Douglas, home of Sir William Hillary the founder of the RNLI, was one of the earliest places in the British Isles to be provided with a lifeboat. Hillary witnessed many shipwrecks there and established the lifeboat stations, himself helping to rescue over 300 people.

The station's Tyne class lifeboat is housed in Douglas Harbour. The boathouse and slipway are behind the Shell refinery on Battery pier which can be seen in the centre of the main photograph.

Main photo (left) Ref 652431 Detailed photo (below) Ref 652437.