Visiting Clovelly
Clovelly is a beautiful, picturesque fishing village, steeped in maritime atmosphere and history. It was once owned by the Queen of England!
Book TicketsThe Lifeboat station is integral to the heart of the village. There are few safe West Country harbours between Padstow and Bideford.
Following a terrible storm Clovelly’s first lifeboat station was built in 1870. Most of the fishing fleet was destroyed with the loss of many lives. At only 33 feet long and built of wood, the lifeboat was powered through the waves by a crew of sturdy rowers.
The RNLI took Clovelly’s permanent lifeboat out of service in 1988. This rightly upset the villagers so they set up their own inshore rescue boat. Eight years later, the RNLI decided to return and started extending the boatshed and enhancing their inshore rescue service. In 2000 more work was done with great sensitivity to the location by marine architects. The completed building is the winner of many conservation awards.
If you’re hoping to visit Clovelly’s historic lifeboat station, it’s best to call ahead and check opening hours. Tours are available free of charge by contacting Andy on 07795654335 or at [email protected] – donations welcome.