Louisa in Lynmouth
In 1869 the lifeboat station at Lynmouth, North Devon, opened "on the urgent representation of the local residents" its first lifeboat was Henry which was a gift from a lady from Yorkshire, in memory of her brother. It was launched three times and saved six lives; interestingly it cost £234. A year later a lifeboat house was built on the west side of the harbour, on land granted by the Lord of the Manor, Robert Roe at a cost of £292.
On 1st April 1887 a new lifeboat was installed, the Louisa. It was a 34 foot 3 inch self righting boat, with 10 round oars, a 10 foot sliding steel keel, 2 masts, standing lugs and jib with a No. 2 rig. It was built by Messrs Woolfe & Son (London), no. W210, at a cost of £298. 14s. It was met by a donation from the Revd Thomas Littleton Wheeler of Worcester.
In May 1894 Louisa was off service at Ilfracombe for alterations, improvements and updates including adding a drop keel which added stability in turbulent seas. Five years later a roadway was constructed across Lynmouth’s beach near to the Rhenish Tower pier to enable the lifeboat to go out at in all states of the tide. The roadway had to be widened, straightened and strengthened many times to facilitate the launches.
The Louisa was launched a total of 14 times between 1887 and 1906 and saved 24 lives, but one of the most remarkable launches in record was to the ship Forrest Hall on 12th January 1899.
To read the full story of the rescue, go to reference lyntonandlynmouth.info/launchb.html - or read this summary
At 16, Andrew Richards's father, William (Billy) Richards was the youngest crew member of the original rescue mission. With the other crew members, Billy was presented with a pocket watch and chain in recognition of his bravery and it is now a treasured family heirloom. Mr Richards said of his father: "I think he found it difficult to talk about it. He'd rather talk about the amusing aspects of it than the serious side."
The following extract is from Tom Richards recordings: Reference www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/exmoor/richardstsummary1.htm :
"Post Office (PO) had a telephone message from Porlock saying that there was a ship in distress, blowing a gale. Maroons set up to call the crew down to the lifeboat house. It was impossible to launch the lifeboat. Dad, Jack Crocombe and Mr. Pedder went back to the PO to decide what to do. Decided to take the lifeboat over to Porlock. People had gathered outside the PO from curiosity; they thought it was foolish to launch from Porlock. A fellow was sent to Lynton for 18 horses, quite an industry up there, and they were tied up to the lifeboat. All the women and kids and men hauled the boat up Countisbury Hill; stopped for refreshments at the Blue Ball Pub at the top of the hill. Women were told to go home and the few men left carried on. Had to break down walls & hedges to get the carriage through. Took 7 foot wide skids with them, pulled the lifeboat over the top of those. Terrible job getting down Porlock Hill. Took part of a woman’s garden wall down in Porlock; still dark but when she realised it was a lifeboat, she helped them down to Porlock Weir. There they launched the lifeboat. Towed the carriage back to Lynmouth. Louisa went alongside the Forest Hall schooner. (Please note. Forrest Hall was a Full Rigged Sailing ship with square sails and not schooner rigged.) Got aboard and helped the exhausted ship’s crew and landed up in Barry for the night with the aid of the Jane & Sarah Jolliffe tugboats.
We sailed back next morning; a steamer leaving Barry harbour gave them a tow back towards Lynmouth. No lives lost.”
January 1899, the Louisa was instrumental in saving the Forrest Hall and her crew of 15.
So why was the lifeboat named "Louisa"?
Who was the Revd Thomas Littleton Wheeler?
The Wheelers were an interesting Worcestershire family, including three generations of clergymen. Allen Wheeler, from Kidderminster and Decima Green were married on 6 January 1769 and had two sons Allen born in 1775 and Thomas Littleton in 1777. Allen was educated at Wadham College, Oxford achieving a BA in 1798 and was created a Minor Canon at Worcester Cathedral on 19 November 1799 and served there until 1855. He achieved a BD in 1810 and was Headmaster at the College School (Kings) Worcester from 1820 to 1832. In addition he was the Precentor at the Cathedral from 1820-1851 and was also Rector of Broadwas in 1821. When he retired from the Cathedral in 1851, he became Vicar at Old Sodbury, Gloucestershire, until his death on Christmas Day, 1855.
At the East End of Worcester Cathedral a three-light window commemorates Allen and his son Thomas Littleton Wheeler, who paid for the Louisa:
"To the Glory of God and in memory of Allen Wheeler BD born November 20 1775 and died December 25 1855, Minor Canon 1799-1851, Precentor 1820-1851. And of Thomas Littleton Wheeler MA born February 22 1806, died April 8 1892 Minor Canon 1833-1877, Precentor 1854-1887."
Allen had married Sarah Harvard in June 1801 and had four children: Allen, Margaret Ann, George Augustus and Thomas Littleton and they were baptised at the Cathedral. Thomas Littleton himself was Rector of Sedgeberrow in 1851 but by 1861 had moved to St Martins in Worcester. It was in the 1861 census that Thomas and his wife Ann (Bate) had two visitors staying with them, Elizabeth Loscombe who was 30 and her sister Louisa Clifton Loscombe, who had been born in 1814, in Exmouth , Devon!! These women had their own monies, and were listed as "fund holders" and later settled in Worcester. The women both lived in the College Yard Precinct (near the Cathedral) in 1881 and later in life, at the Bull Ring, St. Johns, Worcester, where Louisa died in 1892, aged 78 ... , but was this she the “Louisa” of lifeboat fame?
With thanks to: Barry Cox - Honorary Librarian,
RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ
... for help researching the Louisa
Despite the opening statement above, there is no documentary proof that Louisa was refitted at Ilfracombe. Possibly she was taken from there by rail to an approved shipyard. She was relaunched at Ilfracombe and then sailed to Lynmouth.
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Gale in Bristol Channel.
Saturday 12th December 1896 - three ships laden with coal and inbound for Lynmouth found themselves in great danger as a gale swept in from the North East. The Mary Ann of Minehead made it into harbour safely but the Elizabeth of Newport lost her main sail and hoisted distress signals. The Lynmouth lifeboat launched and recovered her crew. Meanwhile, a squall struck the Little Jane of Plymouth, carrying away her main mast. A wire was sent to Ilfracombe for a tug, which duly arrived and towed the Little Jane to Ilfracombe Harbour with the lifeboat accompanying them.
The Elizabeth rode out the storm and the crew were returned by lifeboat, which then assisted the vessel to Minehead.
The Lifeboat crew reported heavy seas on Sunday night. They then left Lynmouth on Sunday morning at 9.30 am and returned at 2.00 am Monday.
All in a days work for these men of the sea.
Saturday 12th December 1896 - three ships laden with coal and inbound for Lynmouth found themselves in great danger as a gale swept in from the North East. The Mary Ann of Minehead made it into harbour safely but the Elizabeth of Newport lost her main sail and hoisted distress signals. The Lynmouth lifeboat launched and recovered her crew. Meanwhile, a squall struck the Little Jane of Plymouth, carrying away her main mast. A wire was sent to Ilfracombe for a tug, which duly arrived and towed the Little Jane to Ilfracombe Harbour with the lifeboat accompanying them.
The Elizabeth rode out the storm and the crew were returned by lifeboat, which then assisted the vessel to Minehead.
The Lifeboat crew reported heavy seas on Sunday night. They then left Lynmouth on Sunday morning at 9.30 am and returned at 2.00 am Monday.
All in a days work for these men of the sea.
When Louisa was replaced, she was taken by sea to Minehead and then
by rail to London "to be disposed of" by Woolfe & Son.
by rail to London "to be disposed of" by Woolfe & Son.
Louisa's replacement is put to sea.
Images of old Lynmouth harbour during this period and
others are available on Lynmouth
others are available on Lynmouth
Services rendered by Louisa Lifeboat of Lynmouth.
Schooner - Saint 7th Jan 1892
One of the most difficult of ventures by Lynmouth's volunteers. The schooner had been dismasted earlier in a storm on thursday 7th January. Though she was taken in tow by a steamer, the hawser broke and she drifted helpless for a further three hours along the channel, eventually dropping two anchors as a lee shore proved imminent. The crew rightly feared the worst.
The distressed vessel had been seen from land and the lifeboat crew summoned about 10pm. The tide was still on the flood at this time and the northerly gale, with sleet and snow, blowing direct on to shore. With immense difficulty the lifeboat put to sea but despite the greatest of efforts the crew could not make headway. The coxswain decided to drop anchor and wait for the tide to turn. About midnight, the lifeboat showed a red light about one mile off shore. They rescued four men and a boy from the Saint that night. Testament to the hardship and difficulty of the rescue itself, is the number of oars that were broken.as a result.
The following day, the lifeboat was used again to return the crew to their ship, the storm having abated.
The exposure to the elements, bitter cold and wet, and the relentless effort required to keep head to wind are hard to imagine by those who were not there. All that in a wild sea, that could take your life in moment.
Cutter Polly 19th Feb 1892
With a south east gale blowing, snow had already fallen and the sea was heavy. It was low tide when the alarm was raised and it took a difficult 40 minutes to launch the lifeboat across the rocky shore. The cutter Polly was found abandoned, boarded and along with the lifeboat, made way with great difficulty to Ilfracombe harbour.
October 1895. The barque ‘Canada’, carrying bricks, was wrecked in Woody Bay.
The lifeboat rendered assistance and the crew were saved.
October 1895. In the evening, the smack, ‘Mary’ was making for Lynmouth from Bristol.
While waiting for the tide to rise enough to enter Lynmouth harbour, a heavy squall arose, taking her main sail and causing other damage.
Despite dropping anchors, they were dragged towards a lee shore.
Louisa lifeboat was launched and, with great difficulty, they
managed to take the smack off the shore and safely into harbour.
While waiting for the tide to rise enough to enter Lynmouth harbour, a heavy squall arose, taking her main sail and causing other damage.
Despite dropping anchors, they were dragged towards a lee shore.
Louisa lifeboat was launched and, with great difficulty, they
managed to take the smack off the shore and safely into harbour.
Friday morning, 15th November 1896, the ‘Esperanda’ of Porlock was caught by a sudden gale off Foreland point. The lifeboat crew removed the crew to Lynmouth but the vessel was abandoned in the channel.
December 1897. Louisa's crew pay frequent visits to the stricken Amie. Lying off Wingate Pool some two miles east of Foreland. Engine room flooded and hull breached by rocks.
The lifeboat was not called to every incident. Here are a few examples.
Unlike today, with modern communications, high speed of turnout and all manner of laws and protocols, back in the 19th century they were more sensible about the use of the lifeboat. If a man in a boat could do the job, then that’s what happened. The crew and horsepower required for those pulling (rowed) lifeboats, meant the delay in launching might make it a lost cause before they even started.
Other people also took more responsibility back then, though it cost them dearly on occasion, as we shall see.
The great snow storm of March 1891 -
Monday the 9th of March saw the beginning of gale blown snow that continued four days. Shipping was wrecked from Lands End to Bristol as severe easterly winds brought heavy snow. A vessel, the smack Mary was assisted into Lynmouth harbour with great difficulty and despite loss of her mainsail and other rigging, by Lynmouth mariners. There was a great deal of damage caused on land too. The Smack, Mary, was built in 1875 and saw service in numerous roles right up to 1958, an incredible achievment. She was designed for use along the Devon and Cornwall coasts and was ideal for entering tributaries and small harbours.However, about 14 less fortunate vessels were either totally wrecked or severely damaged in the Bristol Channel by the evening of Friday the 13th. (we've met that ominous date before).
Over 60 (sixty) lives were lost and very few bodies recovered.
The full horror of life and death in that storm is impossible for us to imagine. Many succumbed to the cold and died without help - sometimes they were too far gone to survive even if rescued. In other places off the English coast lifeboat men were to sacrifice their lives for others. Ships were observed helpless as they were driven without hope of rescue along the shore - masts broken, no means of control, they dissappeared from sight into the snow and darkness. Those who watched, simply powerless to assist.
October 1891. The French Brig Nadir foundered in heavy seas off Lynmouth.
Her crew took to the boats and were picked up by the steamer Reinbach, which took them on to Dover.
June 1896. The pilot cutter Sunbeam, was wrecked on rocks under Foreland. No crew were lost.
September 1895. The body of a sailor, believed in the sea for about three weeks, was found on rocks below Foreland. A boat was fetched from Lynmouth to recover the deceased.
July 1906. A man named Lester was seen in difficulties while bathing. Another man, White, along with others went to assist. It was not successful - both Lester and White drowned.
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These events are local to Lynmouth, but every day, disasters were happening at sea. You only have to read the newspapers of the time to see in graphic detail the tragedies that were part of everyday life back then.
The iron, screw steamer SS Cheviot, 1226 ton of London, built in 1870, struck Foreland rocks in fog while travelling Liverpool to Cardiff. At 3 am Monday 24th march 1873. All twenty one hands were removed by boats from Lynmouth. (Note, this was not a task for the lifeboat and does not appear on the service board) The captain had tried reversing off the rocks but she was held fast. It was the master's navigational error that had put the Cheviot so far south and without a pilot.
They must have refloated her because in 1876 she was sold in Australia and met her final fate in 1887 off Victoria Australia, with the loss of 35 lives. (see photo)
They must have refloated her because in 1876 she was sold in Australia and met her final fate in 1887 off Victoria Australia, with the loss of 35 lives. (see photo)
Off Lynmouth in July 1888. The Swansea to Ilfracombe ferry, paddle steamer Velindra (built 1860 - scrapped 1897), struck and sank the smack Frolic, which was carrying coal to Fremington. The four crew of the smack managed to take to their boats before she went down and were picked up by the Velindra. The rescued sailors were taken to Ilfracombe.
Before Lynmouth had a lifeboat. -
4pm Saturday, 22nd August 1868. The sailing vessel Home - 800 tons and of St Andrews New Brunswick - Dismasted with fore and mizzen masts cut away and dragging anchor was driven along the shore towards Foreland Point. A lifeboat could have saved all on board but the nearest lifeboat was at Ilfracombe. (No mobile phones back then ... messenger on horseback was all they would have had)
The tide was low enough for people from Lynmouth to make their way below the cliffs along the shore.
The lynmouth coastguard boat was not suited for heavy seas and depite a willingness to risk lives to save lives, they knew it was an impossible task.
Although the mortar (some say rocket) apparautus was taken to the north point of Foreland, it was in no position to be of any use. The fate of the sailors was in their own hands.
The hurricane force wind battered the coast while Lynmouth folk watched on in horror as a boat was lowered from the Home, four men aboard.Against all odds they made it to the shore and helping hands. Next the ship's lifeboat was being launched though a heavy wave and gust of wind tore her away from the ship and dashed her on the rocks. The Home's last boat was then launched with ten men including the pilot and the Captain. They too made shore and with the aid of local men forming a human chain were assisted to safety. By now the tide was in and those cold half dressed sailors had to climb the 800 foot cliffs, on which there was no path, in order to reach Lynmouth and shelter.
Still on board the stricken Home there remained without any boats left, three men and a boy.
Early on Sunday morning 23rd August, a Lynmouth boat rowed out in the abated storm to the ship, which by chance had stayed afloat on a held anchor and brought back two men and a boy. One of the sailors left on the ship had attempted a swim to shore with a rope, and failed.
(Numbers never seem to add up in these old reports - it is claimed that 19 out of 21 actually survived.)
A tug boat was requested to take the damaged Home to Bristol.
In November of that year, 1868, a ship named Home was registered in Liverpool. Previous registration was in New Brunswick. Neither registers describe the type of ship she was. Because the evidence leads us to believe she had three or more masts, our best guess might be a Barque, but there were also schooners, brigs and sloops that carried three masts.
4pm Saturday, 22nd August 1868. The sailing vessel Home - 800 tons and of St Andrews New Brunswick - Dismasted with fore and mizzen masts cut away and dragging anchor was driven along the shore towards Foreland Point. A lifeboat could have saved all on board but the nearest lifeboat was at Ilfracombe. (No mobile phones back then ... messenger on horseback was all they would have had)
The tide was low enough for people from Lynmouth to make their way below the cliffs along the shore.
The lynmouth coastguard boat was not suited for heavy seas and depite a willingness to risk lives to save lives, they knew it was an impossible task.
Although the mortar (some say rocket) apparautus was taken to the north point of Foreland, it was in no position to be of any use. The fate of the sailors was in their own hands.
The hurricane force wind battered the coast while Lynmouth folk watched on in horror as a boat was lowered from the Home, four men aboard.Against all odds they made it to the shore and helping hands. Next the ship's lifeboat was being launched though a heavy wave and gust of wind tore her away from the ship and dashed her on the rocks. The Home's last boat was then launched with ten men including the pilot and the Captain. They too made shore and with the aid of local men forming a human chain were assisted to safety. By now the tide was in and those cold half dressed sailors had to climb the 800 foot cliffs, on which there was no path, in order to reach Lynmouth and shelter.
Still on board the stricken Home there remained without any boats left, three men and a boy.
Early on Sunday morning 23rd August, a Lynmouth boat rowed out in the abated storm to the ship, which by chance had stayed afloat on a held anchor and brought back two men and a boy. One of the sailors left on the ship had attempted a swim to shore with a rope, and failed.
(Numbers never seem to add up in these old reports - it is claimed that 19 out of 21 actually survived.)
A tug boat was requested to take the damaged Home to Bristol.
In November of that year, 1868, a ship named Home was registered in Liverpool. Previous registration was in New Brunswick. Neither registers describe the type of ship she was. Because the evidence leads us to believe she had three or more masts, our best guess might be a Barque, but there were also schooners, brigs and sloops that carried three masts.
Identifying old sailing ships - The following images may help the viewer.