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Ask HN: UK Rescue Rocket Sheds/Houses Information

24 points by burnt-resistor 1mo ago

I can't seem to find pictures or significant details (nothing on Wikipedia) about the coastal buildings purportedly used to contain shipwreck rescue rocket apparatus. Many of the buildings still exist and are Grade II listed. Anyone have any additional anecdotal/local/oral tradition information that isn't found in the little blurbs online on the few websites mentioning them?

aaron695 1mo ago
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burnt-resistor 1mo ago
Example: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300022782-rocket-cart-shed-rhossili https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300022782-rocket-cart-s... https://maps.google.com/?q=51.5708572,-4.2850887 https://maps.google.com/?q=51.5708572,-4.2850887 51°34'15.1"N 4°17'06.3"W
fhdkweig 1mo ago
I'm having difficulty googling what a "rescue rocket" is. I keep finding info on a video game and safety during space travel. What does "rocket" mean in a 1800s context? I found this: https://museum.maritimearchaeologytrust.org/2025/05/29/rocket-apparatus/ https://museum.maritimearchaeologytrust.org/2025/05/29/rocke... Is it a gunpowder rocket used to push a boat through the water instead of using rowing oars? Is it just a gun that sends the carrying cable, what makes it different from any other gunpowder gun? https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/52937/ https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/52937/
- Neil44 1mo ago
  I wonder if it's for firing lines over to a shipwrecked vessel, to assist with getting people ashore.
  - trebligdivad 1mo ago
    Yes, looks like it: https://heritage.wicklowheritage.org/topics/topics-miscellaneous/the-rocket-apparatus https://heritage.wicklowheritage.org/topics/topics-miscellan...
trebligdivad 1mo ago
Have you tried the RNLI or lighthouses associations?
robotswantdata 1mo ago
Of interest? https://replay.bfi.org.uk/video/fbc58db0-b59f-5a31-9fda-14638ce94311 https://replay.bfi.org.uk/video/fbc58db0-b59f-5a31-9fda-1463... https://www.vectisarchaeology.org.uk/pdfs/irex_wrecked_at_the_needles.pdf https://www.vectisarchaeology.org.uk/pdfs/irex_wrecked_at_th...
NevskyNull 1mo ago
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aaron695 1mo ago

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burnt-resistor 1mo ago

Example: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300022782-rocket-cart-shed-rhossili https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300022782-rocket-cart-s... https://maps.google.com/?q=51.5708572,-4.2850887 https://maps.google.com/?q=51.5708572,-4.2850887 51°34'15.1"N 4°17'06.3"W

fhdkweig 1mo ago

I'm having difficulty googling what a "rescue rocket" is. I keep finding info on a video game and safety during space travel. What does "rocket" mean in a 1800s context? I found this: https://museum.maritimearchaeologytrust.org/2025/05/29/rocket-apparatus/ https://museum.maritimearchaeologytrust.org/2025/05/29/rocke... Is it a gunpowder rocket used to push a boat through the water instead of using rowing oars? Is it just a gun that sends the carrying cable, what makes it different from any other gunpowder gun? https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/52937/ https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/52937/

Neil44 1mo ago
I wonder if it's for firing lines over to a shipwrecked vessel, to assist with getting people ashore.
- trebligdivad 1mo ago
  Yes, looks like it: https://heritage.wicklowheritage.org/topics/topics-miscellaneous/the-rocket-apparatus https://heritage.wicklowheritage.org/topics/topics-miscellan...

trebligdivad 1mo ago

Have you tried the RNLI or lighthouses associations?

robotswantdata 1mo ago

Of interest? https://replay.bfi.org.uk/video/fbc58db0-b59f-5a31-9fda-14638ce94311 https://replay.bfi.org.uk/video/fbc58db0-b59f-5a31-9fda-1463... https://www.vectisarchaeology.org.uk/pdfs/irex_wrecked_at_the_needles.pdf https://www.vectisarchaeology.org.uk/pdfs/irex_wrecked_at_th...

NevskyNull 1mo ago

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