The historic figurehead from the Norwegian vessel ‘St George’ has been given a new, prominent spot inside Peel’s lifeboat station.
The wooden carving is a treasured reminder of the bravery of the Peel volunteers crewing the ‘John Monk’ lifeboat, who rescued all 23 souls aboard the sailing vessel after it was wrecked in a violent storm below Peel Hill in October 1889.
Recovered from the wreckage, the figurehead stood outside the boathouse for nearly 90 years before being moved indoors in the mid-seventies after extensive refurbishment. It was recently on loan to the House of Manannan for the 2024 exhibition ‘All at Sea’.
A Peel RNLI spokesperson said, “This year the figurehead returned to Peel boathouse where it stood beneath a staircase at first. Now it has been given a highly visible and impressive vantage point, looking out to sea.”
In its new position, it continues to be admired by visitors and to inspire the station’s dedicated volunteers, some of whom are proud descendants of the 1889 ‘John Monk’ crew.