[4] A stone-built boathouse was constructed, and a lifeboat transferred here from Holy Island, a 31-foot 10-oared boat, built by Henry Greathead in 1802.

[5] On 7 September 1838, the paddle steamer Forfarshire ran aground on the Farne Island Rocks and broke in two.

The North Sunderland lifeboat did not launch to the wreck, the coxswain instead opting for a small coble that he believed more suited to effect a rescue around the rocks.

They battled to arrive at the wreck, only to find the rescue had been completed, but unable to return home due to the weather, they then spent 2 days seeking shelter in a disused building, all other 'accommodation' at the Farne Island Lighthouse being full.

[5] When the 1838 lifeboat was deemed unfit for service in 1851, an order was placed with Forrestt of Limehouse, London for a 30-foot 'Self-righting', similar in design to the James Beeching lifeboat, which had won the prize awarded by the president of the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland.

As was common practice, he was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal in recognition of his many service calls.

In the first 35 years on station to 1999, the inshore boats would launch just over 300 times, saving 85 lives.

She would be replaced by 13-36 John and Elizabeth Allan (ON 1343), a 25 knot Water-jet powered Shannon-class lifeboat, costing over £2 million.