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Mundesley RNLI Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 52°52′36.7″N 1°26′26.8″E / 52.876861°N 1.440778°E / 52.876861; 1.440778
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Mundesley RNLI Lifeboat Station
Mundesley Beach
Mundesley RNLI Lifeboat Station is located in Norfolk
Mundesley RNLI Lifeboat Station
Mundesley, Norfolk
General information
StatusClosed
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
Town or cityMundesley, Norfolk
CountryEngland
Coordinates52°52′36.7″N 1°26′26.8″E / 52.876861°N 1.440778°E / 52.876861; 1.440778
OpenedCLC 1811
NSA 1823
RNLI 1857
Closed1895

Mundesley RNLI Lifeboat Station was located in Mundesley, a village approximately 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Cromer, on the north-east coast of Norfolk.[1]

A lifeboat was first stationed at Mundesley by the Cromer Lifeboat Committee (CLC) in 1811, control passing over to the Norfolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Mariners (NSA) in 1823. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1857.[2]

After operating for 84 years, Mundesley RNLI Lifeboat Station closed in 1895.[3]

77 years later, a lifeboat service was established once again at Mundesley. The independently run Mundesley Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat was established in 1972. For information of the current service, please see:

History

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On 2 November 1810, the brig Anna (Anne) of North Shields, was wrecked at Mundesley. All eight crew, and a woman and child, were lost.[4][5]

The meeting of the Cromer Lifeboat Committee was reported just 15 days later, when they resolved to place a lifeboat at Mundesley, smaller than the one at Cromer, as long as local funding could be raised. It was later decided to adapt a beach-boat as a temporary lifeboat. In a letter of 14 October 1811 to the Lifeboat Committee, it was recorded that six 6 lives had been saved by the Mundesley lifeboat on the previous day.[6][7][8]

In 1823, the station and lifeboat were adopted by the newly formed NSA, and a new 29-foot lifeboat, built by Robson of North Shields, was placed on station.[9]

The sloop Union of Kingston-upon-Hull, on passage to Great Yarmouth, was wrecked on 19 February 1832, at Mundesley. In gale-force conditions, the Master and crew were rescued by a group of fishermen and coastguard in the Mundesley lifeboat, led by Lt. Wylde, RN.[10]

Following a meeting of the NSA on 21 Nov 1857, it was agreed to request that the RNLI take over responsibility for all their lifeboat stations, including Mundesley. This was formally agreed at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on 3 December 1857.[11]

A new 30-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars, was constructed by Forrestt of Limehouse, to the design of Peake, at a cost of £156. It was dispatched to Mundesley in 1858, and was the seventh lifeboat to be placed on the Norfolk coast, following the transfer of the management of the NSA stations.[12][13]

Following a sum of £435 received from the 'Grocers of England', via William Reed of The Grocer journal, the Mundesley station was completely renovated. A new lifeboat house was constructed, and a new 33-foot lifeboat, Grocers, was placed on station in November 1866, along with new equipment and a new carriage. The lifeboat was given free transportation from London to Norwich by the Great Eastern Railway, from where it was hauled on its carriage to Mundesley.[14][15]

On 17 November 1867, the brig George of Sunderland was on passage to Rouen, when she ran aground on the outer bank, out of reach of the rocket brigade lines. The Mundesley lifeboat Grocers was launched into the south-east gale, but the brig broke up in less than an hour, and six men drowned when the main mast fell. One man was spotted clinging to a plank. Fully clothed, lifeboat man Juniper jumped overboard with a line, and rescued the sole survivor. William Juniper was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.[16][17][18]

After 16 years service, the Mundesley lifeboat was replaced in 1882. A new 34-foot self-righting lifeboat, along with its new carriage, was transported from London to North Walsham free of charge by the Great Eastern Railway. On 21 September, a service of blessing was carried out by the Rev. Nevison Loraine of St Paul's, Chiswick. The village choir sang the hymn, "For those in peril on the sea". Funded by the gift to the Institution of £1000, from Mrs Elliott of Leytonstone, Essex, in memory of her late husband, the lifeboat was named J. H. Elliott (ON 261). The lifeboat was then launched, into rough conditions, which gave a good demonstration of her capabilities.[19][20]

The J. H. Elliott was launched at 05:30 on 28 November 1884, to the barque Embla of Stavanger, on passage from Cardiff to Christianssund with a cargo of timber, when she stranded 1 mile (1.6 km) from Mundesley in thick fog. The vessel was soon a total wreck, but all 10 crew were rescued, and were ashore by 09:30.[21]

On 10 January 1895, at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management, it was decided that Mundesley RNLI Lifeboat Station would be abolished. No reasons were recorded.[22]

It is not known if any part of the old station building still exists. The lifeboat on station at the time of closure, J. H. Elliott (ON 261), was sold from service. No further details are known.[23]

The independently run Mundesley Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat, established in 1972, now operates at Mundesley.

Station honours

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The following are awards made at Mundesley.[18]

William Juniper, crew member – 1868

Mundesley lifeboats

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ON[a] Name On Station[24] Class Comments
Pre-064 Unnamed 1823−1859 29-foot 6in non-self-righting [Note 1][9](NSA)
Pre-325 Unnamed 1858−1866 30-foot Self-righting Peake (P&S) [Note 2][13]
Pre-456 Grocers 1866−1882 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3][15]
261 J. H. Elliott 1882−1895 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4][20]
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 26-foot x 9-foot 4in (10-oared) non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Robson of North Shields, costing £130.
  2. ^ 30-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £156.
  3. ^ 33-foot x 8-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting lifeboat, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £290.
  4. ^ 34-foot x 8-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting lifeboat, costing £363.

References

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  1. ^ "Norfolk Sheet XX.NE". Maps. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 117.
  3. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 117.
  4. ^ "Effects of the late gale". Norfolk Chronicle. 10 November 1810.
  5. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (4508). 6 November 1810.
  6. ^ "Cromer Lifeboat Committee". Norfolk Chronicle. 17 November 1810.
  7. ^ "Cromer Lifeboat Committee". Norfolk Chronicle. 15 December 1810.
  8. ^ "Cromer Lifeboat Committee". Norfolk Chronicle. 2 November 1811.
  9. ^ a b "Annual Report". The Lifeboat. IV (28): 30–31. 1 April 1858. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Union". Bury and Norwich Post. 29 February 1832.
  11. ^ "Meetings of the Committee". The Lifeboat. IV (29): 84. 1 July 1858. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Additional Life-Boat Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. IV (31): 118. 1 January 1859. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Annual Report". The Lifeboat. IV (32): 138–139. 1 April 1859. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. VI (65): 455–456. 1 July 1867. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Annual Report". The Lifeboat. VI (64): 270–273. 1 April 1867. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  16. ^ "The Gale". Leeds Mercury. No. 9236. Leeds. 19 November 1867.
  17. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0907605893.
  18. ^ a b Cox 1998, pp. 144–145.
  19. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. XI (126): 658–659. 1 November 1882. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Annual Report". The Lifeboat. XII (128): 28, 32–35. 1 May 1883. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Embla". The Lifeboat. XII (135): 474. 2 February 1885. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  22. ^ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee". The Lifeboat. XVI (177): 282. 1 August 1895. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  23. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 26–27.
  24. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 6–33.
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