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Birmingham Funded Lifeboats - James Pearce - Caister

Lady Penelope

Lady Penelope

master brummie
My cousin, who lives in Leicester and I regularly have a video chat and this time it was about a day trip to Gt Yarmouth he'd made. He paid a visit to the museum there and there was a picture of the lifeboat at Caister paid for by public subscription in Birmingham in 1857. Funds were also raised for a second lifeboat in 1865 which was named the 'James Pearce'. The first boat served for 18 years and saved 484 lives at sea.

The article mentions that on it's way to Caister it was launched in Birmingham and I was wondering where this might be. Edgbaston Reservoir maybe as this was near to the city entre? This was so that the people of Birmingham could see what they had paid for and according to the article hundreds of people turned out for this event.

Any ideas on the location of the lake/body of water?
 
Lady Penelope said:
My cousin, who lives in Leicester and I regularly have a video chat and this time it was about a day trip to Gt Yarmouth he'd made. He paid a visit to the museum there and there was a picture of the lifeboat at Caister paid for by public subscription in Birmingham in 1857. Funds were also raised for a second lifeboat in 1865 which was named the 'James Pearce'. The first boat served for 18 years and saved 484 lives at sea.

The article mentions that on it's way to Caister it was launched in Birmingham and I was wondering where this might be. Edgbaston Reservoir maybe as this was near to the city entre? This was so that the people of Birmingham could see what they had paid for and according to the article hundreds of people turned out for this event.

Any ideas on the location of the lake/body of water?
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The sister boat to the James Pearce, simply named the "Birmingham" (Birmingham No. 1), was publicly demonstrated and launched at Soho Pool in Birmingham on 26 November 1864. While the James Pearce (Birmingham No. 2) was sent straight to Great Yarmouth for its official launch in 1865.
Soho Pool had formed part of Matthew Boulton's landscaped park around Soho House:

1789663791365.png View of Soho Pool by Allen Edward Everitt

It's a very interesting story, Lady P. The details are here: https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/06/59/additional-stations-and-new-life-boats and I was impressed by this observation: "As inhabitants of an inland town, a town in the very heart of England, they knew nothing of the dangers of the coast ........... But those who originated this idea thought that the very fact of their residing so far from those dangers, and being never exposed to them, was the strongest argument that they could use to come to the assistance of others who lived on the coast, and were accustomed to encounter its perils ; and, inasmuch as they all profited by the trade and commerce of this great country, and as communication was so "rapid between one place and another that it was impossible one town could be considered independent of the interests and prosperity of any other town in the kingdom." Good for them!!
 
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There seems to be no mention of Birmingham contributing to the first lifeboat or its launch in the available press, though the second boat is described as the second boat from Birmingham . In 1857 the Caister boat is described as neglected and was run by the Norfolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Mariners. In early December 1857 the Association was merged with the Royal Lifeboat Association, and presumably the Birmingham boat was supplied by them. The second boat was built in Yarmouth, and was transported to Caiste by road. During this a call was received, and it went into action before actually getting to its base

Birm post.24.10.1865.jpgBury & norwich post 21.10.1865.jpgWigton advertiser 3,11.1857.jpgGlobe 15.1 1858.jpg
 
Another report from the Dec 1857 says that a new lifeboat had been supplied for Caister at a cost of £300. It was affirmed that the boat should not have been allowed to fall into a state requiring repairs of £35 without being reported.

Previously in Nov 1857 it is reported that it was only a few years since a boat was purchased by private subscription for £300 and was one of the finest along the eastern coast.
 
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