Ardmore Lifeboat Station

Ardmore Lifeboat Station
Old Lifeboat House, Ardmore
Ardmore Lifeboat Station is located in Ireland
Ardmore Lifeboat Station
Ardmore, County Waterford
General information
StatusClosed
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
AddressMain Street
Town or cityArdmore, County Waterford
CountryIreland
Coordinates51°57′03.3″N 7°43′18.3″W / 51.950917°N 7.721750°W / 51.950917; -7.721750
Opened1858
Closed1895

Ardmore Lifeboat Station was located at the junction of Main street and Cois Trá in Ardmore, a seaside resort and fishing village in County Waterford, on the south coast of Ireland.

A lifeboat station was first established at Ardmore in 1858 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).[1]

Ardmore Lifeboat Station was closed in 1895.

History

In the October 1858 edition of the RNLI journal 'The Lifeboat', it was announced that a lifeboat station had been established at Ardmore, in County Waterford, Ireland. A 28-foot 6-oared Self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, had been placed at the station, along with a carriage for transportation. Local donations had contributed to the construction of a boathouse, and annual subscriptions had been promised towards the upkeep of the station.[2]

Just two more lifeboat were to be placed at Ardmore. No records of any launch or rescues are available. The smaller 28-foot 6-oared lifeboat was replaced in 1865, with a larger 32-foot 10-oared boat. The lifeboat was named Salomon at the request of an anonymous donor. Both old and new lifeboats, and carriages, were transported between London and Waterford free of charge by the British and Irish Steam Packet Company.[3]

In September 1880, Ardmore would receive their third and final lifeboat. Funded by Miss A. M. Hooper of Bristol, the boat was named Hooper (ON 303). Both old and new lifeboats were given free passage between London and Cork, by the City of Cork Steamship Company.[4]

On Thursday, 14th February, 1895, the RNLI committee of management read the report on the visit to stations by the deputy Chief Inspector of Lifeboats. It was subsequently decided that Ardmore Lifeboat Station should be closed. [5]

The lifeboat on station at the time, Hooper, was sold locally. The fine granite built lifeboat house still remains, and is now a private residence.[1]

Notable rescues

In a south-east gale on 26 December 1860, the brigantine Diana of Frederikshavn, on passage from Bordeaux to Belfast with a cargo of wheat and brandy, struck a reef in Ardmore Bay. The Ardmore lifeboat was launched, with one vacant seat being filled by local gentleman John S. Roderick. The lifeboat failed to get close to the wreck, but eventually two lines were attached, and the lifeboat was pulled in close. Seven of the eight crew were rescued, but one man was left aboard. When the wreck was driven closer inshore, he jumped into the sea with a makeshift raft, and was pulled ashore. It was reported that the lifeboat had been badly damaged. Four RNLI Silver Medals were awarded, including one to Mr. Roderick.[6][7][8][9]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Ardmore.[6]

William Corbert, Coxswain - 1861
Richard Halse, boatman, H.M. Coastguard Ardmore - 1861
William Stewart, boatman, H.M. Coastguard Ardmore - 1861
John S. Roderick - 1861

Ardmore lifeboat

ON[a] Name Built In service[10] Class Comments
Pre-328 Unnamed 1858 1858–1865 28-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Pre-433 Salomon 1865 1865–1880 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2]
303 Hooper 1880 1880–1895 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
Station Closed, 1895
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 28-foot (6-Oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  2. ^ 32-foot (10-Oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, costing £300.
  3. ^ 34-foot (10-Oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.

References

  1. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. ^ "Ardmore, Ireland". The Lifeboat. IV (30): 99. 1 October 1858. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. V (57): 704. 1 July 1865. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. XI (122): 417. 1 November 1881. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XVI (177): 284. 1 August 1895. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. p. 127. ISBN 0907605893.
  7. ^ "Diana". The Lifeboat. IV (41): 470. 1 July 1861. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Royal National Lifeboat Institution". The Times. No. 23821. London. 4 January 1861. col F, p. 9.
  9. ^ "Royal National Lifeboat Institution". The Era. No. 1153. London. 6 January 1861.
  10. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.