Burry Port Lifeboat Station

Burry Port Lifeboat Station (near Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales) first opened in 1887, with all funds coming from a legacy left by Mr and Mrs Barclay.[1] The station was moved to Burry Port, due to the original lifeboat based at Llanelli being deemed too far away to be helpful; and the previous station based in Pembrey put at risk due to storms.

Burry Port Lifeboat Station
Burry Port, Carmarthenshire
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationThe Harbour, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, UK
CountryWales, UK
Coordinates51°40′47″N 4°14′54″W
Opened1887
OwnerRoyal National Lifeboat Institution

The station was closed for over half a century between 1914 and 1973 as it was deemed un-needed by the RNLI.

The station currently operates a D-class (IB1) named Diane Hilary and a B-class (Atlantic 85) named Misses Barrie

History

Burry Port Lifeboat Station opened in 1887 after moving twice in the previous 30 years. The station was allocated a 32-foot-long (9.8 m), 10-oar lifeboat named Stanton Meyrick of Pimlico which operated until 1886, when the boathouse was also abandoned due to operational issues in launching and recovering at that site.

The boathouse was built on the eastern side of Burry Port Harbour in 1887 to replace it, and up until the station closed in 1914 operated three different lifeboats, all named David Barclay of Tottenham, and saved a total of 34 lives.

In 1973, due to an increase in drowning incidents in Carmarthen Bay, the RNLI decided to reopen the station and allocate it a D class lifeboat.

In 2002 a Coast review acknowledged the need for a larger craft to complement the existing D class lifeboat and decided that a B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat would also be stationed here.

Following the delivery of the Atlantic 75 in 2010, which was housed in a temporary building, the dire need for a new boathouse to accommodate both boats under one roof was identified.

It would also offer, better volunteer facilities, increased capacity for school and group visits, a visitor experience with a shop and would be easier to manage. It would also be large enough to house a new Atlantic 85, a larger and more capable boat than the existing Atlantic 75.

Plans were drawn up and in Sept 2019 the new facility was officially opened and the new Atlantic 85 commissioned.The new building was designed by Llanelli Architects, Lewis Partnership Ltd.

Fleet

All Weather Boats
Dates in service Name Comments
1887–1886 Stanton Meyrick of Pimlico
1886–1914 David Barclay of Tottenham (Three different boats, all named the same)

D-class
Dates in service Class Op. No. Name Comments
1973–1987 D-class (Zodiac III) D-220 Unnamed Donated by Tiverton Swimming Club
1987–1995 D-class (Zodiac III) D-331 Dorothy Way
1995–2003 D-class (EA16) D-472 Kip & Kath
2003–2011 D-class (EA16) D-611 The Young Watsons
2011–present D-class (IB1) D-749 Diane Hilary

B-class
Dates in service Class Op. No. Name
2010–2011 Atlantic 75-class B-768 Blue Peter 2
2011–2014 Atlantic 75-class B-731 Dorothy Selina
2014–2019 Atlantic 75-class B-777 Leicester Challenge 2
2019-present Atlantic 85-class B-915 The Misses Barrie

See also

References
  1. "RNLI - Tenby Lifeboat Station". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
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