.JPG) Alfred Corry | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Owner | Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum |
| Builder | Beeching Brothers of Great Yarmouth |
| Official RNLI Number | ON 353 |
| Station | Southwold |
| Cost | £490.7s.4d. |
| Laid down | 1893 |
| Launched | 1894 |
| Sponsored by | From the estate of Mr Alfred J Corry |
| Decommissioned | 1918 |
| In service | 25 |
| Fate | Converted to a Gentleman’s Yacht until restoration began in 1976 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Norfolk and Suffolk-Type |
| Type | Non-self-righting, sailing and rowing lifeboat |
| Displacement | 8 tons |
| Length | 44 ft 1 in (13.44 m) overall |
| Beam | 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) |
| Draught | 2 ft 3.5 in (0.699 m) |
| Depth | 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) |
| Installed power | Sail and Oars |
| Crew | 18 men |
RNLBAlfred Corry (ON 353) is aNorfolk and Suffolk-class, non-self-righting, sailing and rowinglifeboat which served in the town ofSouthwold in the county ofSuffolk.[1][2] The boat was funded and crewed by theRoyal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). She is kept on display in a museum in Southwold.[3][4]
TheAlfred Corry was constructed in 1893 byBeeching Brothers[5] ofGreat Yarmouth for theRNLI at a cost of £490.7s.4d.[2]
TheAlfred Corry was the first example of an improved class of Norfolk and Suffolk lifeboat called the Carvel-class.[1] The boat's construction was funded by a donation left to theRoyal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from the estate of Alfred James Corry ofPutney, for whom she was named.[2] During her 25-year working career, she was launched 41 times. She and her crew are credited with saving 47 lives.[1]
In 1919 theAlfred Corry was sold to Lord Albemarle and converted to a yacht, based out ofLowestoft. She was renamedAlba and an engine was added in 1921.[1] In 1949 the boat was renamedThorfinn. She was being used as a houseboat atMaldon by 1976, at which point she was bought and restored as a seaworthy yacht under her original name.[1]
In 1994 theAlfred Corry was presented to the newly formed Alfred Corry Charitable Trust. Subsequently, the Trust acquired the formerCromer Lifeboat shed and transported this to Southwold. In 1998, the lifeboat was moved to these new quarters for an extensive restoration to her original state.
The lifeboat is 44.07 feet (13.43 m) in length and has a beam of 13.00 feet (3.96 m). Her depth was 4.82 feet (1.47 m). The lifeboat is equipped with two masts carryinglug sails. She originally had 16 oars, but this was later reduced to 14.[1][2]
The lifeboat was launched from the beach until 1908 when a slipway was built in the harbour. The lifeboat would be boarded before the launch. The beach team would then haul the boat by hauling on a line that was fastened around a piling on the beach.[1]
TheAlfred Corry is housed in a museum named after the boat on the northern side of Southwold Harbour at the mouth of theRiver Blyth. The currentSouthwold Lifeboat Station is adjacent to the museum. The museum was once the Cromer Lifeboat shed, built in 1923 and the first of its type to have been built by theRNLI.[1] The old station was delivered to Southwold by sea in 1998 and was also fully restored. It is one of only a few remaining examples of its type lifeboat sheds built by the RNLI at that time.Alfred Corry forms the main exhibit in the museum which is free to enter.[3][4]
 Suffolk RNLI and Independent Lifeboats and stations in Suffolk | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldeburgh |
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| Lowestoft |
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| South Broads | |||||
| Southwold |
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