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Robin Hood's Bay cod is a historic RNLI collecting box
Summary
A cast-iron codfish sculpture in Robin Hood's Bay was installed around 1885 to raise money for the RNLI and is Grade II listed; Historic England reports it could be the charity's oldest collecting box still in use.
Content
A cast-iron codfish sculpture overlooks the sea at Robin Hood's Bay. It was installed around 1885 by local sailor Captain Issac Mills to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The fish is Grade II listed and Historic England says it could be the RNLI's oldest collecting box still in use. The sculpture has been maintained over the years and was occasionally removed for repairs or relocation.
Key details:
- The codfish was installed circa 1885 as a donations box for the RNLI.
- It weighs more than 17 stone (108 kg) and stands about 3 ft 9 in (1.2 m) tall.
- The village has not had a lifeboat since 1931, but donations placed in the cod go to the RNLI.
- The fish was removed in 1963 during demolition and relocation of a coastguard station and again in the 1970s for welding repairs.
- It was registered as a listed structure by Historic England in 2006.
Summary:
The codfish serves as a visible piece of local maritime history and continues to accept donations for the RNLI, reflecting the village's historic links to shipping and rescue. Undetermined at this time.
