1869 was an important date in the history of Waterford Harbour.  In September of that year, a new lifeboat was placed at Duncannon, Co Wexford on the eastern shore of the harbour.  Although it was only in place for 17 years and launched 8 times it saved 43 lives according to the lifeboat records of the RNLI.  This blog looks at the station’s establishment and the arrival of the RNLB Richard and Anne. The September blog will catalogue the rescues and the decision to close the station in 1886. 

Background

Seafaring has always been a dangerous occupation.  Since boats set out on the water, crews have been at the mercy of the weather.  According to tradition, Hook Lighthouse originated with a Welsh monk, Saint Dubhán. The monk established a light beacon there for vessels entering Waterford Harbour as early as the 6^th Century. [i]

The Royal National Lifeboat Institute was established in 1824 to assist vessels and their crews in distress.  In the absence of a lifeboat in the harbour, locals, fellow seafarers, pilots and Coastguard crews could be counted on in a crisis. It was not until the 1860s that the pressure for a local station started to bear fruit.

New Committee

In September 1868 a local paper expressed relief that a plan to create a new lifeboat station at Duncannon was in place.  Stating that “… the want of lifeboat there has been more than once brought home to us…”.   Responding to the urging of the Waterford Harbour Commissioners, a local committee was established which included: Sir Robert Paul, Bart, chairman; Hon. Captain Chichester, J P.; Messrs. William Malcomson, Edward Roberts, Hugh Nevins, William Joyce, P. Hare, J.P.; John Farrell, Walter Breen, J P.: Captain Cochrane, Captain Bartlett, assistant sec.; A. Stephens, D. Jenkins, R.N, coast guard officer; A. P. Allen, hon. sec.[ii]

Funding was crucial – when is it not? The article states that “Waterford Harbour Board have given a donation of £1O, and have promised an annual subscription of the same amount. The Waterford Steam Company has also donated £1O and promised an annual subscription of £5. Sir Robert Paul gave £3, and his name is down for £2 annual subscription. No doubt many others will follow the example so nobly set them.”[iii]

Lifeboat Station

A lifeboat would be nothing without a station to house it. The committee managed to secure a site from Duncannon Fort. According to the RNLI archives the lifeboat house was constructed for £170 on a site granted by the War Department.

Arrival to Waterford

A year later, after many meetings no doubt, a new lifeboat arrived in Waterford City. The vessel was carried aboard the Waterford Steam Co steamer Leda.  The boat and its equipment were provided from a legacy left by Mrs and Miss Warner of Lyncombe, Somerset. According to the paper, the lifeboat would be called the “Richard and Anne Warner.”[iv] 

The boat was described as “…33 feet long, 8 feet wide, and rows 10 oars double-banked…”.  It had completed trials in the Regent’s Canal Dock, London. Its “…stability, self-righting, and self-ejecting of water were fully and satisfactorily tested. The water shipped, when the boat was capsized by means of a crane, was self-ejected in about 23 seconds.”[v]

At Waterford, an excited crowd gathered to welcome the new lifeboat.  The Cork Examiner reported the event in full.  Here’s a brief excerpt.  “On Monday evening, the lifeboat… was placed in her carriage and gaily decorated; the crew, which had come up from Duncannon, were on board, and the equipage was drawn through the city, having gone up the Quay, and round through King-street, Broad-street, Beresford-street, and the Mall. It was finally drawn up opposite the Custom House.” There the Countess of Ely named the new lifeboat and made a gift of £12 towards the crew. The lifeboat was subsequently upset to show the self-righting power of the vessel.[vi]

To Duncannon

I can’t find how the lifeboat came down to Duncannon.  Perhaps it was towed astern of the paddle steamer (PS Tintern was the regular steamer at this point). The Tintern surely delayed her evening sailing downriver to accommodate the event.  As it happened there would be no immediate rush. It would be January 1873 before the first shout for the lifeboat. 

Next month (see below) we will look at the rescues carried out by the lifeboat. We will look at a controversy related to the loss of the SS Kinsale. Finally, we will look at the decision to close the station in preference for Fethard On Sea.

I’m indebted to Walter Foley for access to original information by Jimmy White for this piece. Kevin Downes who gave me information previously. Also to Liam Ryan, Fethard and David Carroll for their generous assistance.  Also to acknowledge the help of Hayley Whiting, Heritage Archive and Research Manager, RNLI. All the errors and omissions are, of course, my own

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