Ilfracombe has had a lifeboat since 1828 - this was a local pilot boat. In 1850 the first boathouse, with a slipway, was built at the back of the harbour. In 1866 the RNLI established a lifeboat station. In 1871 The slipway was filled in and the lifeboat had to be taken through the town to the top of the harbour to use the slipway there to get to the sea. In 1893 a new larger boathouse was built. In 1991 An inshore lifeboat station was established and in 1996 a new boathouse, with improved crew facilities, was built for both lifeboats and launching tractor.