Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station

Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station
Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station
Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station is located in Dumfries and Galloway
Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station
Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationKirkcudbright Lifeboat Station
AddressTorrs Shore
Town or cityKirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway, DG6 4XL
CountryScotland
Coordinates54°47′40.8″N 4°03′44.7″W / 54.794667°N 4.062417°W / 54.794667; -4.062417
Opened1862
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Kirkcudbright RNLI Lifeboat Station

Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of the town and royal burgh of Kirkcudbright, at the mouth of the River Dee, overlooking the Solway Firth, in the county of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

A lifeboat was first stationed at Kirkcudbright by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1862.[1]

The station currently operates the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Sheila Stenhouse (B-814), on station since 2009.[2]

History

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At the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on 4 July 1861, a letter from Mr Samuel Cavan of Kirkcudbright, reported that a sum of money for a lifeboat and carriage, had been presented to the Port by a gentleman. The provision of both a lifeboat and carriage was agreed, and a branch of the RNLI was established in Kirkcudbright.[3]

A 30-foot Self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (6) oars, and costing £153, was sent to the station in 1862. Both lifeboat and carriage were transported by the London and North Western and the Glasgow and South Western Railway Companies to Castle Douglas, from where the boat was drawn on its carriage to Kirkcudbright. Provided by the anonymous gentleman "N. L.", the lifeboat was named Helen Lees.[4]

A boathouse was constructed in the town at Creekhead, at the top of St Cuthbert Street, at a cost of £144.[1]

The Old Lifeboat House, Kirkcudbright

The first recorded service was on the 13 November 1862, to the brig Ellen of Liverpool, driven ashore at the mouth of the River Dee. Three lives and the vessel were saved.[5]

On 30 November 1868, the lifeboat was launched to the aid of the schooner William Henry of Belfast, on passage to Maryport, wrecked on St Mary's Isle. Five lives were saved.[6][7]

In 1892, the lifeboat was relocated to Cutlers Pool. A new boathouse and slipway were constructed in 1893, at a cost of £1,200, whilst the old boathouse was sold for £20. The location meant that the crew would need to be transported to the edge of Lake Wood, and then would have to travel 1 mile (1.6 km) through woodland on foot, This was still a lot quicker to launch, then rowing out of the town harbour.[1][8]

Priscilla MacBean on display in Hastings

On 29 February 1928, Kirkcudbright lifeboat crew set off to Maryport, to exchange their old pulling and sailing lifeboat, George Gordon Moir (ON 606), for a new prototype motor-powered lifeboat. After 11 hours struggle in heavy seas and strong headwinds, they returned home. Setting off in better conditions the following day, they rowed for 16 hours to reach Maryport. After an overnight at Maryport, they collected the Priscilla MacBean (ON 655), a legacy of Edward MacBean of Helensburgh, Glasgow. The return trip took just 3 hours.[9]

A bottle washed up at West Preston Shore, Kirkbean on 14 October 1934, containing a message dated 7 October 1934. "We are stranded in Barlocco Caves. Rescue us quick or too late". The lifeboat was launched, but nobody was there.[9]

The Mary Pullman (ON 981), a 37-foot Oakley-class lifeboat, would be the last 'All-weather' lifeboat to serve at Kirkcudbright, arriving on service on 2 May 1965. In the next 24 years as Kirkcudbright lifeboat, she would be launched 89 times, and save 34 lives. By 1985, she was in need of repair, and sent for further repairs in 1987. It was decided to trial one of the fast B-class Inshore lifeboats at Kirkcudbright in July 1988, the first boat being (B-523), the former Littlehampton lifeboat Blue Peter 1, (the Blue Peter name being retained at Littlehampton).[1][9]

Mary Pullman was formally withdrawn from service in 1989, and a permanent B-class (Atlantic 21) Peter and Grace Ewing (B-585) was placed at the station in 1991. The station currently operates the B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat Sheila Stenhouse (B-814).[10]

In June 2023, William John Collins, former lifeboat mechanic, now Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Operations Manager, received the British Empire Medal, awarded in the 2023 Kings New Years Honours. Robert Ross, Senior Helm, Training Coordinator and member of Kirkcudbright lifeboat since 1983, received the 40-year long service award.[11]

Station honours

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The following are awards made at Kirkcudbright[1][12]

Andrew Lusk, farmer – 1865
George Parkhill – 1908
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
George Cossar Davidson DSM BEM, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1976
Stephen Unsworth, Acting Coxswain/Mechanic – 1985
George Cossar Davidson DSM BEM, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1977
William John Collins, Lifeboat Operations Manager – 2023NYH[13]

Kirkcudbright lifeboats

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All-weather lifeboats

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ON[a] Op.No.[b] Name On Station[14] Class Comments
Pre-392 – Helen Lees 1862−1879 30-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Pre-494 – Mackie 1879−1887 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2]
156 – Hugh and Ann 1887−1910 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
606 – George Gordon Moir 1910−1928 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4]
655 – Priscilla MacBean 1928−1931 35-foot Self-righting (motor) [15]
741 – Morison Watson 1931−1953 35-foot 6in Self-righting (motor)
872 – J. B. Couper of Glasgow 1953−1965 Liverpool
981 37-14 Mary Pullman 1965−1989 Oakley
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats

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Op.No.[b] Name On Station[16] Class Comments
B-523 Unnamed 1988 B-class (Atlantic 21) Formerly Blue Peter I at Littlehampton
B-525 Unnamed 1988–1991 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-585 Peter and Grace Ewing 1991–2006 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-814 Sheila Stenhouse 2006–2008 B-class (Atlantic 85)
B-718 Rotaract I 2008–2009 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-814 Sheila Stenhouse 2009– B-class (Atlantic 85)
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 30-foot x 6-foot 6in (6-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £153-17s-6d.
  2. ^ 32-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  3. ^ 34-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  4. ^ 35-foot x 8-foot 10in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Kirkcudbright's station history". Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 83.
  3. ^ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee". The Lifeboat. IV (42): 502. 1 October 1861. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. V (50): 341. 1 October 1863. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". Liverpool Mercury. No. 4608. Liverpool. 17 November 1862.
  6. ^ "Royal National Lifeboat Institution". Nottinghamshire Guardian. No. 1190. Nottingham. 11 December 1868.
  7. ^ "Mercantile Ship News". The Standard. No. 13833. London. 4 December 1868. p. 7.
  8. ^ "Kirkcudbrightshire Sheet LV.SW". Maps. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Rutherford, R. N.; Collin, T. R. (1991). The Story of the Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station 1862–1991shire Lifeboats. RNLI. pp. 1–68.
  10. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 83.
  11. ^ Gillespie, Stuart (9 June 2023). "Long-serving Kirkcudbright RNLI member receives British Empire Medal". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  12. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0907605893.
  13. ^ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  14. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 8–59.
  15. ^ Halstead, Simon (8 October 2020). "Who was Priscilla MacBean? Mystery solved". Kirkcudbright History Society. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  16. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 80–83.
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