RNLI Whitby Museum

Welcome to Whitby RNLI Museum's twitter account! Look out for news from the Museum and Shop and much much more!

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1770 the founder of the RNLI Sir William Hillary was born in Yorkshire. In 1824 he formed the National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck which became later became the RNLI Over the years the organisation he founded has saved countless lives

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

Due to the present weather conditions our Museum & Shop will be closed today. In the meantime enjoy this snowy photo of Khyber Pass and the Piers from c1950.
We hope you stay safe during this period of inclement weather.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1930 Whitby's No 1 Lifeboat RNLB Margaret Harker-Smith under the command of Coxswain Thomas MacGarry Kelly rescued 18 sailors from the 'SS Lucy of Helsingborg' which had run aground at Sandsend Ness. The boilers of the wreck of the Lucy are still visible today at low water.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

May we at the Whitby RNLI Museum and Shop take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope that you have a safe and peaceful festive holiday. Thank you for all your support in visiting our shop in the past year; we wish you all the best for 2026.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1957, the SS Thrift of Aberdeen with a crew of 10 was reported to be ashore at Ness Point at Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby's Lifeboat RNLB Mary Ann Hepworth was launched to assist the vessel. The Lifeboat stood by the vessel until the arrival of a tug to recover the vessel.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1914, German battlecruisers shelled the English towns of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool causing 137 deaths. Whitby was lucky with the bombardment only causing damage to property including the newly opened Coastguard Station and the Coastguard houses.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1904 Henry Freeman died. Henry was a lifeboat man from 1861-99, he was the sole survivor from the Whitby's 1861 Lifeboat disaster in which 12 crew perished. He was Coxswain from 1874 to 1899 during which time under his command Whitby lifeboats saved 152 lives.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1988, the RNLB City of Sheffield arrived at Whitby to serve as its Lifeboat, the boat was paid for by the people of Sheffield. The City of Sheffield was stationed at Whitby until 1996, in that time she was launched 239 times saving 88 lives. Enjoy this picture by Mark Smales

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1913 the SS Coronation went a shore at Ravenscar. Known as the Ship with Nine Lives, the Coronation spent months on the rocks at Ravenscar, she was refloated & caught fire whilst in dry dock in Hartlepool, was then capture by the Germans in 1914 and was finally lost in 1921.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1802 Whitby's first ever Lifeboat service took place. A boat supplied by Henry Greathead was launched to rescue the crew of the Sloop Edinburgh which was grounded near the harbour entrance in a north easterly storm. Pictured is Henry Greathead and engraving of his Lifeboat.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1958 the V Class Submarine, HMS Volatile broke loose from her tow off Whitby whilst being towed to a Tyne Shipyard for scrapping and was washed ashore at Sandsend Wyke. The Submarine was refloated on 23 Dec 1958 and continued on her journey to the Tyne.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1906 the Newcastle Collier SS Isle of Iona ran on to Whitby Rock, the RNLB John Fielden was launched under the command of Coxswain Thomas Langlands saving the six crew of the vessel. As the weather deteriorated the ship became a total loss.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1915 the SS Skane ran on to Whitby Rock. The vessel was refloated but as the weather deteriorated the crew of 20 including two ladies were rescued by the Reserve Lifeboat, RNLB Forester. The vessel was driven ashore on the West Cliff Beach and was lost under the Spa Theatre.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1965, the RNLB Mary Ann Hepworth under the command of Coxswain William Harland rescued the 14 crew of the stricken SS Fred Everard below Ravenscar cliffs. Cox Harland was awarded a Vellum Certificate for the Service. Pictured below are the Lifeboat crew & ship's survivors.

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1924 the Runswick Bay Lifeboat, the RNLB Hester Rothschild rescued the Captain of the SS Clementine which was aground off Staithes in a NE Gale. Bronze Medals were awarded to Coxswain Tose and Second Coxswain Patton for their 'skill and gallantly' they showed in the rescue.

[WHITBY RNLI @WHITBYRNLI]

If you'd like a Whitby RNLI 2026 calendar, please email Neil [email protected] for details of how to order. Let's see if we can beat last year's total raised for the RNLI! Thanks so much for your support

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1920 Whitbys RNLB Margaret Harker-Smith was launched to the aid of the 'Cap Palos' with 18 crew which had broken its tow line to tugs whilst being towed off Whitby in a gale. The lifeboat successfully rescued the crew. For his skill Cox Eglon received the RNLI's Vellum award

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1937, the MFV Penton was wrecked at Kettleness. She was being under tow by tug to the Tees but when the tow rope broke off Skinningove and came ashore at Kettleness. The wreck became known locally as the Ghost Ship as she was wrecked with no one on board!

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1939 HMS Cape Cormorin ran ashore under Whitbys East Cliff. The RNLB MaryAnn Hepworth was launched to aid the vessel. The crew of 18 were taken off by the Lifeboat.Cox Murfield was awarded a Sliver Medal whilst crew Dryden & Philpott received Bronze Medals for their gallantry

[RNLI Whitby Museum @MuseumRnli]

OTD 1991, the RNLB City of Sheffield responded to a 'Mayday' from the Ferry 'Stora Korsnas Link 1' which was on fire NE of Skinningrove in a onshore gale. Both Whitby and Hartlepool Lifeboats attended, the 18 crew of the vessel were successfully air lifted off by RAF Helicopter.