Criccieth Lifeboat Station () can be found on Lôn Felin, in Criccieth, a town and seaside resort sitting on the northern shore of Cardigan Bay, just to the east of the Llŷn Peninsula, approximately due south of Caernarfon, in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales.
The lifeboat station was established as Portmadoc Lifeboat Station in 1853 by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society (SFMRBS), although its exact location, either in Porthmadog or Criccieth, is not known. In 1854, management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), with the lifeboat operating from Criccieth.
The station currently operates a Inshore lifeboat, Frank Townley (B-938), on station since 2023, and a much smaller lifeboat, Margaret and Nantw (A-76), on station since 2011.
History In 1851, the president of the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), The Duke of Northumberland, offered a prize of 100 guineas for the best design for a self-righting lifeboat. The prize was won by boat-builder Mr James Beeching of Great Yarmouth.
As a result of this award, several of the Beeching "Northumberland Prize" lifeboats were ordered by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society (SFMRBS), being dispatched to their existing or new stations. A lifeboat, Dauntless, with 10 oars and two sails, arrived at Porthmadog by rail on 30 September 1852.
The following day, 1 October 1852, the lifeboat was trialled by Mr Jackson, Surveyor of H.M. Customs, along with five Portmadoc boatmen. A sudden gust hit the large lug-sail, pushing the boat over onto her beam ends, and she ultimately capsized, failing to self-right. The crew were fortunate to be rescued by other local craft. On the same day, the Beeching lifeboat at , another of the SFMRBS stations, also capsized during training, with the loss of eight lives.
Despite the capsize, Portmadoc Lifeboat Station was formally established, when Dauntless took up duties on station in January 1853.
On 23 January 1853, another disaster involving a Beeching lifeboat occurred at , the third SFMRBS station to encounter problems. The lifeboat capsized, failed to self-right, and a further six crew were lost. A damning report published in "The Lifeboat", dated 1 December 1852, but apparently published after the Rhyl disaster, highlighted the fact that although both boats carried a brass plaque with "Northumberland Prize Boat", neither had been constructed to the same design or standards.
The SFMRBS placed an order with Forrestt of Limehouse, for a new self-righting boat for , but the crew there had lost all confidence in self-righting lifeboats, and declined the new boat. Rhyl ultimately received one of the new-design lifeboats in 1856. The new unnamed boat was instead sent to Portmadoc, arriving in May 1854, where it was unofficially, and incorrectly, referred to as the First Lifeboat. The Dauntless was sent to the Forrestt boatyard, where it was modified to the Peake design, later seeing service at .
By 1854, the SFMRBS was involved in the management of eight lifeboat stations, , , Hornsea, , , , and Portmadoc. On 7 December 1854, an agreement was made between the SFMRBS and the RNLI, where the former would concentrate on the welfare of those rescued, whilst the latter would be involved in lifeboats, stations and rescues. Management of all eight stations was transferred to the RNLI.
The First Lifeboat was retained by the RNLI, launching 14 times, and saving 53 lives. It was replaced in 1867 by the much larger John Ashbury, which had been conveyed free of charge to Ynyslas by the Great Western and Cambrian Railway companies, from where it was sailed and rowed to its station.
Construction of a new boathouse began in 1892, being completed in 1893, at a cost of £600. The station was renamed Criccieth Lifeboat Station. The boathouse was formally opened by John Ernest Greaves of Bron Eifion, Criccieth, Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire, owner of slate mines, including the Llechwedd quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and branch president of Criccieth RNLI.
Following an exercise on 26 July 1910, the 24-year-old Criccieth lifeboat Caroline (ON 65) was condemned, and removed from service. A temporary replacement lifeboat, Reserve No. 7 (ON 275), formerly James and Caroline at St Agnes, IOS, arrived at the station on 8 August, whereon the Caroline was broken up.
On Thursday 13 October 1910, signals of distress were seen from two fishing boats, Venus and Helena. During the launch of the temporary Criccieth lifeboat, one man was washed overboard, but was recovered. At the time, several large boulders made launching the lifeboat difficult, especially into a north-east wind, and as the lifeboat tried to get away, she was washed into the boulders. A quick inspection didn't reveal the damage caused, and with the assistance of the large crowd that had gathered on the shore, the lifeboat was dragged up the beach and re-launched.
The Helena foundered, but her crew managed to get aboard the Venus, and both crews were rescued by the lifeboat. The Criccieth lifeboat, which had been waterlogged since launch, turned on her beam ends every time the sails were raised. Ultimately four crew were washed overboard, including the Coxswain, but fortunately, all regained the lifeboat. The lifeboat was beached close to the Dwyfor estuary, with all the crew being helped ashore. A subsequent inspection proved the lifeboat had been badly damaged, and the 21-year-old boat was condemned and broken up, shortly after her return to London.
A second replacement lifeboat, Reserve No. 4C, previously Jane Hannah MacDonald at , was dispatched to Criccieth. In 1911, the boulders were removed, at a cost of £130.
Closure and reopening Criccieth lifeboat station closed in 1931, when a motor lifeboat was stationed at , but over the years, gradual silting of the Pwllheli harbour entrance meant that the 46ft Watson-class lifeboat, which was moored afloat, ultimately couldn't get out at dead-low water. On 3 September 1951, a school master and four boys drowned, after their boat Dorothy capsized, and the Pwllheli lifeboat couldn't attend. The Pwllheli lifeboat was subsequently replaced with a smaller carriage-launched boat, housed in the 1891 boathouse, which could then be transported, and launched off the beach in various locations. Criccieth lifeboat station was also reopened, with its own motor lifeboat arriving on station in 1953.
1960s onwards
In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies. An unnamed Inshore lifeboat (D-117) was placed at Criccieth in 1967.
Following a coastal review, started in 1965, taking into consideration 11 years of data, and the success of the Inshore lifeboat, it was decided to withdraw the All-weather lifeboat from Criccieth in 1968.
On 1 September 1977, Criccieth Inshore lifeboat (D-140) was launched into rough seas and a strong wind, to the aid of a yacht Zircon, aground on Portmadoc Bar. Working in conjunction with the lifeboat in difficult conditions, Criccieth lifeboat managed to rescue all four people aboard. Helm James Owen, and crew members Robert Williams and Kenneth Roberts, were each accorded 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum'.
Since 1983, larger and faster ILBs have been stationed at Criccieth, initially the twin-engined , and from 1993, the much larger Atlantic-class RIB. The boathouse was extended to the rear in 1993, to accommodate the lifeboat and launching tractor, and a side extension was constructed to include a souvenir sales outlet, a workshop, and improved crew facilities.
In 2009, it was decided to additionally operate the much smaller Inshore lifeboat, of the type more usually used by beach lifeguards, primarily to allow easier access to the shallower parts of the Glaslyn and Dwyryd estuaries.
An additional boathouse to house the Arancia-class lifeboat and launch vehicle was formally opened on the shore in 2018, replacing a storage container.
The Inshore lifeboat Frank Townley (B-938) was placed on service at Criccieth in 2023, replacing the long-serving Doris Joan (B-823), which had been on station since 2007.
Station honours The following are awards made at Criccieth:
RNLI Silver Medal John Roberts – 1856 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum' James Owen, Helm – 1977 Kenneth Roberts, crew member – 1977 Robert Williams, crew member – 1977 'A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' William Walker-Jones, Helm – 1994 Letter of Appreciation, signed by the Director of the Institution Kevin Owen, Helm – 2000 Set of Binoculars, presented by the RNLI committee of management David Homfrey, Honorary Secretary – 1886
Criccieth lifeboats Pulling and Sailing lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments 1853–1854 Dauntless 1852 30-foot Beeching self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) Beeching-class self-righting lifeboat, funded by the SFMRBS, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £133.SFMRBS lifeboat. Removed for modification, later saw service at . 1854–1867 Pre-280 1854 28-foot Peake self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the SFMRBS, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £140.SFMRBS lifeboat. Known as the First Lifeboat. Lengthened to in 1859. Sold in 1867. 1867–1886 Pre-504 John Ashbury 1867 x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr James Ashbury of Manchester, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £300.Broken up in 1886. 1886–1910 65 Caroline 1886 34-foot self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Miss C. C. Lamb of Clifton, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £297.Broken up in 1910. 1910 275 Reserve No. 7 1889 34-foot self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Goss of Stratford Green, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £460.Previously James and Caroline at St Agnes, IOS. Damaged on service in 1910, and broken up in 1911. 1910–1911 348 1893 34-foot self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr and Mrs J. L. Roget of Maida Hill, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £423. Further funded in 1907 from Mrs MacDonald of Brighton.Previously Elinor Roget at and Jane Hannah MacDonald at . Returned t the relief fleet, later at . 1911–1931 624 Phillip Woolley 1911 35-foot Rubie-class self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) Rubie-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr P. Woolley of Reigate, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £983.Sold in 1935. Last reported as the yacht Black Swan at Teddington, December 1991. Station closed 1931
Motor lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments 1953–1961 794 1937 Previously at , and . 1961–1968 874 Robert Lindsay 1950 Previously at and . More post-service details can be found on the respective lifeboat class pages.
Inshore lifeboats D class Op.No. Name Class Comments 1967–1971 1972–1974 D-207 1974–1980 D-140 First stationed at in 1967. 1980–1983 D-272
B class and C class Op.No. Name Class Comments 1983–1991 C-510 Initially numbered . 1991–1993 C-523 British Diver IV Initially deployed in the relief fleet in 1990. 1993 C-513 First stationed at in 1984. 1993–1994 B-531 Foresters First stationed at in 1975. 1994–2007 B-707 Mercurius 2007–2023 B-823 Doris Joan 2023– B-938
Arancia class Op.No. Name Class Comments 2009–2010 A-70 2010–2011 A-73 2011– A-76 Margaret and Nantw
Launch and recovery tractors