Dungeness Lifeboat Station

Dungeness Lifeboat Station
Dungeness Lifeboat Station
Dungeness Lifeboat Station is located in Kent
Dungeness Lifeboat Station
Dungeness, Kent
Former names
  • Dungeness No.27 Tower
  • Dymchurch
  • Lydd (Dungeness)
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
AddressDungeness Rd
Town or cityDungeness, Kent, TN29 9NE
CountryEngland
Coordinates50°55′35.3″N 0°58′34.9″E / 50.926472°N 0.976361°E / 50.926472; 0.976361
Opened1826–1838 / 1854–
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Dungeness RNLI Lifeboat Station

Dungeness Lifeboat Station is located on Dungeness Road, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south-east of the town of Lydd, on the cuspate foreland of Dungeness, on the Kent coast.[1]

A lifeboat was first stationed at Dungeness in 1826, supplied by the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), and managed by the Dover and District Lifeboat Association.[2]

The station is currently one of 238 Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat stations, and operates the Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, 13-02 The Morrell (ON 1309), launched using the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS).[3]

History

In August 1824, just three months after the formation of the RNIPLS, Major-General Bowles of the Coast Blockade for the Suppression of Smuggling, which was run by the Admiralty from a chain of Martello towers on the Kent and Sussex coast, requested the placement of a lifeboat at Dungeness. This was agreed, and a 20-foot 6-oared non-self-righting lifeboat was ordered from William Plenty of Newbury, Berkshire, arriving on 30 August 1826. Stationed at Martello tower No.27, (51°00′42.6″N 0°58′57.5″E / 51.011833°N 0.982639°E / 51.011833; 0.982639), the station was named Dungeness No.27 Tower.[2]

The first service of the lifeboat was in a severe gale on 27 August 1832. Launched the aid of the Richmond which had run aground, the lifeboat then spotted the brig Osiris, on passage from Ostend to Liverpool, which was also in trouble nearby. When she too ran aground, the crew of 10 managed to get aboard the Richmond, and were rescued from there by the lifeboat. The master of the Richmond declined assistance.[4] Lt. Frederick John Francis Henslow, RN, of H.M. Coastguard was awarded the RNIPLS Silver Medal.[5]

In 1836, the lifeboat was badly damaged on service, and had to be withdrawn. A replacement Palmer-type lifeboat, built by Harton, arrived at the station on 12 December 1836. The station name was then changed to Dymchurch Lifeboat Station. This lifeboat station would close just 2 years later in 1838, the new boat having never been launched on service. Martello tower no.27 was demolished in 1841.[2]

In the following few years without an official lifeboat, rescues were still carried out by the men from H.M. Coastguard, and no fewer than six Silver Medals were awarded.[5]

During a violent storm of 27 December 1852, a day which claimed at least 85 vessels, see Shipwrecks 27 December 1852, coastguard men rescued 39 people from the barque Louisa and Emelia of Hamburg, but 45 people were lost.[6][7]

As a result of this disaster, the RNIPLS decided to reopen a station at Dungeness. A site for a boathouse was provided by H.M. Board of Ordnance at the Dungeness No.1 Battery, which was constructed at a cost of £97-6s-0d. A 27-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (8) oars, costing £137, was built by Forrestt of Limehouse, along with a carriage from Ransome and Simms, costing a further £170. Both arrived on station on 25 March 1854, the station being named Dungeness Lifeboat Station.[2]

The service of this boat was very short. Launched just once, and ultimately not required that day, the 2-ton boat was found to be too heavy and difficult to launch, in that location. A replacement boat was ordered, a slightly longer, but much lighter, 28-foot 6-oared lifeboat, weighing just 1 ton 5 cwts, arriving in January 1857. On 5 October 1854, the RNIPLS formally changed name to become the RNLI.[2]

Of course, the replacement lifeboat was found to be too light for the sea conditions, On her first call on 19 October 1858, the lifeboat launched to the schooner Jane May, but found the casualty vessel abandoned. Returning to shore, the lifeboat was capsized, but fortunately no-one was lost.[8][9]

This lightweight boat would be replaced in 1861. Providence was a 30-foot (6-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse. To resolve the launching issue with a heavier boat, the station was relocated to Littlestone-on-Sea. The boathouse at No.1 Battery was dismantled and rebuilt at Littlestone, but the station retained the name Dungeness Lifeboat Station.[2]

The first call for the Providence was to the barque Cruz V of Portugal, on passage from Hamburg to Porto, when she was driven ashore at Dungeness point. Battling 4 miles (6.4 km) through rough seas, the lifeboat rescued all 14 men from the vessel.[10]

During a severe gale of 6 January 1867, the French lugger Courrier, on passage from Dunkerque to Dieppe, ran aground off Dymchurch. In the rough conditions, the 6-oared Dungeness lifeboat Providence had been unable to reach the wreck. Three crew were lost, but through the efforts of the Rev. Charles Cobb, and Coastguard John Batist, who waded out into the sea, one man was rescued. Both men would receive awards for gallantry.[11][12][5]

RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats, Capt. John Ward, visited the station on 11 January 1867 to investigate the incident. Having been too heavy to launch, too light for the conditions, and then relocated, he concluded that the Dungeness lifeboat still wasn't good enough, and a more powerful lifeboat was required; in other words, one with more oars, and more manpower.[13]

Funds for a new boat and boathouse had been provided from a gift of £700 from Mrs, Jane Hatton, in memory of her late husband, Dr. John Hatton.[14]

In July 1871, a new 32-foot 10-oared lifeboat, was transported to Littlestone-on-Sea, where a new boathouse, costing £266-1s-0d, had been constructed at the end of Marine Parade, next to the coastguard station. After a service of dedication by Rev. R. Smith, vicar of New Romney, the boat was named Dr. Hatton.[13][15]

On 22 January 1873, while at anchor in thick fog 3 miles (4.8 km) off Dungeness, the full-rigged ship Northfleet was rammed by the Murillo. 293 lives were lost.[16][17]

After a careful review by the RNLI, it was decided to once again place a lifeboat at Dungeness. A new station, Lydd (Dungeness) Lifeboat Station, was created near Lydd-on-Sea, with a boathouse constructed by W. Robins, costing £277-1s-0d, on land provided by Sir Henry Tufton, Bt. A 33-foot 10-oared lifeboat arrived on 9 September, and the station was formally opened on 14 September 1874, with the boat being named David Hulett after a gift to the Institution. The station at Littlestone-on Sea would be retained. and renamed 'New Romney Lifeboat Station'.[2][18]

On service to the brigantine Aeolus of Sweden on 11 November 1891, the Lydd (Dungeness) lifeboat R. A. O. B. (ON 130) capsized, throwing out five lifeboatmen. Three men were quickly recovered, but Henry Reeves and Daniel Nicholls were lost. The crew of the Aeolus were rescued by the New Romney lifeboat. James Lucas, Coxswain of the R. A. O. B., was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. Both crews were awarded silver medals by The King of Sweden.[1]

On 25 November 1891, following the capsize of both the Lydd (Dungeness) and the Hythe, Sandgate & Folkestone lifeboats, which had cost the life of a lifeboatman, it was decided to place a second larger No. 2 lifeboat at the Lydd (Dungeness) station. On 13 October 1892, the station name was changed back to Dungeness Lifeboat Station. A 44-foot 12-oared lifeboat constructed by Woolfe, Thomas Wilcox (ON 312), arrived at Lydd (Dungeness) No.2 station on 29 December 1892, and was moored afloat.[2]

In 1894, it was decided to bring the 44-foot Thomas Wilcox ashore. To assist launching in different locations, the boat was mounted on a rail carriage, and could be transport along 1 mile (1.6 km) of special railway track, that was constructed from a point near the old lighthouse, past the Britannia Inn. The total cost was £1,494-3s-4d. The system was short lived. Thomas Wilcox was launched for the first time five years later, on 30 December 1899. By 1905, the system had been abandoned, and hard-standing was created for the lifeboat, which remained outside. In 1912, the hard-standing, now with a turntable, was relocated nearer to the water, following a build up of shingle.[2]

A motor-powered lifeboat would be placed at the No.2 station in 1931. Charles Cooper Henderson (ON 761) was a 41-foot Watson-class, constructed by Groves and Guttridge, capable of 7.66 knots. It was decided to build a boathouse for this larger boat, costing £1,934-13s-10d, and Charles Cooper Henderson was removed from the station during construction in April 1938, returning to Dungeness on 12 January 1939. On 31 March 1939, the No.1 Station boat Mary Theresa Boileau (ON 635) was withdrawn, and the No.1 station was closed. The No.2 station then became the primary station.[2][19]

Dungeness lifeboat station in 1968
(photo: John Baker)

With the ever moving shingle on the coast at Dungeness, in 1977, the station was moved once again. A new boathouse was constructed just to the south of Lydd-on-Sea, at a cost of £45,000. For the first time, the lifeboat was kept on a special launching carriage, pulled by a Talus MBC Case 1150B Amphibious Tractor (T85). A new Rother-class lifeboat, 37-35 Alice Upjohn (ON 1048), arrived on station on 23 September 1977, but whilst training on launch procedures took place, the 42-foot Watson-class lifeboat Mabel E. Holland (ON 937) remained on service, finally departing on 27 January 1979.[1][2][19]

Between 1992 and 2014, the station operated the Mersey-class lifeboat 12-27 Pride and Spirit (ON 1186). In 2014, the station was one of the first to receive the new Shannon-class lifeboats. 13-02 The Morrell (ON 1309), which cost in the region of £2.2M, is launched with a special tractor and trailer system known as the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS).[1][20]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Dungeness[2][5][1]

Rev. Charles Cobb, MA, Rector of Dymchurch – 1867
John Batist, Boatman, H.M. Coastguard Dymchurch – 1867
Lt. John Somerville, RN, H.M. Coastguard Littlestone-on-Sea – 1835
Rev. Charles Cobb, MA, Rector of Dymchurch – 1867
Lt. Frederick John Francis Henslow, RN, H.M. Coastguard – 1832
Lt. William Pedder, RN, H.M. Coastguard Dungeness – 1835
Lt. Matthew Combe, RN, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard No. 2 Battery Dungeness – 1845
John Wilcox, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard Lydd – 1851
Thomas Rivers, Boatman, H.M. Coastguard Lydd – 1851
Arthur Brookes, Chief Boatman, H.M. Coastguard Dungeness – 1853
John Sims, Boatman, H.M. Coastguard Dungeness – 1853
Peter Smith, Chief Boatman, H.M. Coastguard Lydd – 1859
John Batist, Boatman, H.M. Coastguard Dymchurch – 1867
Richard Billett, Chief Boatman, H.M. Coastguard, Coxswain – 1876
James Lucas, Coxswain – 1891
Tom Richard Tart, Coxswain – 1974
Gary Clark, crew member – 2012
Each of the crew of the Lydd (Dungeness) Lifeboat R. A. O. B. (ON 130) – 1891
  • The Maud Smith Award 1974
    (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)
Tom Richard Tart, Coxswain – 1974
Douglas Oiller, Coxswain – 1929
George Tart, Coxswain – 1956
Peter Edward Thomas, Assistant Mechanic – 1974
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Joseph Oiller, Second Coxswain – 1929
Tom Tart, Bowman – 1929
Percy Oiller – 1929
John Bignall – 1929
George Tart – 1929
George Haines – 1929
John Oiller – 1929
John W. Oiller – 1929
William Tart – 1929
Edwin Fair – 1929
Douglas Oiller, Coxswain – 1932
The Women of Dungeness – 1932
Alexander Oiller – 1956
W. Thomas – 1956
George Tart, Coxswain – 1962
Albert Haines, Second Coxswain – 1974
Alec Clements, Motor Mechanic – 1974
William Richardson – 1974
Colin Haines – 1974
Arthur Oiller – 1974
Mark Richardson, Deputy Second Coxswain – 2012
Trevor Bunney, Mechanic/Deputy Second Coxswain – 2012
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
William Richardson, Coxswain – 1991
Kenneth Coleman, Tractor Driver – 1991
  • A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
William Richardson, Coxswain and the crew of the Dungeness Lifeboat – 1991
Judith Ann Richardson, Lifeboat Press Officer – 2023KBH[21]

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Dungeness lifeboat.[2][1]

  • Lost when the lifeboat R. A. O. B. (ON 130) capsized on service to the brigantine Aeolus of Sweden, 11 November 1891
Henry Reeves
Daniel Nicholls
  • Died from exposure whilst on service, 1898
George Campbell

Dungeness lifeboats

Dungeness (No. 27 Tower) / Dymchurch (from 1836)

ON[a] Name Built On Station[22] Class Comments
Pre-121 Unnamed 1826 1826−1836 20-foot Norfolk & Suffolk [Note 1]
Pre-161 Unnamed 1833 1836−1838 25-foot Palmer [Note 2]
Station Closed, 1838
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Dungeness (No. 1 Battery)

ON[a] Name Built On Station[23] Class Comments
Pre-278 Unnamed 1854 1854−1856 27-foot Peake [Note 3]
Pre-304 Unnamed 1856 1857−1861 28-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4]
Station Closed, 1861

Dungeness (Littlestone)

ON[a] Name Built On Station[24] Class Comments
Pre-372 Providence 1860 1861−1871 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 5]
Pre-558 Dr. Hatton 1871 1871–1874 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 6]
Station renamed New Romney Lifeboat Station in 1874

Lydd (Dungeness) / Dungeness (from 1892)

No.1 Station

ON[a] Name Built On Station[25] Class Comments
Pre-583 David Hulett 1874 1874–1887 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 7]
130 R. A. O. B. 1887 1887–1894 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 8]
374 R. A. O. B. 1894 1894–1912 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) (Rubie) [Note 9]
635 Mary Theresa Boileau 1912 1912–1939 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) (Rubie) [Note 10]
Station Closed, 1939

No.2 Station

ON[a] Name Built On Station[26] Class Comments
312 Thomas Simcox 1891 1892–1915 44-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 11]
644 David Barclay of Tottenham 1915 1915–1933 42-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 12]
761 Charles Cooper Henderson 1933 1933–1938 41-foot Watson [Note 13]
No.2 Station closed for reconstruction work in 1938, reopening as the primary station in 1939.

Dungeness

ON[a] Op.No.[b] Name Built On Station[27] Class Comments
761 – Charles Cooper Henderson 1933 1939–1957 41-foot Watson
937 – Mabel E. Holland 1957 1957–1979 42-foot Watson
1048 37-35 Alice Upjohn 1977 1977–1992 Rother
1186 12-27 Pride and Spirit 1992 1992–2014 Mersey
1309 13-02 The Morrell 2013 2014– Shannon

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type On Station[28] Comments
T85 SEL 394R Talus MBC Case 1150B 1977–1985
T95 B188 GAW Talus MB-H Crawler 1985–1996
T93 A496 CUX Talus MB-H Crawler 1996–2005
T116 K920 DUJ Talus MB-H Crawler 2005–2014
SC-T03 HK63 BVW SLARS (Supacat) 2014–
  1. ^ a b c d e f ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 20-foot (6-oared) non-self-righting Norfolk & Suffolk lifeboat, built by William Plenty of Newbury, Berkshire, costing £100.
  2. ^ 25-foot (6-oared) non-self-righting Palmer lifeboat, built by Harton, costing £60.
  3. ^ 27-foot x 7-foot 6in (8-oared) self-righting Peake-class lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £137.
  4. ^ 28-foot x 6-foot (6-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £140.
  5. ^ 30-foot x 7-foot (6-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £158.
  6. ^ 32-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £251.
  7. ^ 33-foot x 7-foot 9in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £308.
  8. ^ 34-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £440.
  9. ^ 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) Dungeness-class (Rubie) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £287.
  10. ^ 34-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) Dungeness-class (Rubie) lifeboat, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £937.
  11. ^ 44-foot x 11-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £788.
  12. ^ 42-foot self-righting (P&S), constructed by Thames Ironworks, completed by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, costing £2,502.
  13. ^ 41-foot Watson non-self-righting lifeboat, constructed by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 35–hp engines, delivering 7.66 knots, and costing £5,705.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Dungeness' station history". RNLI. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Morris, Jeff (January 2001). The History of the Dungeness Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–50.
  3. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 71.
  4. ^ "Ship News". The Morning Chronicle. No. 19660. 30 August 1832.
  5. ^ a b c d Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0907605893.
  6. ^ "The Recent Hurricane". The Times. No. 21311. London. 29 December 1852. col D, p. 8.
  7. ^ Charles Thomas (1 January 1853). "Wreck off Dungeness". The Times. No. 21314. London. col E, p. 7.
  8. ^ "Ship News". The Times. No. 23130. London. 21 October 1858. col F, p. 8.
  9. ^ "Multum in Parvo". Liverpool Mercury etc. No. 3335. Liverpool. 25 October 1858.
  10. ^ "Royal National Life-boat Institution". Morning Post. No. 27704. London. 3 October 1862. p. 3.
  11. ^ "Mercantile Ship News". The Standard. No. 13236. London. 8 January 1867. p. 7.
  12. ^ "Ship News". The Times. No. 25702. London. 8 January 1867. col E, p. 10.
  13. ^ a b Morris, Jeff (March 2004). The Closed Lifeboat Stations of Kent. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 42–48.
  14. ^ "The Late Dr. John Hatton". The British Medical Journal. 2 (550): 72. 15 July 1871.
  15. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. 8 (85): 342. 1 August 1872. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Northfleet (+1876)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  17. ^ "American Marine Engineer July, 1914". National Marine Engineers Beneficial Association of the United States. Retrieved 11 November 2020 – via Haithi Trust.
  18. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 118.
  19. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 46–47.
  20. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 71.
  21. ^ "British Empire Medal". The Gazette. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  22. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 2–5.
  23. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 4–7.
  24. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 8–15.
  25. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 14–41.
  26. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 28–46.
  27. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 46–71.
  28. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 105–106, 113.
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