Victorian lifeboat station in Moelfre, North Wales, to be auctioned. Buyers should note: the property needs repair.
This station sits at Porth Nigwyl in Moelfre. The auction’s guide price is £95,000. It’s a rare chance to buy a seaside landmark. Built in 1875, it was Moelfre’s second station.
It cost about £15,566 in today’s money. It served for 34 years, replaced by a bigger one. Lately, it’s been used as a private boathouse. It has about 66 sq meters of space and a small storeroom. Photos show boats and fishing gear inside now.
It needs some work, and the slipway needs repair. The auctioneers say it’s full of history. It’s in a great coastal location. There is a small beach nearby. Access is by foot only and requires walking down a steep path. Viewers should be careful and go with someone.
Moelfre got its first lifeboat in 1848. The Anglesey Association helped prevent shipwrecks. It was the island’s sixth lifeboat location. In 1855, the RNLI took over its management. The station now for sale replaced it in 1875.
Thomas Lewis was in a rescue that year. He survived cannibalism after drifting at sea. A slipway was added in 1893. In 1909, a new station opened nearby. That is Moelfre’s current station; rebuilt in 2015.
Moelfre’s volunteers saved over 1,000 lives. The Royal Charter shipwreck happened in 1859. Locals tried to save survivors. About 450 people died. It was Wales’ second worst sea disaster. People drowned, weighed down by gold.
In 1959, the Hindlea also crashed nearby during a storm. The Moelfre lifeboat saved the entire crew. Richard Evans led the rescue. Evans earned a gold medal for his bravery. He became one of the few to get two gold medals. This is the RNLI’s highest honor.
Evans served for 50 years. He joined 179 launches, saving 281 lives. A bronze statue of him stands near the old station. It was put there in 2004. The building lacks modern utilities. Online bidding starts March 25. The seller may accept offers beforehand. To view, contact Egerton Estates Benllech.