Robert Theophilus Garden

(Extract from the "Journal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution")

The new Lifeboat Establishment 1/1/1867

This life-boat establishment has been recently completely renovated by the Institution. A handsome and substantial boathouse has been erected on a new site in the place of the old house which had been nearly washed away by the sea; and a new 33 feet life-boat, pulling 10 oars double-banked, and furnished with a transporting carriage and full equipment of stores, has been placed there instead of the old boat and carriage. A contribution of £600 was presented to the Institution, to assist in defraying the cost of the new life-boat establishment, in the names of the grandchildren of the late Robert Theophilus Garden, Esq., of River Lyons [near Daingean], King's County, and the life-boat has been named after the deceased gentleman. The new boat and carriage were conveyed to their station via Liverpool and Dublin and were granted a free coneyance by the London and North Western Railway Company, the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company and the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company. The old boat and carriage were brought back by another route on similar liberal terms. A hearty public demonstration took place at Wicklow on the occasion of the first launch of the new life-boat. An address was prepared and signed by the inhabitants of the town and presented by Earl FitzWilliam to Admiral Jones, who represented the donors of the boat on the occasion. The life-boat was then named in the usual way by Miss Jones and lunched amidst long and hearty cheers.

The following is a copy of the inscription, beautifully carved in Aubigny stone, and placed over the large door way in the centre of the west gable of the life-boat house. In a small panel above the insciption is carved the coat-of-arms of the Garden family, and on each side, forming part of the whole design, are placed small circular panels containing in ornamentally carved and interlaced letters the monograms of the late Mr. Garden those of his Father and Mother, Viz., Robert and Catherine Garden-R.T.G. and R.C.G.

In memory of Robert Theophilus Garden, E.S.Q. River Lyons, Philipstown, King's County, Ireland. Died 10th October 1862, Aged 73 years.

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