Historic England has announced the listing of a grave monument dedicated to James Gall in Barrow as well as releasing an interactive map featuring historic North West landmarks connected with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Both gestures are to mark this year’s 200th anniversary of the lifesaving charity. 

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The Grave monument to James Gall in Barrow Cemetery (Grade II listed)

James Gall was the last survivor of the SS Forfarshire, which was wrecked on the north-east coast on 7 September 1838. He was a fireman onboard the ship. 

The wreck was made famous by the brave actions of Grace Darling. With her father, keeper of the Longstone Lighthouse, Northumberland (Grade II listed), Grace set out in their coble (a traditional North East open fishing boat) through stormy seas and rescued five survivors. Grace’s father returned with two of the survivors to rescue another four people. 

James had to stay at the lighthouse for two days where his injuries were attended to by the Darling family.  

Grace’s act of bravery became front page news, reaching Queen Victoria, and capturing the imagination of people around the world.  

In 1838, the rescue was recognised by the youthful RNLI (then called the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck) by the awarding of silver medals for bravery to Grace and her father. Grace was the first woman to receive a RNLI medal. 

(Image: Historic England Archive)

She died of tuberculosis four years later on 20 October 1842 and is commemorated by a tomb in St Aidan’s churchyard, Bamburgh (Grade II* listed). The RNLI Grace Darling Museum sits opposite St Aidan’s Church and celebrates the life of the Victorian heroine. 

In 1888, the RNLI took a lead in remembering James Gall and reviving the interest in Grace’s remarkable rescue. James Gall’s grave monument, in Barrow Cemetery, bears an inscription dedicated to the rescue.

It reads: "Erected by public subscription in memory of James Gall, one of the crew of the 'Forfarshire' [died 25 December 1888] and to commemorate the heroism of Grace Darling in rescuing nine men from the wreck of that unfortunate vessel AD 1838."

features a ten-foot-tall lighthouse sculpture. 

The Missing Pieces Project

Historic England and the RNLI are asking people in the North West to add their own contributions to their Missing Pieces Project which will be added to the story of the listed landmarks featured on the new interactive map.

Through the Missing Pieces Project, Historic England invites everyone to discover the listed places on their doorstep and contribute their own unique piece to the picture by adding photos, videos, stories and memories on the National Heritage List for England. 

(Image: Historic England Archive) The RNLI has been saving lives at sea since 1824. Over the past 200 years, lifeboat stations have become an important part of our coastal heritage, acting as beacons of safety, while churches and memorials honour and remember the people who have bravely risked their lives to save others.

Many of these sites are protected through listing, and whilst most are not owned or managed by the RNLI, they all have strong connections to the lifesaving charity and its history.   

(Image: Historic England Archive) Rarely seen photographs have also been shared by the RNLI to highlight the charity’s rich history, showing proud volunteer lifeboat crews and historic lifeboat stations from the past 200 years. 

You can now help to discover more about the places in the North West that have protected people at sea by adding your unique piece of the RNLI story to Historic England’s Missing Pieces Project.