The Mumbles Lifeboat and Lighthouse In the Nineteenth Century
by Carol Powell M.A.
More articles - Lifeboat
The Mumbles Lifeboat in the Nineteenth Century
For several years there had been a lifeboat at Swansea, but in 1863 Mumbles obtained her first, the 'Martha and Ann', an open boat pulled by ten oars.
A lifeboat house was built on land donated by the Duke of Beaufort, but a slipway could not immediately be made because of the Mumbles Railway extension then being constructed right past the door. The lifeboat was therefore left on her carriage at the end of the village until in January 1866, it was clear that the railway venture had fallen through (see Mumbles Railway section). The slipway was then finished at a cost of £50.
The 1866 Lifeboat 'Wolverhampton' naming ceremony, held at Wolverhapton on 27 August 1886
On August 1866, a new boat, the 'Wolverhampton', named after the town where citizens had raised the money, was inaugurated at the station. Funds for the maintenance of the boat were raised by committees in other towns or by benefactors.
The first coxswain was Jenkin Jenkins and there were enough volunteers, mostly fishermen, to form first and reserve crews.
In 1882, the oyster skiffs themselves were the victims of the weather when they were hit by a gale, and the rescue was undertaken by those fishermen who were able to reach the shore, man the lifeboat and return to save their comrades from the 'Gertrude', 'Gladstone' and 'Shah' oysterdredgers.
Then in January 1883, a large ship, the 'Admiral Prinz Adalbert', was thrown onto the rocks of the lighthouse island. The lifeboat went to her aid but was capsized three times, Jenkin Jenkins lost two sons and a son-in-law among the four drowned, and four widows with fourteen orphaned children were left in the village.
Jessie and Margaret Ace
During this rescue, Jessie and Margaret, two daughters of the lighthouse-keeper, Abraham Ace, together with Gunner Edward Hutchings, pulled two men out of the water. This story was reported in the 'Cambrian' Newspaper of 2 February 1883.
The boat was heavily damaged and an essential replacement, also named 'Wolverhampton' was built. However, she was a foot longer than her predecessor and necessitated a new house, which was then constructed on the same site by 'Watkins & Jenkins' at a cost of £350. After some alterations to her design in 1888, the 'Wolverhampton II' remained in service until 1898, when the coxswain started to look around for a replacement.
It is said of these men and their, ilk that
'they were iron men in wooden boats'.
In 1791, a Harbour Trust had been set up for a variety of reasons, one of which was to warn ships of the hazards off the Mumbles Head, namely the Mixon Sands (also called the Mixen Sands) and the Cherry Stone Rock.
Mumbles Lighthouse in the Nineteenth Century
Mumbles Lighthouse in 1841
Drawn by W H Bartlet, engraved by W Mossman© W G ArchiveBy 1794, a lighthouse was in situ and working on the outer island. In 1799, the coal fired beacon was replaced by an oil lamp which lit a large, Neath foundry-made, lantern with reflections. This was gradually improved during the nineteenth century. The upkeep of the lighthouse between 1816 and 1832 was £6,758 and wages for the keeper £943. 18s. 6d. which was collected from ships which passed the light.
The management passed from the Harbour Trust to the Corporation of Trinity House by an Act of Parliament in 1834.
There were several keepers during the century, but for three-quarters of that time, the post was held by one family - father, son and grandson, all named Abraham Ace. The families lived on the island and could only come ashore at low tide, the children attending the Oystermouth School which was then situated at Southend in what is now the Mumbles Motorboat and Fishing Club. The school log book records the fact that on 28 November 1877, 'William Ace was ill and living at the lighthouse'.
Thus, with the increase in shipping because of the growth of the Port of Swansea, the lighthouse became imperative, but nevertheless rescues were necessary on occasions. The brave men of Mumbles were voluntarily involved in the recovery, sometimes of small boats but occasionally of large ships from farther afield.
Reproduced from the book-
INKLEMAKERS Life in nineteenth-century Oystermouth
Acknowledgments
Census returns, 1841 and 1851
Gabb. G. 'The Story of the Village of Mumbles' (Cowbridge, 1986)
Thomas, N. 'The Mumbles Past and Present'
Book
from RNLI author Kate Jones
Available from the Lifeboat Station at Mumbles Pier (please check opening hours)