Blyth Lifeboat Station

Established1826

RNLI From1866

Gallantry Medals11

StatusActive 24/7

Inshore Lifeboats	Atlantic 85 Patricia Southall (B-923); Sally Forth (D-878) D Class
Launch Method	Aquadock / Davit
Address	Quay Road, South Harbour, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3PA
Telephone	01670 352201

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RNLI Station Histories Guidebook Print · Kindle · PDF from £4.99

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RNLI Station Histories Guidebook

Explore two centuries of RNLI lifeboat history, heroic rescues, and the enduring tradition of saving lives at sea.

On the Northumberland coast at the mouth of the River Blyth, Blyth Lifeboat Station traces its lifeboat heritage to 1808 and its continuous station to 1826, making it one of the RNLI’s earliest. Today it runs two inshore lifeboats — a B-class Atlantic 85 and a D-class.

A lifeboat was first stationed at Blyth in 1808, privately sponsored by Sir Matthew White Ridley. The station in its continuous form was established in 1826 by the Blyth/Newcastle association, and was taken over by the RNLI in 1866. A second, flanking station established in 1854 was renamed Cambois in 1899 and closed in 1927.

10 December 1829

The brig Perseverance

William Armstrong was awarded the Silver Medal for the rescue by boat of the master, mate, five seamen and two passengers — nine people in all — from the brig Perseverance, wrecked off Blyth.

28 October 1841

Loss of the Blyth lifeboat

On service to a brigantine, the Blyth lifeboat capsized and 10 of her crew drowned; two men, J. Hodgson and Henry Kinch, survived. Henry Kinch received the Silver Medal for his efforts to save his comrades.

11 January 1913

The ss Dunelm

When the Dunelm stranded in a whole gale, Coxswain Anthony Nixon took a small boat through a very heavy sea to bring off two of the crew, the rest being saved by other means; he received the Silver Medal (and was also a holder of the King’s Bronze Medal for saving life at sea). The same wreck brought Gold Medals to the Tynemouth crew.

Coastguard James Kearney White earned a Silver Medal and Second-Service clasp for rescues at Blyth in 1852.

Blyth holds eleven medals for gallantry — eight Silver and three Bronze (last voted 1983).

Recipient	Award	Year	Service
William Armstrong	Silver Medal	1829	Brigantine Perseverance
Henry Kinch	Silver Medal	1841	Lifeboat capsize
James Kearney White	Silver Medal & Clasp	1852	William and Mary; barque Victoria
Coxswain Anthony Nixon	Silver Medal	1913	ss Dunelm
Coxswain John Bushell	Silver Medal	1916	Trawler Naval Prince
Coxswain J. Wheatley	Bronze Medal	1939	Steamer Skarv
Coxswain Thomas Fawcus	Silver Medal	1963	Vessel Paullgate
Bowman John Kerr	Bronze Medal	1963	Vessel Paullgate

* Summary data includes only verifiable awards and distinctions

The RNLI publishes an up-to-date record of this station's recent service launches on its official website, including dates, lifeboats involved and a summary of each call-out. View the latest launches directly on RNLI.org:

View recent launches on RNLI.org

Opens the official RNLI station page in a new tab.

The brig Perseverance

Loss of the Blyth lifeboat

The ss Dunelm

RNLI Lifeboat Models

Lifeboat Collectables

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