In 1849 the sea area at Scarborough was called “Sumner Nook”. There was a substantial tidal lagoon at the outlet of the Sumner creek.
Bells Baths were opened in 1885 and preceded any boat harbour. The baths silted up quickly. Fishermen began launching from the seaward end which was sheltered by the bath’s breakwater. The name ‘Bells Harbour” or ‘The Boat Refuge’ began being used.
The Sumner Boating and Fishing Club preceded the Lifeboat Institute at Bells Baths. In November 1895 it was given permission to build a boat slip at the baths. The Harbour Board then decided to build the slipway itself and charge the fishermen for using it. The slipway was 120 feet long and 80ft wide. It was completed in 1906. The Harbour Board also had a boat stationed there from 1904 to assist people in distress seaward of Sumner Bar.
In 1958 the CCC agreed to the renaming of Bells Harbour as ‘Days Harbour”.
In 1959 the CCC recommended that in order to achieve better launching for the Lifeboat, and for a new lifeboat boathouse, that the lifeboat and the SBFC should swap places on the slipway.
The new lifeboat boathouse was opened in December 1962. The old lifeboat boathouse was not demolished untill 1965 and in the interim was used by the SBFC.
The SBFC locker shed was probably shifted to its present position sometime between 1960 and 1966.
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