RNLI Barrow Lifeboat Station - Cumbria UK
Posted by: 
martlakes
N 54° 04.409 W 003° 10.451
30U E 488602 N 5991711
Barrow is the busiest of four RNLI stations in Cumbria, with a proud history going back to 1864. A long slipway allows launches at any state of the tide into the changeable waters of Morecambe Bay and the Irish Sea. Open for visits.
Waymark Code: WM32VT
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/01/2008
Views: 88
Barrow Lifeboat Station is located on the very end of Roa Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway road. A long walkway leads out to the modern boat house, which at low tide appears perched high up on massive concrete stilts. This is to cope with the large 10m tides on this shore. To enable launches at any state of tide there is a long slipway down into Piel Channel.
Although the waters here are sheltered by Piel and Walney Islands so big waves are rare, the channel can have an 8 knot current running across the end of the slip as the big tides flood in and out from Barrow docks. The tides in Morecambe bay are usually coupled with the word 'treacherous' and are often the cause of call-outs for the lifeboats around the bay.
Barrow has two lifeboats, one an inshore D class called Spirit of Tamworth and a large, all-weather, slip-launched boat. For 20 years it has been a Tyne class boat called James Bibby. They are in the process of changing over to a new, state-of-the art Tamar class boat, the Grace Dixon.
The new Tamar boat should have arrived in December '07 but things didn't go according to plan. After suffering some minor damage in rough seas off Cornwall, Grace Dixon had to return to Plymouth for repairs. It is likely to be March '08 when she finally arrives in Barrow. See: (
visit link)
In 1927 the first motor lifeboat to arrive on the Lancashire coast was stationed at Barrow. Before this it was sail and oars. In 1964 a new inshore service commenced with the D class boat. 1998 saw the completion of a new boathouse, still working well today. The slipway has needed some modifications to adapt to the new Tamar boat, which is heavier and larger than the Tyne class. For more info, see: (
visit link)
The lifeboat station is usually open daily for visits, 10am-4pm, but has been closed during the adaptations for the new boat. Call Ron Nuttall on 01229 820941 to check if open.
Roa Island is the end of the road, unless you take the seasonal ferry across to Piel Island. Apart from boats, there's not a lot at Roa Island except a cafe: The Bosun's Locker, open all year, and a guest house. There is a fair bit of history though and you are quite a way into the Bay so good views abound, especially of Piel Castle. A regular bus service runs to Roa. For more info about Roa see: (
visit link)
An interesting site about Walney Island, lifeboats and wrecks can be found here: (
visit link)