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Lighthouses & Lifeboats

Lighthouses

Lighthouses are frequent in lonely, dangerous places. Their solid, purposeful white buildings and round lanterns are instantly recognisable - a fitting architectural complement to the insular lives of the men and women who lived and worked in them. Unfortunately, due to the new technology, the last keeper had to leave his job in 1998, as automation took over.

Lighthouses have a long history beginning with cliff top fires. In 1514 King Henry VIII granted a charter to a company of mariners to regulate and manage the business of piloting ships into English ports. This became Trinity House which now manages pilotage and lighthouses all around the UK including the Start Point Lighthouse - built in 1836, automated in 1993 and still in operation. You can learn more about lighthouses and the lives of the keepers by visiting Start Point lighthouse.

Lifeboats

The lifeboat service came into being in 1824 as a charitable organisation aimed at saving lives at sea. Local seamen would put to sea regardless of their own safety, in an effort to save those in distress - an act of pure charity.

The RNLI remains dependent on charity to buy its boats, and on volunteers to crew them. In South Devon there are a number of RNLI facilities. A 'B' class Atlantic 21 inshore boat is stationed in Teignmouth, (in the original 1862 lifeboat station); Salcombe hosts a Tyne Class All Weather and an Atlantic 75 Inshore Lifeboat. Just around the corner is Plymouth's big Severn Class lifeboat. The stations are open to the public, and there are often local tales of heroism and courage, displayed in fading prints and newspaper cuttings. Reading them is a humbling business. More info at RNLI.