Barmouth History

Barmouth has a history rich with connections to the shipping industry. In the early 1800s, schooners, brigantines, steamers and other ships headed for Barmouth. As they sailed along the coast, often in raging storms, many were shipwrecked.

1825 A Silver Medal was awarded to Edmond Lewis for rescuing seven men when the vessel Neptune ran aground. Using ropes, he helped to haul the men up the cliffs to safety.

1828 An RNLI lifeboat station was established and a boathouse was built at a cost of £95.

1859 A new boathouse was built on the banks of the Mawddach estuary.

1885 A new slipway was built to ease launching.

1904 The boathouse and slipway were altered and lengthened for a new larger lifeboat.

1928 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1938 A Letter of Appreciation was presented to Coxswain Morris and the crew after a search for a small steamer in Mochras Bay for nearly 6½ hours.

1939 The first motor lifeboat at Barmouth arrived at the station.

1957  Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellums were awarded to William Morris and George Berridge for rescuing four children who had got into difficulties off the beach. Sadly five children died that day.
William Morris was also awarded the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew.

1967 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established with a D class lifeboat.

1971 Silver Medals were awarded to ILB Crew Members John Henry Stockford, Colin Pugh and Dr Robert Airdrie Haworth for rescuing a woman who had fallen over a cliff. The Ralph Glister Award was also awarded to all three crew for the most meritorious service of the year performed by the crew of an ILB. A Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to each of the five shore crew.

1978 A 150th Anniversary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1979 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Evan Jones for the rescue of two men from a liferaft from the motor fishing vessel Boy Nick.

1980 The Royal Humane Society’s testimonial on parchment was awarded to Crew Member John Henry Stockford for rescuing a man who had jumped into the sea from Barmouth Viaduct.

1982 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Acting Coxswain Edward Leonard Vaughan for rescuing the three crew and saving the trawler Gardelwen.

1986 The main boathouse was altered for the D class lifeboat and boarding boat, providing a new crew room as well.

1992 A Mersey class lifeboat, Moira Barrie, arrived at the station.

1997 A new D class lifeboat, Pilgrim, was placed on service on 13 August.

2004  The new boathouse was completed in February.

Station honours

At Barmouth lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 8

Bronze Medal 1

Silver Medal 4