Newhaven Lifeboat Station

{{Short description|RNLI lifeboat station in East Sussex, England}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Newhaven Lifeboat Station

| native_name =

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| logo = Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg

| logo_size = 100px

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| image = File:Newhaven lifeboat - geograph.org.uk - 2621832.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Newhaven Lifeboat Station

| map_type = East Sussex

| pushpin_relief = 1

| map_image =

| map_caption = Newhaven, East Sussex

| location =

| address = West Quay,

| location_city = Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 9BX

| location_country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|50.78856|N|0.05374|E|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title|format=dms}}

| former_names =

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| building_type = RNLI lifeboat station

| architectural_style = Steel-frame boathouse
built on stanchions with
brick and block construction

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| opened_date = 1803–1809
re-established in 1825–1829 and 1852

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| cost =

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| owner = File:Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution

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| website = [https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/newhaven-lifeboat-station Newhaven RNLI Lifeboat Station]

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Newhaven Lifeboat Station is located in the port town of Newhaven in the English county of East Sussex, on the south coast of the United Kingdom.OS Explorer map 122: Brighton and Hove. Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009. {{ISBN|978 0319240816}}

The original station was established in 1803 and taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1854.For Those In Peril – The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Silver Link Publishing Ltd, First Issue 1999. Work:Part 2, South Coast of England – Eastbourne to Weston-super-Mare, Page 71, Newhaven Lifeboat Station. {{ISBN|1 85794 129 2}}{{cite web |title=Newhaven's station history |url=https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/newhaven-lifeboat-station/station-history-newhaven |website=Newhaven Lifeboat Station |publisher=RNLI |access-date=29 November 2024}}

The station currently operates a {{Lbc|Severn}} All-weather lifeboat, David and Elizabeth Acland (ON 1243), on station since 1999, and a {{Lbc|D|IB1}} Inshore lifeboat, Elaine McLeod Scott (D-812), on station since 2024.{{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=Richie |last2=Denton |first2=Tony |title=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025 |date=2025 |publisher=Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society |page=128}}

Location

Newhaven lifeboat station is situated on the west bank of the River Ouse within the Port of Newhaven, which is one of only two navigable harbours between the Isle of Wight to the west and Dover to the east. The Port of NewhavenHeroes All! – The story of the RNLI. Author: Beilby, Alec. Publisher: Patrick Stephens Ltd, First edition, 1992. Work; Chapter 17, Page 170, description of the Station. ISBN 9 781852604196 is a busy commercial port with a ferry terminal.Ports of the World – 1979. Editor: Reithmuller, John. Publisher: Derek H. Deere. Thirty Second Edition. Work: Page 109, The Port of Newhaven. {{ISBN|0510491553}} The harbour opens out onto the English Channel, one of the busiest stretches of waterway in the world.{{cite web|title=The Dover Strait|url= http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga_-_hm_coastguard_-_the_dover_strait|work=Reference to the amount of shipping in the channel|publisher=Maritime and Coastguard Agency| year=2007| accessdate=11 April 2014}}

History

Newhaven’s first lifeboat was established in 1803 when a lifeboat which had been built to a design by Henry Greathead, the pioneering rescue lifeboat builder from South Shields, was placed on station in the town. The boat was 22-feet long, and was 6-oared. The lifeboat was funded partly by a donation from Lloyd's of London, and the rest from locally raised donations.{{cite web|title=Historic Newhaven|url=http://www.newhaventowncouncil.gov.uk/newhaven-history|work=Reference to the funding of the Greathead lifeboat|publisher=Newhaven Town Council|accessdate=11 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142033/http://www.newhaventowncouncil.gov.uk/newhaven-history|archive-date=13 April 2014|url-status=dead}} The lifeboat was one of 31 of this type of lifeboat built by Greathead from his design of 1789 known as the Original. This type of lifeboat was designed to work in the shallow waters off the east coast of England,Riders of the Storm – The story of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Author: Cameron, Ian. Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. First Edition, 2002. Work: Chapter 1, Beyond all human aid. Page 19. reference to the Greathead lifeboat and its utilization. {{ISBN|9780297607908}} but in small and open harbours like Newhaven, the Greathead-class boats were not popular because of their weight and the large number of crew needed to man them. This may have been the case at Newhaven, as no record can be found that the boat was ever launched to a service. In 1809 the boat was taken from the station and sent to Brighton.

In 1825 the forerunner of the RNLI, the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, supplied a lifeboat to the town. There was still no boathouse in the town, and so this lifeboat when not in use was stored out in the open under a tarpaulin. This boat was in service at the town until 1829, when it was transferred to Cowes.{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Jeff |title=The Story of the Newhaven Lifeboats |date=December 1999 |publisher=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society |pages=1–30 |edition=3rd}}

There are no records of any other Newhaven lifeboat until 1852, when Newhaven was provided with a lifeboat by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society.{{cite web|title=History of the Shipwrecked Mariners Society|url=http://www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/Home/WhoWeAre/History.aspx|work=History Details about the SFMRBS|publisher=Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society|accessdate=11 April 2014}} From 1851 the Society operated lifeboats, located at Lytham, Rhyl, Portmadoc, Tenby, Llanelli, Teignmouth, Hornsea and now Newhaven, but it was soon realised that it would be wiser if one organisation concentrated on rescuing lives at sea, whilst the other helped the survivors or their bereaved families. In 1854, the Society transferred its lifeboats to the RNLI.{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/who-we-are/our-history/ |publisher=Shipwrecked Mariners' Society |access-date=9 March 2024}}

The RNLI's first life boat at Newhaven arrived in 1863. It had previously been on service at {{Lbs|Boulmer}} and {{Lbs|Thorpeness}}, and was extended to 35-feet by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, and for Newhaven was renamed Thomas Chapman. However, she only served Newhaven for four years, performing just one service, but rescuing five crew.{{sfn|Leonard |Denton |2025 |p=4}}

A new boat arrived in 1867, a 33-foot self-righting lifeboat, also to be named Thomas Chapman, and built by Forrestt of London, costing £290-5s-0d. To house the new boat, Newhaven Lifeboat Station would finally get a boathouse, which was a brick built building on the west bank of the harbour, costing £471-8s-0d.

In 1904, Newhaven became the first lifeboat station to operate a motor-powered lifeboat, when former Folkestone lifeboat J McConnell Hussey (ON 343) was temporarily assigned for trials. It had been fitted with an 11 h.p. engine, giving a speed of nearly 6knts.
She served Newhaven for 5 months, before being transferred to Tynemouth for further trials, but it was much liked by the crew, who requested that their regular boat, now the Michael Henry (ON 407) be also fitted with an engine. She was sent to Thames Ironworks, with a reserve lifeboat being placed on station until the return of Michael Henry in 1908.

In 1909, the lifeboat house was extensively modified, and a new slipway was constructed.{{cite web |title=Newhaven's station history |url=https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/newhaven-lifeboat-station/station-history-newhaven |publisher=RNLI |access-date=25 January 2024}}

File:RNLB Kathleen Mary off Cremyll.jpg

On 30 May 1940, the RNLI received a request from the Ministry of Shipping, to assemble as many lifeboats as possible at Dover within 24hrs.

Newhaven Lifeboat Cecil and Lilian Philpott (ON 730) arrived in Dover the following morning. She was then used for the Dunkirk evacuation, making one trip and repatriating 51 men, finally arriving back on station on 11 June.{{cite web |title=1940: Dunkirk little ships |url=https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/timeline/1940-dunkirk-little-ships |publisher=RNLI |access-date=9 March 2024}}

A new {{Lbc|Arun}} lifeboat, 52-32 Keith Anderson (ON 1106) arrived on service at Newhaven in 1985. Built by Wm. Osbourne of Littlehampton and costing £415,000, she was funded from the auction of a collection of Jewellery, donated by Mrs Esme Anderson in memory of her late husband.

In November 1999, Newhaven's current lifeboat arrived on station. Costing £1,725,000, she is the 25-knot {{Lbc|Severn}} lifeboat 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland (ON 1243).{{sfn|Leonard |Denton |2025 |p=70}}

Station honours

The following are awards made at Newhaven{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Barry |title=Lifeboat Gallantry |date=1998 |publisher=Spink & Son Ltd |isbn=0907605893}}

RNIPLS Silver Medal

::John Sullivan, Seaman – 1827

::Lt. James Rawstone, RN, H.M. Coastguard, Newhaven – 1833

::Lt. Samuel Grandy, RN, H.M. Coastguard, Newhaven – 1833

::Thomas Morgan, Commanding, Revenue Cutter Stork – 1833

::Lt. James Read, RN, H.M. Coastguard, Newhaven – 1833

::Abraham Hart Young, Chief Boatman, HM Coastguard, Blatchington – 1849

RNLI Silver Medal

::Charles Leese, Gunner, Coast Brigade, RA – 1860

::Richard Payne, Coxswain – 1930

::Leonard Alfred John Peddlesden, Coxswain – 1944

::William James Harvey, Coxswain – 1955

RNLI Bronze Medal

::Richard Payne, Coxswain – 1924

::C. J. Skinner, decorator – 1926

::Frederick Arthur Parker, Second Coxswain – 1944

::Richard William Lower, Mechanic – 1944

::Benjamin Jack Clark, Bowman / Signalman – 1944 (posthumous),

::Alfred James Eager, crew member – 1944

::Stephen Holden, crew member – 1944

::Harold Charles Moore, crew member – 1944

::Stanley Winter, crew member – 1944

The Maud Smith Award 1954
{{small|(for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)}}

::William James Harvey, Coxswain – 1955

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

::Leonard Patten, Coxswain – 1988

::Ian Johns, Coxswain – 2006

A Gold Watch from The King of Denmark

::Richard Payne, Coxswain – 1929

A Silver Goblet from The King of Denmark

::Each of the lifeboat crew – 1929

Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

::Richard Kenneth Sayer, Honorary Secretary – 1969QBH{{cite web |title=British Empire Medal (Civil Division) |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44863/supplement/5978 |publisher=The Gazette |access-date=9 March 2024}}

::Ian David Johns, Former Coxswain – 2012NYH{{cite web |title=Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60009/supplement/18 |publisher=The Gazette |access-date=11 February 2024}}

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Newhaven lifeboat.

Died in 1910 from the effects of exposure, after a service on 3 December 1909

::Joseph Richards

Died 3 June 1931, 18 months after injuries received on service to the Danish schooner Mogens Koch on 7 December 1929

::Richard Payne, Coxswain (57)

Washed overboard and drowned, after a collision between the lifeboat Cecil and Lilian Philpott (ON 730) and H.M. Trawler Aventurine, 23 November 1943

::Benjamin Jack Clark, Bowman / Signalman (49)

Newhaven lifeboats

=All-weather lifeboats=

class="wikitable"

! ON{{efn|ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.}}

! Op.No.{{efn|name=Op|Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.}}

! Name

! {{nowrap|On Station}}{{sfn|Leonard |Denton |2025 |p=4–70}}

! Class

! Comments

–

| –

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| {{nowrap|1803–1809}}

| {{Lbb|Greathead}}

| 22-foot Greathead lifeboat, built by Henry Greathead of South Shields, costing £120 when new.
Transferred to {{Lbs|Brighton}} in 1809.

–

| –

| Adeline

| 1807–????

| Unknown

| Built by Christopher Wilson of London

| –

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1825–1829

| 18-foot Norfolk & Suffolk (P&S)

| 18-foot (4-oared) Norfolk & Suffolk (P&S) lifeboat, built by William Plenty of Newbury, Berkshire, costing £90.
Transferred to {{Lbs|Cowes}} in 1829

| –

| Friend in Need

| 1852–1863

| 29-foot Self-righting (P&S)

| 29-foot (10-oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £125.

Pre-247

| –

| Thomas Chapman

| 1863–1867

| 30-foot Self-righting (P&S)

| 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, extended to 35-foot by Forrestt of Limehouse.
Previously Prudhoe at {{Lbs|Boulmer}}

Pre-485

| –

| Thomas Chapman
Elizabeth Boys

| 1867–1870
1870–1877

| 33-foot Self-righting (P&S)

| 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse.

Pre-571

| –

| Michael Henry

| 1877–1881

| {{nowrap|37-foot Self-righting (P&S)}}

| 37-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse.

211

| –

| Michael Henry

| 1881–1897

| 37-foot Self-righting (P&S)

| 37-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £430.

407

| –

| Michael Henry

| 1897–1905

| 37-foot Self-righting (P&S)

| 37-foot (12-oared) Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by the Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £728.

343

| –

| J. McConnel Hussey

| 1904

| 38-foot Self-righting (Motor)

| First RNLI motor-powered lifeboat

265

| –

| Quiver No.1

| 1905–1908

| 37-foot 2in Self-righting (P&S)

407

| –

| Michael Henry

| 1908–1912

| 37-foot Self-righting (Motor)

628

| –

| Sir Fitzroy Clayton

| 1912–1918

| 38-foot Self-righting (Motor)

| Lifeboat sent away for trials at {{Lbs|The Lizard}}.

colspan=6 style=" text-align: center;" | {{black|Station Temporarily Closed 1918–1919}}

628

| –

| Sir Fitzroy Clayton

| 1919–1930

| 38-foot Self-righting (Motor)

730

| –

| {{nowrap|Cecil and Lilian Philpott}}

| 1930–1959

| 45-foot 6in Watson

| {{cite web |title=Cecil and Lilian Philpott |url=https://www.adls.org.uk/stenoa |publisher=Dunkirk Little Ships |access-date=9 March 2024}}{{cite web |title=The Newhaven Lifeboat Cecil & Lilian Philpott |url=https://dunkirk1940.org/index.php?&p=1_271 |publisher=Dunkirk1940.org |access-date=9 March 2024}}

950

| –

| Kathleen Mary

| 1959–1977

| 47-foot Watson

| Last slipway launched boat

1045

| {{Nowrap|44-019}}

| Louis Marchesi of Round Table

| 1977–1985

| {{Lbb|Waveney}}

1106

| 52-32

| Keith Anderson

| 1985–1999

| {{Lbb|Arun}}

| 17-21

| David and Elizabeth Acland

| 1999–

| {{Lbb|Severn}}

:{{Small|Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.}}