Former Lifeboat Station, Walkway and Slipway, Mumbles Pier

Cadw's description

Location

Attached to the North side of Mumbles Pier, sited just West of Mumbles Head; pointing North-East across Swansea Bay.

History

The first lifeboat cover for the Swansea area was established in 1835 by the Swansea Harbour Trust. The station was taken over by the RNLI in 1863, and in 1866 it was moved to the Mumbles and a boathouse was built on the north side of the headland, replaced in 1884.

In 1916, a new lifeboat slipway was constructed and connected to Mumbles Pier by a walkway. This offshore location made possible low-tide launches by the heavy motor lifeboats then in use, and provided speedier access to incidents south of the headland. The slipway was extended and had alterations made to it in 1922 as the technology evolved to allow for rapid launching into deep water. The boathouse was added at this time. The station remained in active use until 2014, when a new station was built at the east end of the pier.

Exterior

Midway along the N side of the pier is a lattice girder walkway to the lifeboat station. The walkway, lifeboat station and the slipway are all supported by concrete piles. The lifeboat station is of clap-board construction under a pitched roof with projecting eaves, all painted maroon. It has T-shaped windows. The walkway leads to a doorway flanked by windows, while further R at lower level is a pair of windows. The W (landward side) has 4 T-shaped windows. The E side has double sliding doors to the slipway, beneath a pair of T-shaped casements in the gable.

Reason for designation

Listed for special historic and architectural interest as a well-preserved early C20 lifeboat station, prominently sited and built to accommodate the then new motor lifeboat, with the high slipway intended for rapid launching into deep water, displaying innovations in lifeboat technology.