Cemlyn Lifeboat Station

Cemlyn Lifeboat Station was located on the west side of Cemlyn Bay, near the village of Cemlyn, on the north coast of Anglesey, Wales.

A lifeboat was stationed here by the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1828. Management was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1855.

Cemlyn Lifeboat Station was closed in 1919.

History
The Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was founded by the Rev. James and Mrs Frances Williams in 1828. They had witnessed the loss of 140 lives from the wreck of the vessel Alert in 1823, and spent the following five years raising funds and gaining support.

With the help of the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, they managed to purchase a lifeboat for Cemlyn. A 25-foot 8in 5-oar non-self-righting lifeboat costing £160 was constructed by Harton, arriving on 3 November 1828. The Rev. Owen Williams, James' son, was appointed Coxswain.

When the steamship Leeds hit Harry Furlong Rocks, the Cemlyn lifeboat was launched, but another steamship Commerce had come to her aid. The majority of passengers transferred between ship in small boats, but one boat got away, unable to reach land or the Commerce. In dangerous conditions, the Cemlyn lifeboat managed to rescue the three men on board. For this service, Coxswain Owen Lloyd Williams was awarded the Silver Medal.

On 18 December 1845, The barque Frankland, on passage from Bahia, Brazilto Liverpool, was driven ashore and wrecked at Cemaes Bay. For their gallantry in rescuing 18 crew, Silver Medals were awarded to crew members Robert Griffiths, Richard Owen and Owen Highland.

In 1853, this lifeboat was transferred to Rhoscolyn, and Lifeboat No.4 was brought to Cemlyn from Moelfre, a 26-foot non-self-righting boat built by Harton. This lifeboat would launch nine times, and rescue 18, during her 12-year period on service. In 1855, the Anglesey Association transferred all their lifeboat to the management of the RNLI.

By 1872, raising a crew at Cemlyn was getting so difficult, that the RNLI decided to close the station, and open a new one a few miles along the coast at Cemaes. The Cemlyn boat, by now the Sophia, a 30-foot self-righting pulling and sailing (P&S) lifeboat (one with oars and sails), built by Forrestt at a cost of £133-6s-3d, and on station since 1865, was transferred to Cemaes. However, within just a few years, sufficient experienced men moved to Cemlyn that it was requested that the station be reopened. A new boathouse was constructed, and a 32-foot self-righting (P&S) lifeboat arrived in October 1877. Provided by the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds (Ashton Unity), the boat was named Good Shepherd.

Four further lifeboats would serve at Cemlyn, but calls became fewer. Between 1904 and 1919, the lifeboat was called just seven times, and no lives were saved. In 1919, it was decided to close Cemlyn Lifeboat station.



The last boat on station, Sir John (ON 408) was transferred to the relief fleet, before being sold in 1926.

Very little evidence remains of any boathouse at Cemlyn, just part of a launchway.

In 1978, a memorial was erected near the site of the former lifeboat station, to commemorate both the 150th anniversary of Cemlyn Lifeboat Station, the first one on Anglesey, and the founders, Rev. James and Mrs Frances Williams.

Station honours
The following are awards made at Cemlyn.


 * RNLI Silver Medal
 * Rev. Owen Lloyd Williams, Coxswain - 1835


 * Robert Griffiths - 1846
 * Richard Owen - 1846
 * Owen Highland - 1846


 * The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
 * Rev. Owen Lloyd Williams, Coxswain - 1853


 * Rev. Owen Lloyd Williams, Coxswain - 1854
 * Augustine Vincent, Officer, P&O Steam Navigation Co. - 1854

Cemlyn lifeboats

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