Ackergill Lifeboat Station

Ackergill Lifeboat Station is located at Ackergill Harbour, Highland, in the NE corner of Scotland near the town of Wick, in the historic county of Caithness.

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station in 1877. After 54 years, the station closed in 1932.

History
In 1876, the 120-ton vessel Emilie, driven ashore in Sinclair Bay, near Ackergill Tower. 9 men, led by Capt. John Cormack, launched a small salmon coble to their aid, but it capsized on the first return journey with three crew of the Emilie. Only 5 men survived from the coble, and only 1 man of the 6 crew of the Emilie was saved. Capt. Cormack was posthumously awarded the Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry.

Following a public enquiry, an approach was made to the RNLI, and in 1877, they agreed to start a lifeboat station in Ackergill. The land and building materials were made available by Mr Duff Dunbar of Hempriggs, and the boathouse, designed by local architect Mr. Brims, was constructed near Ackergill Tower by local builder Mr Charleson, at a cost of £320.

With few crew available locally, a smaller 8-oar 30-foot self-righting pulling and sailing lifeboat (using oars and sail), costing £275, was constructed by Woolfe of Shadwell, the launch carriage costing a further £136-3s-0d. The cost was met with £400 raised locally, plus a further £800 from Mrs A. Bower, of Lessness Heath. The new lifeboat was transported by rail from London to Wick. On 4 March 1878, the boat was paraded through the streets and onto Reiss sands. The boat was named George and Isabella by Mrs Duff Dunbar. William Thain was appointed Coxswain, George Sutherland appointed Honorary Secretary, and Mr Duff Dunbar appointed president, of the Wick and Ackergill branch of the RNLI.

In 1886, the lifeboat house was moved from Ackergill Tower, and rebuilt on a site overlooking Ackergill harbour. The following year, on 11 January 1887, after 9 years on service, the George and Isabella would be launched on her only, but significant, service call. She would go to the aid of four fishing boats, and rescue 30 people. In the same year, a new lifeboat was provided to Ackergill. A 34-foot 10-oar self-righting lifeboat, again built by Woolfe of Shadwell, she was one of three boats provided from the legacy of Col. E.A.D. Brooshoft, of Kirk Ella, near Hull. The boat was named Jonathan Marshall, Sheffield (ON 170). Serving for nearly 20 years, the boat would launch 8 times, and rescue 11.

The Wick and Pulteneytown Harbour lifeboat was finally retired in 1895. and the RNLI started a new station at Wick, providing a new lifeboat. Hector Sutherland, Town Clerk at Wick, and Honorary Secretary of Ackergill lifeboat, was also appointed Honorary Secretary for Wick Lifeboat Station, both stations being run by the same branch committee.

In 1907, Ackergill would receive their third and final lifeboat. A 37-foot 10 oar self-righting lifeboat, constructed by Thames Ironworks, and costing £1,048. She was named Co-operator No.3 (ON 582), funded by the Co-operative Union. Launching a lifeboat at Ackergill had always proved difficult, and now a larger heavier lifeboat was placed on service. In 1909, the RNLI decided to build the first Ferro-concrete slipway, dramatically speeding up launch times, the boat now being kept under a tarpaulin cover, sitting on top of the slipway.

Launched just three times over a 25-year period, with no record of any lives saved, and with motor lifeboats placed at Wick (1921) and Thurso (1929), the days of the Ackergill pulling and sailing lifeboat were numbered. It was decided to close the station in 1932.

In 54 years service, three Ackergill lifeboats rescued 38 people. For 52 of those years, Ackergill coxswains came from the Thain family: William Thain 1876–1894; David Thain 1894–1913 and James Thain 1913–1930. The 1886 boathouse and 1909 slipway still exist.

Ackergill lifeboats

 * Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.