. The station was closed in 1896 and during all that time just one effective service was provided. That was on 20 September 1887 when the crew attended a trawler near Kingswear Castle. The boat house is now used by the Dartmouth Amateur Rowing Club.[2]

In 2007 a new lifeboat was sent to Dartmouth, although the new station was to be named the Dart Lifeboat Station after the river, rather than the town. A temporary building with five years planning agreement was erected in Coronation Park.[2] The D-class lifeboat is kept on a carriage and is towed to the river for launching by a tractor; the B-class lifeboat is moored in a Drive-on Aquadock moored in the river.[3]

Station honours

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The following are awards made at Dartmouth:[4]

Albert Medal awarded by Queen Victoria

  • Mr Popplestone – 1866 (the first recipient of the award)

RNLI Silver Medal

  • Lt. William Lane, coastguard – 1838
  • Lt. James Clayton, coastguard – 1842
  • Mr William Kelland – 1893

Area of operation

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The Dart ILB has a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h) and can operate for three hours.[5] It covers the River Dart and the nearby south Devon coast. Adjacent lifeboats – both ILBs and All Weather Boats – are at Torbay Lifeboat Station to the East, and Salcombe Lifeboat Station to the West.[3]

Dartmouth and Dart lifeboats

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B-931 Frank C Samworth

Dartmouth (1878–1896)

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At Dartmouth ON Name Built Class Comments
1878–1887 — Maud Hargreaves 1878 Self-righter 30 ft (9.1 m) boat.[2][6]
1887–1896 129 Henry and Amanda Shaw 1887 Self-righter 34 ft (10 m) lifeboat.[7]

Dart (from 2007)

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At Dart Op. No. Name Class Model Comments
2007–2008 D-520 Bob Savage D EA16 [2]
2008 D-523 Peterborough Beer Festival 1 D EA16 First stationed at Redcar in 1997.[8]
2008–2019 D-702 Spirit of the Dart D IB1 [9]
2018–2020 B-794 Joan Bate B Atlantic 75 First stationed at Salcombe, after 2020 it was at Weston-super-Mare.[10]
2019– D-838 Dudley Jane D IB1 [11]
2020–2022 B-825 Norma Ethel Vinall B Atlantic 85 Initially deployed in the relief fleet in 2008.[12]
2022– B-931 Frank C Samworth B Atlantic 85 [12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Potts, C R (1998). The Newton Abbot to Kingswear Railway (1844 - 1988). Oxford: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-387-7.
  2. ^ a b c d Leach, Nicholas (2009). Devon's Lifeboat Heritage. Chacewater: Twelveheads Press. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-0-906294-72-7.
  3. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. p. 115.
  4. ^ "Dartmouth station history". RNLI. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  5. ^ Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
  6. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021 (2021 ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  7. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 8–9.
  8. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 81.
  9. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 84.
  10. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 69.
  11. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 86.
  12. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 70–71.
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