# Grimsby Lifeboat Station

Grimsby Lifeboat Station was located at the Port of Grimsby, in the county of Lincolnshire.
A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1882 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station.
With a motor lifeboat firmly established at Humber Lifeboat Station at Spurn Point, the Grimsby lifeboat station was closed in 1927.

## History

Following difficulties in both maintaining a crew, and also with launching, the RNLI decided to close Cleethorpes lifeboat station and relocate to Grimsby, opening a new station there in January 1882. The Cleethorpes lifeboat, a 33-foot Self-righting Pulling and Sailing lifeboat (using both oars and sail), built in 1868 by Woolfe and Sons, was transferred to the station. A gift of the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity, she was duly named Manchester Unity. A boathouse was constructed on the north-west side of the Tidal Basin.
On the 7 October 1887, a new boat was provided to Grimsby, a 38-foot self-righting boat constructed by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £624. She too was funded by the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity, and again named Manchester Unity (ON 123). Tragedy struck when the boat was called out on the evening of 18 November 1893. Coxswain Charles Barr was thrown overboard by the violent seas before the boat had even left the harbour, and was killed when he was crushed between the lifeboat and the harbour wall. The boat was sent for repairs, but was so badly damaged that she was withdrawn from service.
A reserve boat, Reserve No.3 (ON 206) was placed on service temporarily, but was so well liked, it was made to be the permanent Grimsby lifeboat, and renamed Manchester Unity.
In 1898, a new Steam-class lifeboat, the James Stevens No.3 (ON 420), was sent to Grimsby for evaluation. She was over 56-feet long, had a top speed of 8½ knots, and cost £3,298. Initially a No.2 boat, she was able to cover a period from 1901 to 1903 as No.1, when Manchester Unity (ON 206) was loaned to Hull Trinity House for use at Spurn Point, whilst their regular boat was being repaired.
Manchester Unity was only back at Grimsby for a short time, before being replaced by the Charles Burton (ON 526) in 1904. A 38-foot non-self-righting Liverpool-class (P&S) lifeboat, the boat was built by Thames Ironworks, and named after her benefactor, the late Charles T. M. Burton. A new boathouse and roller slipway were constructed at the entrance to the No. 1 Fish Dock. However, by 1911, the RNLI had taken over the Humber Lifeboat Station from Hull Trinity House, and had placed a motor-powered lifeboat there in 1919. As a result, Grimsby Lifeboat Station was closed in 1927.
In a 45-year period, the Grimsby lifeboat had been called 40 times, and saved 19 lives. Charles Burton (ON 526) went on to serve at Caister until 1941. A busy port location, the redundant boathouses were quickly demolished, and no evidence remains today.
In 2023, the Humber Lifeboat Station was forced to permanently abandon their base on Spurn Point due to a failing jetty, and further coastal erosion, and relocated to Grimsby. The docks site of the current station is virtually in the same place as the 1904 boathouse. It remains to be seen if the station will one day be known as Grimsby Lifeboat Station.

## Grimsby lifeboats

| ON | Name | In service | Class | Comments |
| Pre-511 | Manchester Unity | 1882−1887 | 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |
| 123 | Manchester Unity | 1887−1893 | 38-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |
| 206 | Manchester Unity | 1893−1901 | 38-foot 2in Self-righting (P&S) | Previously Reserve No.3 |
| 420 | James Stevens No.3 | 1898−1903 | 56-foot 6in Steam | |
| 206 | Manchester Unity | 1903−1904 | 38-foot 2in Self-righting (P&S) | |
| 526 | Charles Burton | 1904−1927 | 38-foot Liverpool (P&S) | |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
    Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.