200 years ago this week Appledore received the very first RNLI Lifeboat

On 28 February 1825 the very first RNLI working lifeboat in the UK arrived on station, at Appledore in North Devon.

The Appledore Bar is reputed to be the second most dangerous bar in the British Isles. To local knowledge, no one has claimed the most dangerous! In the early 1800s, before the RNLI was established, the men of Appledore were involved in many rescues carried out by the oarsmen manning the Pilot Gigs, pulled by 6, 8 or even 10 oars.

On March 4 1824 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, was established in London. Almost immediately twelve lifeboats were ordered to be built by William Plenty of Newbury and all the port authorities in the British Isles (which, at the time, included Ireland) were encouraged to form their own local Lifeboat Associations affiliated to the National Institution.

For some years prior, there had been much local public concern about the ‘frequent wrecks and fearful loss of life that had taken place within the [Bideford] Bay. The distance, of the Bar from the shore and the exposed situation of the whole beach, being open to the Atlantic, prevented the possibility of assistance being rendered by ordinary boats, in very bad weather’. Thus in August 1824 a group of local gentlemen formed the 'Bideford Branch Association', and appealed to the new Institution for one of those twelve lifeboats to be stationed at Appledore. The request was granted.

On 28th February 1825 the very first RNLI commissioned working lifeboat within the Institution, covering UK and Ireland, – Lifeboat No 1 - arrived in Appledore.

‘This boat, which is called No. 1, or The Volunteer, is 17 feet long, 6¼ feet wide, 2½ feet deep, weighs 20 cwt., and is pulled by 4 oars, or occasionally 5 oars, single banked. The boat, like others built by PLENTY, is sheathed with cork on the bottom, well secured, and thoroughly varnished, so that it has resisted the wear and tear of a quarter of a century. The boat has air-cases built into her sides, so as to be almost a double boat, with small internal capacity; has no scuppers to free herself of water, only two 1¼ inch plug-holes, but owing to her triangular form inside, and the absence of the wash-strake, she rolls most of the water out that comes in; she would not self-right in the event of being upset, which, from her form, is a highly improbable accident to happen to her; she has the character of being "slow but sure," and truly enough this small boat has proved her value, having been the means of saving 80 lives during the last 27 years. There is no difficulty in manning the boat, as there are always plenty of sailors and pilots at Appledore ready to go off’. North Devon Humane Society, June 1852.

With the reputation of ‘slow but sure’ The Volunteer served for 31 years and saved 89 lives.

The first recorded rescue was on 11 September 1829 when the sloop Daniel was ‘thrown ashore on the outside of South Tail in a severe north west storm. The ‘Volunteer’ was launched into the river with five crew, four at the oars and a helmsman in command. They rowed against the storm down river, out across the Bar in terrible conditions, and out around the Tail to approach the DANIEL from windward. Once alongside the lifeboatmen were able to take six of the crew off, and rowing through mountainous surf, landed the six survivors on the nearest beach. Then battling back out through the surf and took off a further five crew…’ The history of Appledore Lifeboat Station 1812-2000.

The Coxswain on this shout, Owen N. Riordean Smith, and crew members William Brinksmead and Philip Guy all received silver medals for this service, three of the first ever presented by the RNLI.

Sadly, during a rescue on 24 November 1833, Appledore also lost the first lifeboat men from an RNLI lifeboat: Benjamin Pile, John Peake and Samuel Blackmore.

Over the last two centuries Appledore RNLI has had 11 main Lifeboats, plus three inshore relief boats for summer use (1970-1974), and four inshore lifeboats (since 1975). They also crewed eight lifeboats based on Northam Burrows (1852-1897) and three lifeboats based on Braunton burrows (1894-1918). Thousands of rescues have taken place and hundreds of lives have been saved.

Vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers can be seen – from the early oar-powered vessels to today’s technology-packed boats, including Mollie Hunt, Appledore’s all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, and Glanely, its inshore Atlantic 85; and from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850s to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued with.

Amongst the many awards presented locally, members of the crew have been awarded 22 silver medals, six bronze medals and four foreign medals, all for gallantry, a word defined as: spirited and conspicuous bravery, heroic bravery, fearlessness, daring and courage.

While much has changed in 200 years, two things have remained the same – the charity’s dependence on volunteers, who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public, via donations, fundraising and legacies, which have funded the service for the past two centuries.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.