The Lifeboat Station
Almost opposite the Spa Theatre is the lifeboat house built in 1903 at a cost of £1211 and in 1979 a brick extension was built as changing rooms for the crew, together with a shop for selling souvenirs. In 1805 the first lifeboat was housed at the end of Chapel Street. This site became too small and in 1865 a new lifeboat house was built on the wharf opposite the end of Railway Crescent, now Windsor Crescent. The boat could be launched by towing it on a carriage down the slipway at the end of the South Pier, or at Trinity Cut on the north side, when it was hauled by horses through the town. A second lifeboat, built by local man David Purdon in 1866, was kept on the side of the harbour and maintained by the fishermen. both these boats were manned by oarsmen, but also had sails. In 1922 horses were replaced by a caterpillar tractor for launching. The first motor driven lifeboat was launched in 1931 from Trinity Cut, after being hauled through the town. If it is called out the lifeboat still has to be towed by tractor down the slipway to the sea.
The first inflatable, high speed, inshore lifeboat was launched in 1966 and was housed in the RAF hanger on Gummer’s Wharf. In 1967 the boat was moved to the end of Princess Mary Promenade and in 1973 a tractor was purchased for launching. A permanent boathouse was built in 1993. 2005 was the 200th anniversary of the lifeboat and a ceremony was held in the Priory at which the lifeboat was blessed, having been transported through the streets on a waggon.
Next door, with a flagpole over the window, is the headquarters of the York area yacht club.