Winterton Lifeboat Station was located in the town of Winterton-on-Sea, on the north-east coast of Norfolk.
A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Norfolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Mariners (NASLSM) in 1823. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1858.[1]
A lifeboat was sent to be stationed at Winterton in 1823 by the newly formed Norfolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Mariners. Built in 1822, she was a 32-foot 12-oared non-self-righting lifeboat. Launched to the aid of the vessel Mariners in 1829, the lifeboat was badly damaged, and the lifeboatmen had to take refuge aboard the casualty boat until all could be rescued by other local boats.[2]
In 1857, the NASLSM made a request, that the RNLI take over responsibility for all their lifeboat stations, including Winterton. This was formally agreed in 1858. A new 30-foot 10-oared lifeboat was ordered for Winterton from Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £185-3s-5d. The new boat was sailed up from Great Yarmouth, having been towed there from London by steamer. This unnamed boat would only serve at Winterton for 3 years. She was disliked by the crew, and was subsequently transferred to Rye Harbour.[3]
The Winterton lifeboat crew requested a wide beam boat, a Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat, as used at Gt. Yarmouth, and similar to their own fishing boats. An order was placed with Beeching for a 32-foot lifeboat, and was delivered on 5 January 1861. This boat would come to be named Ann Maria (ON 15) in 1867, after a gift of £420 from Capt. E. W. Harris of Roehampton, and then 11 years later, renamed Edward Birkbeck after the RNLI Chairman.[1]
The lifeboatmen, however, were still not entirely happy with this new boat, as it wasn't long enough for all their requirements. Their further request for another boat was declined by the RNLI, so in 1868, the crew, known as the Winterton Boatmen, acquired their own 42-foot Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat Rescuer from the Gorleston Rangers lifeboat company, purchased by William Burnley Hume of Hill House, Winterton.[3]
At a meeting with the RNLI in 1879, the Winterton crew explained that for certain calls, they preferred a longer boat than the Ann Maria, and also that they could no longer afford to maintain Rescuer. A 36-foot 14-oared Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat, Husband (ON 16), was transferred from Corton Lifeboat Station in Suffolk, which had just closed, replacing Rescuer as the Winterton No.2 lifeboat. Two years later, a double boathouse was constructed, to house both lifeboats.[2]
In 1896, the station received a new No.1 lifeboat, also to be named Edward Birkbeck (ON 397). The No.2 lifeboat Margaret (ON 270) was sent for an overhaul, with Reserve No.1 (ON 233) on relief duty. Reserve No.1 seemed to find favour with the Winterton crew, who requested that it become their permanent No.2 lifeboat. In 1899, the names were exchanged, with Reserve No.1 becoming Margaret (ON 233), and Margaret (ON 270) being renamed Reserve No.1.[1]
The activity at Winterton Lifeboat Station came to rather an abrupt end. In October 1924, the No.1 lifeboat station was closed when the Edward Birkbeck (ON 397), was withdrawn. A month later, the No.2 lifeboat, by then the Eleanor Brown (ON 589) was also withdrawn, and a replacement No.2 lifeboat, a 38-foot Liverpool-class (P&S) lifeboat Reserve No.9 (ON 516) was placed at the station. Unfamiliar with this type of lifeboat, and being considered completely unsuitable for the locality, the crew absolutely refused to use the boat. On 18 December 1924, after 100 years of service, the RNLI decided to close the station completely, with the removal of the lifeboat completing the closure on 5 January 1925.[2]
Notable service
On 26 November 1830, Lt. Thomas Leigh, RN, Chief Officer of Winterton Coastguard, was in charge of the lifeboat, rescuing 7 from the Annabella. Only a month later, Lt. Leigh and his crew rescued another 4 from the Henry. On 19 March 1833, Leigh and his crew went to the aid of the Crawford Davison, rescuing 16 passengers and crew. Then, on 30 April 1835, in a severe gale, Leigh and the crew rescued 3 survivors off the Blackbird. In a 5-year period, Lt. Thomas Leigh, RN, was awarded the RNLI Gold Medal, a Second-Service RNLI Gold Boat, the RNLI Silver Medal, and the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society.[4]
