Llanddulas Lifeboat Station

Llanddulas Lifeboat Station was in the village of Llanddulas, located between Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy, on the north coast of Wales.

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1869.

The station was closed on Dec 1st 1932, when a motor-powered lifeboat was due to be placed at Llandudno.

History
Following the loss of the Guardian Angel and 8 of the 15 crew, off Abergele on 2 December 1867, the Rhyl Lifeboat Station requested of the RNLI that a lifeboat be placed at Abergele, which was agreed. A boat was constructed, and sent to Abergele on the 8 January 1868, just at the moment that Rhyl had damaged their own lifeboat, so it was diverted and kept at Rhyl. It would be launched twice on service before the Rhyl boat returned.

However, in the period in-between, the decision was reconsidered, and on its return from Rhyl 18-months later, the lifeboat was placed at Llanddulas, instead of Abergele. Mr. Robert Bamford-Hesketh of Gwrych Castle provided a site, and £150, for the construction of a boathouse. The Llanddulas station opened on 25 September 1869.

The boat, a 33-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, had been constructed by Forrestt of Limehouse, and named the Henry Nixson No.2 after the benefactor. The legacy had already funded an earlier boat Henry Nixson, placed at Maryport in 1865. Robert Williams was appointed Coxswain, and Richard Williams was Second Coxswain, both men from H.M. Coastguard. The crew was made up of men from the local quarry.

Having been called upon twice while temporarily at Rhyl, it would be nearly seven years before the boat was required again. On 30 July 1876, she was called to the aid of the Eagle of Llandudno, and rescued five people.

On 14 May 1884, on her last service, the lifeboat was launched to the aid of the brigantine St. Olaf of Norway, on passage to Connah's Quay, which had capsized in Colwyn Bay and drifted ashore. Seven were rescued from the wreck.



Shortly after a new lifeboat was placed at Llanddulas, Mary Jane Gould (ON 69), Second Coxswain Richard Roberts would be awarded the RNLI Silver Medal in 1886, for his actions without the lifeboat. With a rope tied around him, he waded out in the breaking surf to the Dido, which had been driven ashore at Llanddulas, and managed to get a line to the men on the boat, who were then hauled ashore.

In a fierce storm, the schooner Ocean Queen was driven on to the rocks at Penmaen Head on 7 November 1890. Attempts to launch the lifeboat failed due to the conditions. A handful of men from the local quarry, including usual lifeboat crew member John Roberts, took a small boat near to the wreck, and attempted multiple times to launch. On the eighth attempt, they were successful, and rescued the 4 crew off the Ocean Queen. For their efforts, they were awarded RNLI silver medals.

In 1909, the 36-foot Liverpool-class non-self-righting lifeboat Brother and Sister (ON 598) was placed on station. The boathouse had to be extended to accommodate the boat. In the next 23 years on station, the lifeboat would be launched just 4 times, but rescue six lives. Finally, with less sailing vessels at sea, and with the imminent introduction of a motor-lifeboat at Llandudno (in 1933), the days were numbered for the station. Llanddulas Lifeboat Station was closed on 1 December 1932.

The Llanddulas lifeboat had been launched just 15 times in 63 years, but 21 lives had been saved. The Brother and Sister (ON 598) was sold in 1932. It is not known what became of the boat. The boathouse is still standing, and is a private residence.

Station honours
The following are awards made at Llanddulas


 * RNLI Silver Medal
 * Richard Roberts, Second Coxswain - 1886


 * John Jones, Quarryman - 1890
 * David Roberts, Mason - 1890
 * John Roberts, Quarryman - 1890
 * Hugh Williams, Labourer - 1890
 * William Williams, Quarryman - 1890
 * William Williams, Grocer - 1890

Llanddulas lifeboats

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