Workington History

1886 An RNLI lifeboat station was established at the request of the local inhabitants following the wreck of the schooner Margaret when all the crew were lost. A boathouse and slipway were built at a cost of £395.

1891 The boathouse was moved to the beach, south of Johns Pier.

1905 The station closed as it was not possible to find a new site for the boathouse.

1948 The station was re-opened on trial for 12 months to increase the protection of the shipping in the Solway Firth due to Maryport lifeboat, a few miles to the north, being unable to launch due to silting. The station became permanent when Maryport lifeboat station closed in 1949.

1974 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Albert Brown when the lifeboat City of Edinburgh rescued seven people from the fishing vessel Kia-Ora in a storm force wind and a very rough sea.

1990 A new boathouse was built providing a workshop, drying room, shower/toilet facilities, a fuel storage tank and crew room. A special launching crane system was also installed to allow the lifeboat to be launched and recovered over the dock wall using a large gantry.

1992 The Tyne class lifeboat Sir John Fisher was placed on service on 8 June.

2001 Coxswain John Stobbart was awarded the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for the rescue of three crew and the fishing vessel Siskin in the early hours of 13 December 2000. The fishing vessel was towed back to Workington in atrocious weather conditions with force 11 winds and heavy seas.

2004 Following a Coast Review it was agreed that a D class inshore lifeboat be co-located at this station.

The new station IB1-type D class, D-629 The Shannock, was placed on service on 12 August.

Station honours

At Workington lifeboat station the following award has been made:

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1

Bronze Medal 1