Wells Lifeboat RNLI Lifeboats Wells Norfolk UK
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New Boathouse Build

Wells' new boathouse from the ground up...

This gallery contains photographs of the site as it progresses. For more information and the latest updates, see our Boathouse Build pages.

Exit Gallery

 
Bench on the south apron with a replica of names on the starboard side of the Shannon
Bench on the south apron with a replica of names on the port side of the Shannon
Bench on the south apron with a replica of names on the Shannon's wheelhouse roof
View from the north, with front apron and removable rope safety barriers
Sunrise south apron
View from the south with completed south apron, Mersey lifeboat beside the new building
Inshore lifeboat crew drysuits and lifejackets in the changing room
Shore crew and launcher lockers in the changing room
Hoses and equipment for washing down and cleaning by the main door
Original hooks for horse harnesses from the old boathouse now moved to the new building and still being used for Talus/SLRS drivers' lifejackets!
'Duke of Edinburgh' seen from the viewing gallery
Crew changing rooms with lockers for the ALB crew
Wells Inshore Lifeboat D-797 'Peter Wilcox' in her new home, coupled to the Softrak launching vehicle
Shop and visitor centre all-fitted out and ready to go
Visitor centre and shop... which we hope to have open regularly soon!
Information posts and ramp to visitor entrance
Main window into the boathouse currently with 'Launch A Memory' and other displays
View from the north, with front apron almost clear of building equipment but still fenced off
View from the south, SLRS visible through open south door
Almost done... the new boathouse viewed from the beach bank path
Completed visitor centre entrance with step, ramp and resurfaced beach bank path
View from the south with resurfaced path and gates added to the path down the eastern side of the building
New board commemorating the loss of the Eliza Adams lifeboat and 11 of her crew in 1880
Historic service boards moved from the current boathouse and installed above the crew boarding platform
Historic service boards moved from the current boathouse and installed above the crew boarding platform
Shop and visitor area being fitted out
View from the south
Levelling and resurfacing the beach bank path by the new building
Steps and ramp added to the visitor centre entrance
Paving added to the south apron
Aerials and masts going up above the main door
Finishing up on the roof, as seen from the ramp up from the Beach Road car park
Shop signage and entrance
Southern aspect with signs and one-way images on the shop window
One way privacy film - with images - on the wotrkshop windows
Crew room with chart table
Crew room with furniture added
Shop and visitor engagement space being fitted out
Shop area being fitted out (plus historic righting poles moved from the old boathouse)
ILB shed with equipment store
Shower for returning ILB crew to quickly get salt and mud of their drysuits
More new information boards
A little history on the stairs up to the viewing gallery
Engagement space... and the first of the display and information stands have arrived
Ground floor tea and coffee spot
Crew room with kitchenette in place
Crew room with bench seating being installed
Crew changing room with night lighting
Crew changing room with night lighting
Boat hall and boarding platform
Still business as usual... recovering the Mersey at dusk after an evening exercise
Southern end of building emerges from behind the scaffolding
Scaffolding coming down on southern end
Cladding and signage added on the southern end of the building
New and old boathouses side by side
Eastern elevation with scaffolding removed
South west corner with cladding and new signage
View from the beach bank
Boat hall with fuel store diesel tank waiting to be installed
First floor accessible toilet
Crew room
Kitchenette in crew room
Crew room with kitchenette being installed
Shower for returning ILB crew to quickly get salt and mud of their drysuits
Boat hall looking towards crew boarding platform, workshop and changing area
Shop with entrance door
Shop and visitor area coming on, with stairs up to public viewing platform
Lockers being installed in changing room
Crew changing facilities
East side of boathuse with cladding installed
ALB launching ramp with temporary Coastwatch cabin at the top
View from the east with most of the cladding in place
Final larch cladding being added to the building
Exterior cladding added to north wall
Boat hall with flooring and railings added to boarding and viewing platforms
ILB shed with finished floor surface and viewing gallery above
Loo
Stairs up to public viewing platform
Cladding being added on eastern side
Boat hall with new stairs and railings and the temporary 'grand staircase' removed
Main boat hall with metal staircase up to the Shannon boarding platform installed
First floor landing with lift installed
Crew room being fitted out
Crew changing area looking towards private changing space, shower and loo
Stairs and lift up to the crew room and office on the first floor
Gift shop and engagement space now with stairs and lift up to public viewing platform
Recovering the Mersey after an exercise by the new ALB ramp
Aerial view of old and new boathouses and outer harbour
New boathouse with roof almost complete
New boathouse with roof almost complete
Window into ILB shed with finished roof panels
Battens added to exterior walls ready for the final cladding to be installed
Roller door on south end revealed
Roller door for all-weather lifeboat revealed
Completing the roof with insulation and battens prior to adding the exterior panelling
Panels being added to main roof
ILB shed roller door after temporary access door removed
Panelled roof and blockwork walls in place around gift shop and public entrance
Adding roof panels over the gift shop and public entrance
External blockwork wall around base of building
Battens in place on ILB shed ready for final insulation and roof panels
Roof panels awaiting installation
The building's exterior blockwork walls finally being added
Boat hall looking towards the main roller door
Boat hall viewed from the lifeboat boarding platform
Crew changing area
Progress on walls and fittings in the crew changing area
Eastern entrance and lobby area with liftshaft to the right
Crew room progress
Boat hall looking towards the main door
Boat hall looking south towards the rear door and crew door
Roller door for inshore lifeboat fitted (still with temporary door for workers below)
Main roller door for the Shannon fitted at the north end of the boat hall
Crew entrance door and back roller door for the boat hall fitted
Crew room walls progress
Crew room walls progress
Boat Hall from the lifeboat boarding platform
Public viewing platform with temporary safety railing
Public viewing platform with temporary safety railing
Inshore lifeboat 'shed' with window onto the beach bank installed
Boat Hall still with temporary grand staircase and temporary first floor railings
Boat Hall boarded out and with internal scaffolding removed
View from the beach car park
Large viewing window into the inshore lifeboat shed installed
Insulation being added aroudn the gift shop and public entrance
Insulation layers being added to the building
Public entrance and souvenir shop
Public entrance and souvenir shop
Crew room with windows installed and kitchenette wall boarded out
Crew room with windows installed
Windows units delivered to site waiting to be installed
View from the beach with windows and thermal insulation layer
View south east from the first floor
View east from the Crew Room
Heating plant waiting to be installed
Fitting Window units
Lifting window units into place
Installing Windows
Thermal protective layer added to east side of building
Retired Wells RNLI Honorary Secretary Richard Cracknell (r) and crew visiting the building just after Christmas
Terracing planted with marram grass donated by the RSPB
All ready for Christmas
Tree and decorative Arancia-class lifeboat set up for Christmas
Christmas tree being moved into position
Foggy December day
Sample section of exterior cladding on east side
Crew room with terracotta tiles for underfloor heating
Crew changing area
Boat hall
Gift shop and engagement space
West side of building
Temporary doors and plastic sheeting to keep out the weather
First layer of wall insulation being added in the crew changing area
Insulating the walls with a layer to prevent heat loss and air leakage
Boat hall with temporary grand staircase
Insulating layer being added to external walls on north-east corner of building
Foam insulation blocks being added to the crew room walls
Gift shop and engagement space with part of the first floor viewing platform above
Temporary staircase added from the boat hall to the first floor for the builders
Site view with new signs and information boards along the beach bank path
Internal walls on the first floor being constructed
Boat hall looking south, with crew boarding platform in place
Interior walls being constructed for the private changing room, loos and shower on the ground floor
Screed floor in place in the crew changing and workshop side of the building
Underfloor heating being installed on the ground floor
Underfloor heating being installed on the ground floor
Outline of office, plant room and loo on first floor
First floor looking towards office and plant room and stairs and lift up
Floor progress on gift shop and engagement space
Floor being laid in the cew changing area
New navigation marks - and the sea well up the new launching ramp - on a particularly high tide
First floor more complete
Gift shop and engagement space
Crew room floor looking south
Future view from the window of the crew room
First floor for crew room and facilities going in
'Upstairs' looking at what will be the crew room, office, plant room and loo
Outside the south east corner of the building with the crew entrance (left) and workshop (right)
'Upstairs' looking north at what will be the crew room
Stud walls and plywood on the south eastern corner of the building
Plywood walls on the changing room and floor joists added above for the first floor crew room
Aerial view from south east
Aerial view from east
Aerial view from north
Aerial view from north
ILB shed with base of viewing platform and lifting beam on roof above
Stud walling going up around the crew changing facilities
Stud walling in place for the gift shop and engagement area
A start on the stud walling on the eastern side of the building
Boat hall with planked roof emerging from the scaffolding
Main roof looking seaward
Weatherproof membrane on tjhe main roof
Membrane installed on main roof
Craning planks onto the boathouse roof
Planking the main boat hall roof
Crew member (and station photographer) Ray West inspecting work on the roof!
Planking the main boat hall roof
Main roof being planked
Underside of roof from the shop area looking towards the inshore lifeboat shed
Scaffolding in the main boathall while the roof is constructed
Scaffolding being added for work on the roof
Timber roof in place over ILB shed and gift-shop/engagement space
Timber roof viewed from inside
Timber roof in place for ILB shed
Timber roof in place for ILB shed
New roof in place over gift shop and ILB shed
Interior roof for gift shop and ILB shed in place
Scaffolding erected on west side of building
Scaffolding on the west side of the building with frame for public viewing gallery visible on left
Scaffolding being erected on the west side of the building
View from the east
View from seaward
Suspended platform for public viewing gallery in place
Future entrance for engagement space and gift shop
Aerial view
Aerial view
Aerial view
Boat hall from the south
Almost complete frame
Almost completed frame
Boat hall roof beams being lifted into place
Remaining boat hall roof beams being lifted into place
Beams for the main roof of the boat hall going in
Crane operator
View from the south
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Adding metal support bars between the beams
View from along the beach bank
New and old viewed from the south east at low water
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Craning the main boat hall roof beams into place
Constructing the frame
View from the south
Full moon rising
Partly completed frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Constructing the frame
Aerial view, restored historic lifeboat 'Lucy Lavers' on a trip round the harbour
Aerial view, current lifeboat station
Aerial view, new site and existing lifeboat station
Aerial view, new lifeboat station
Frame under construction
Frame under construction
Frame under construction, new beams delivered in the foreground
Beams being prepared to put into place
Frame on east side of building
Partly completed frame on eastern side of building
Lifeboat being recovered by the new boathouse after an exercise
Frame under construction
Quick progress lifting frame pieces into position in what will be the workshop area of the building
Beams being lifted and bolted into place
Start of the frame for the new boathouse... with the old boathouse behind
Quick progress on the first day of erecting the frame
First part of the frame for new boathouse frame being installed
First part of the frame for the new boathouse being lifted into place
First parts of the Glulam frame on-site ready to be installed
Inshore lifeboat briefly on the new all-weather lifeboat launching ramp during the 'Launch A Memory' opening
New crane setup on site for lifting the building frame
Beach reopened to the public and the new ramp already providing a sitting spot and some shade
Materials being delivered to site
Metal brackets in position for erecting the glulam frame
Pre-made and cut glulam beams delivered to site
Beams being prepared at Buckland Timber in Devon
Manufacture of the glulam beams at Buckland Timber in Devon
Manufacture of the glulam beams at Buckland Timber in Devon
Glulam beams being prepared at Buckland Timber in Devon
Beach bank path made good at the end of phase 1
ALB ramp finished at the end of phase 1
Side cleared at tjhe end of phase 1
South side filled. This area will eventuially be paved
South side filled. This area will eventuially be paved
Tidying up the site after filling the area to the south of the boathouse
Beach reopened around ALB ramp, scaffolding poles still acting as temporary navigation marks for boats
Filling and levelling to the south of the new building
Site fencing rearranged around the site to reopen the beach
One of the last jobs for Mackley... levelling and filling the area to the south of the new boathouse
Lifeboat crew and Mackley construction crew on the newly built launching ramp
Completed ALB ramp with handrails added
Tidying up the site beyond to the north of the ILB ramp
Completed terracing
Connecting services to the site
ALB ramp with handrails
Levelled beach beyond the new lifeboat station
Finished terracing ready for planting
Timber facing and ILB ramp viewed from the beach
Connection to the existing beach bank made good
View down the ILB ramp
Base of the new building with what will be the crew changing area
Completed front apron and completed guard rail planking around the site and down the ILB ramp
Completed front apron looking east towards the ILB ramp and current boathouse
Drainage runs along the western edge of the building
Working on the front apron
Drilling rig being used for installation of the ground-sourced heat pump
Last sections of the front apron being built
Hand-digging a trench for the electricity supply to the station
Guard rail planking continuing round the eastern edge of the site
Working on the front apron
Beach dug out on the south side to make good the connection to the existing beach bank concrete slabs
Concrete path completed along the eastern side of the building
Installing more sections of the concrete apron in front of the building
Concrete apron almost complete, looking from the ALB ramp towards the building, ILB ramp on left
Progress with the guard rail
Washdown tank being installed
Ekki planks being installed to provide a guard rail around the site
Installing Ekki planks onto the capping beam to form a guard rail
Wash down tank being installed
More of the concrete front apron being constructed
Aerial site view
Aerial site view
Aerial site view
Aerial site view
Damp proof course and first rows of blocks installed
Installing damp proof course and first rows of blockwork around the building
Back filling the planked terraces around the perimeter of the site
Work starts on constructing the concrete apron between the building and the ALB ramp
First section of concrete apron between the building and the ALB ramp
Filling in the timber terraces on the eastern side of the site
Damp proof course and block work being installed
Outline of building starting to appear above the concrete slab
End closures on the timber planking around the site
Fill and compaction work to the north of the building
Upstands and damp proof course work on main building
South east side of site being filled and compacted
Work on upstands and damp proof course
Upstands on the main building slab
Filling around underground chambers
Upstand construction on the main slab
Grouting continues to ALB ramp with bolt and lifting holes filled
Timber planking around the edge of the site
Planking around the site continues
Concrete work at the top of the ALB ramp
Capping beam being completed between the ILB and ALB ramps
Finishing off the completed building slab
Finishing off the completed building slab
Finishing off the completed building slab
Completed building slab
Services installation
Concrete pouring for the building slab
Concrete pouring for the building slab
Service chambers being constructed south of the building
After last week's delay, the last major concrete pour is started
After last week's delay, the last major concrete pour is started
Shuttering and steel fixing in place ready for the concrete pour
Between the sheet piling and capping beam and the timber works
Capping beam progressing between the ILB ramp and the ALB ramp to the north
Capping beam progressing between the ILB ramp and the ALB ramp
Installing planking
Installing planking on the perimeter
The upper terrace of planking nearing completion
Adding planks to the timber piles around the perimeter of the site
Ready for concrete pour for the main slab... but bad weather means it has had to be postponed
Capping beam progressing between the ILB ramp and the ALB ramp to the north
Steelwork in place ready ahead of the main concrete pour
Rows of timber piles installed for the terracing around the perimeter of the site
Installing timber piles around the edge of the site
Reinforcing steel work in place on the building slab
Concrete poured on the south-west part of the building slab
Installing timber piles around the sheet-piled perimeter of the site
ALB ramp on the tide
Sheet piled perimeter and capping beam prior to timer terraces being installed
West side of site prepared for concrete pour
Beach being restored at foot of ALB ramp
Reinforcement steel in place ready for pouring more of the building slab
Sheet piling and capping beam at perimeter of site exposed ready for timber installation
Timber delivered for the terracing/breastwork around the sheet piled area
Fixing the concrete planks into position
Grouting the ALB ramp
Final precast concrete planks being installed at the foot of the ALB ramp
Foot of ALB ramp exposed again as final concrete planks are installed
Final precast concrete planks being installed at the foot of the ALB ramp
Concrete work progressing well on the west of the site
The new temporary footpath to the beach which will be in use shortly
The top of the ALB ramp with precast concrete planks in place
Concrete planks lifted onto and installed on ALB ramp
Concrete planks lifted onto and installed on ALB ramp
Concrete planks lifted onto and installed on ALB ramp
Lifting precast concrete planks into place on the ALB ramp
Tops of the tubular piles exposed on the western edge of the site as services are being installed
Shuttering and reinforcement steelwork being setup on the western side of the site
Precast concrete planks (made in Norfolk!) being moved to the beach ready for installation on the ALB ramp steelwork
Pouring concrete for the building slab
Pouring concrete for the building slab
Working on the building slab
Freshly poured concrete on the eastern side of the building slab
Pouring the first part of the the huge concrete slab on which the building will sit in the future area of the crew facilities and changing room
FIrst few concrete slabs for the surface of the ALB ramp delivered to site
East side of main site with shuttering and reinforcement steel ready for concrete slab to be poured
Hardcore and concrete work on the west side of the site catching up with progress on the east side
Reinforcing steel in place on the main site ready for concrete to be poured
ALB ramp with completed steelwork, the hole refilled and the tide back in
ALB ramp steelwork in place
Last pieces of steelwork going in
The last section of steelwork being installed at the base of the ALB ramp
Last pieces of steelwork going in
The last section of steelwork being installed at the base of the ALB ramp
Fastening the steelwork into place
Guiding the steelwork into place
Lifting the cross piece for the final set of piles into the hole
Digging out the base of the ALB ramp to install the final bay of steelwork
Steel in place on the main site ready for concrete building slab to be constructed
View from the top of the ALB ramp
Digging out the lower end of the ramp so steelwork can be installed on the piles
Steelwork in position on the ALB ramp
Work continues in the snow...
Bottom of ramp being dug out again ahead of steelwork being fitted
Steelwork being fitted inbetween snow showers
A frozen and snow covered site with work still on-going
Steel supports for the ALB ramp added to the piles
Craning ALB ramp steelwork into position
Pouring the capping beam
Pouring concrete for the capping beam towards the southern end of the building
Concrete capping beam leading from the ILB ramp
Hardcore and concrete layer being prepared on eastern side of the building
Completed ILB ramp with beach levelled off
Main site ready being readied for concrete pour
Compacting capping layers of hardcore on the main site
Last section of ILB ramp to go
Working on the ILB ramp and preparing the main site
The foot of the ILB ramp (this will be under the beach level when finished)
Finishing the top of the ILB ramp
Pouring concrete for the ILB ramp
Pouring concrete at the top of the ILB ramp
Service works on the main site
Cutting and filing works to the piles for the main ramp
Drainage and service works on the main site
Preparation work for the ILB ramp
Concrete poured for lower section of ILB ramp
Concreting the lower section of the ILB ramp
Concrete works for the ILB ramp
Concrete works for the ILB ramp
Concrete works for the ILB ramp
Drainage chambers being constructed
Capping beam being constructed around the sheet piles
Working on the capping beam at the southern edge of the site
A quiet site on New Year's Eve
A very cold dummy providing site security on New Year Eve
Christmas tree decorated by the crew after an exercise while the weather was still nice...
The ILB ramp waiting for concrete to be poured
Site tidied up and a Christmas tree added
The ALB ramp fenced off for the Christmas break
Preparing the ILB ramp for concreting
ILB ramp nearing completion
Preparing steelwork for the ILB ramp
Piles for main building and slab in place
Boathouse piles all in position
Finally the impact hammer drives the last pile in
The crane changing position on site, moving its own supporting mat piece by piece as it goes
The more powerful impact hammer being used to finish off stubborn piles
The more powerful impact hammer being used to finish off stubborn piles
Installing piles for the new building
Installing piles for the new building
Piling works
Vibro head suspended from the crane being used to drive piles in
Vibro head suspended from the crane being used to drive piles in
Installing piles for the new building
Installing piles for the main building
Installing piles for the new building
Installing piles for the new building
Piling starts on on the main site of the new building
More work on ILB ramp piling
View from the crane looking east towards existing boathouse
View from the crane northwards to sea
View from the crane - sheet piling around site
View from the crane looking south west over the beach bank
Sheet piling around the southern edge of the site
Sheet piling being added around the boathouse site
Sheet piling being added around the boathouse site
Top row of piles for the ALB ramp in position at the top of the bank
ILB ramp piling nearing completion
Sheet piling for the ILB ramp
Sheet piling the ILB ramp
Piling ready for boathouse foundations
Main site with start of sheet piling for ILB ramp
Driving in sheet piling for the ILB ramp
Beach piles in place and temporarily capped off
Piling for the ALB ramp
Piling for the ramp
Installing piles for the ALB ramp
Piling for the ALB ramp
Piling for the ALB ramp
Piling for the ramp
Quick progress with piling for the ramp
Adjusting the beach level during piling works for the ALB ramp
And onto the second...
First pile for the ramp being driven into the beach
First pile for the ramp being driven into the beach
First pile for the ramp being driven into the beach
Piling rig in place on the beach for piling with the crane passing the tubular steel piles over the sea defences
Main site, with steel piles ready for the ramp
Plant and materials ready for start of piling for the ramp to the north
Piling materials arriving on site
Normal service must go on: the lifeboat is recovered after an exercise on the beach to the east of the building site
Crane arriving on-site
Restored Liverpool-class lifeboat 'Lucy Lavers' passing the gap in the sea defences where the ALB ramp will be
The site ready for the arrival of the crane and piling equipment
Northerly gale
Northerly gale
Good progress on placing dredged fill material to bring site up to level in preparation for piling
Building up the beach level
View from the east with showing the raised beach level for the new boathouse
View from the east with the new beach level visible
Scrub is cleared from the sea defences where the ramp for the Shannon lifeboat will be constructed
Material dredged by Wells harbour from the channel is ferried back to the site across Wells beach
Raising the level of the site
The site is fenced off, plant has arrived and work started
Work begins on site... clearing the ground and base of the beach bank
Crew members and station officials, past and present, on the beach at the start of building work
Piling survey on the beach where the ALB ramp will come down from the new boathouse
A solitary stick marks the approximate south-east corner of the site where the new lifeboat station will be built
3D sketch plan
First floor plan
Ground floor plan
Artist's impression of new boathouse for Wells RNLI

Exit Gallery

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