Rhoscolyn Lifeboat Station

Rhoscolyn Lifeboat Station was located at Porth-y-Corwgl, near the village of Rhoscolyn, on the west coast of Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales.

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1830, before being transferred to the management of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1855.

After 99 years service, the Rhoscolyn Lifeboat Station was closed in 1929.

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.

The Association opened Rhoscolyn Lifeboat station in 1830. A stone boathouse measuring 30-foot x 10-foot was constructed, and a 26-foot lifeboat, designed by Palmer, costing £60, was built by Harton of Limehouse.

On December 31st, 1845, the vessel Alhambra was heading for the rocks in a gale. Whilst the lifeboat was being launched, Owen Jones swam across to the small island Ynys Traws, and waved a flag to warn the vessel of its impending fate. The Master immediately dropped anchor, saving the vessel from the rocks, and 23 crew were rescued by the lifeboat. Owen Jones was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.

A replacement lifeboat was placed at Rhoscolyn in 1853, a 25-foot 8in lifeboat previously built for Cemlyn. On 15 March 1855, she would be called to the vessel Southern Cross, wrecked on Maen y Sais rocks, and rescue 17 of the 18 crew.

A new replacement boat was provided in 1859, a 30-foot self-righting pulling and sailing (P&S) lifeboat (one with oars and sails) costing £154, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, with a second boathouse constructed on the site of the original one.

In 1877, the RNLI decided on a complete upgrade of the station. A new boathouse, costing £400, was designed by the Institutions honorary architect, Mr C. H. Cooke, FRIBA, and constructed at the head of the Porth-y-Corwgl cove. A new 33-foot self-righting boat constructed of mahogony was built by Woolfe and Son, and cost £328-18s-0d. The whole station was funded by a gift of £2000 from Marianne Catherine Cabrera, Countess de Morella, in memory of her late husband Ramón Cabrera y Griñó, 1st Duke of Maestrazgo, 1st Marquis of Ter, 1st Count of Morella, the lifeboat being named Ramon Cabrera (ON 263). Nine years would pass before a launch resulted in a rescue. Called to the vessel Hjemlos of Grimstad, Norway on 18 December 1887, the whole crew of 8 were rescued. Coxswain Hugh Hughes would receive a Silver Medal from the Norwegian Government.



A replacement for the Ramon Cabrera was provided in 1899, a 37-foot long lifeboat, built by Chamers and Colby, of Lowestoft., and costing £619. This boat would also be named Ramon Cabrera (ON 423).

Four years later, in 1903, a fourth boathouse would be constructed, at a cost of £1,591-10s-0d. This time it was next to the shore, with a roller-slipway for quick launching.

In a storm of 3 December 1920, Ramon Cabrera (ON 423) was launched to the Timbo of Whitby. The crew rowed for two hours to the wreck. Failing to maintain a line to the vessel, which for now seemed firmly anchored, the lifeboat headed for Llanddwyn, the seas too rough to return to Rhoscolyn. Hit by a large wave, Evan Hughes and Owen Jones were washed overboard, and couldn't be retrieved. Then, when the lifeboat was two miles off shore, it was capsized. Although the boat self-righted, and 8 crew managed to get back on board, Coxswain Owen Owens, and crew members Robert Hughes (brother of Evan) and William Thomas, were also lost. The lifeboat arrived at Llanddwyn 8 hours after setting out.



A memorial was erected at St Gwenfaen's Church, Rhoscolyn, on 12 November 1922, unveiled by Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, 12th Baronet, whose family had provided the land for the Penmon lifeboat station.

It was decided to close the Rhoscolyn Lifeboat Station in 1929. No accurate service records are available prior to 1859, but it is known that at least 49 lives were saved. In the following 70 years, the Rhoscolyn boat was launched 56 times, and rescued 41 lives.

The 1877 boathouse is now a private residence. The 1903 boathouse is grade II listed, and is currently a holiday let. Ramon Cabrera (ON 423) was retired from service and sold.

Station honours
The following are awards made at Rhoscolyn


 * RNLI Silver Medal
 * Owen Jones, Landsman - 1846


 * Hugh Hughes, Coxswain - 1902


 * Silver Medal, awarded by the Norwegian Government
 * Hugh Hughes, Coxswain - 1887

Roll of honour
In memory of those lost whilst serving Rhoscolyn lifeboat.


 * On service to the steamer Timbo of Whitby, 3 December 1920.
 * Owen Owens, Coxswain, 61
 * Evan Hughes, 34
 * Robert J. Hughes, 17
 * Owen Jones, 38
 * William Thomas, 19

Rhoscolyn lifeboats

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