History
The Goodwin Sands is a treacherous 10 mi (16 km) long sandbank, located a few miles off the Kent coast, and accounts for hundreds of shipwrecks. Such was the danger in this area, the RNLI placed three lifeboats along the coast at Walmer, North Deal, and the third one at Kingsdown. The Kingsdown station opened in 1866, with a boathouse costing £223, constructed by W & G Deane, and a 33-foot lifeboat named Sabrina (ON 201), built by Forrestt of Limehouse, funded by a gift from Mr William Ferguson of the London Stock Exchange. [2]
In a storm of 12 February 1870, Sabrina was launched to the Glendower, on passage from Java to Rotterdam. Picking up a line floated ashore from the vessel, the lifeboat was hauled to the wreck five times, and rescued all 23 people on board. [3] [4]
A new lifeboat costing £342 was provided in February 1871, a larger 36-foot boat, again named Sabrina for its donor. On 17 December, Walmer and Kingsdown lifeboats were launched to the steamship Sorrento, aground on the sands. Some of the Walmer crew went aboard in an attempt to jettison cargo in order to refloat the vessel, but then their lifeboat, tied up alongside the ship's boat, was damaged and swept away by huge wave. The Kingsdown lifeboat, which had been standing by, veered down to the vessel, and rescued the 22 crew and 10 Walmer lifeboatmen. Taking the lifeboat over to the Walmer lifeboat, the Walmer crew was transferred back aboard, along with some survivors of the Sorrento, both boats then making for Broadstairs. [5] [6]
As was often the case, donors were expected to make regular payments for the upkeep of the boat. If this was not forthcoming, the boat may be assigned funds from other donors, and renamed accordingly. In April 1882, Sabrina was renamed Charles Hargrave. [1] [7]
A replacement boat for Kingsdown arrived on 31 December 1890, this time a 40-foot 12-oared boat built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £650. She was again named Charles Hargrave (ON 306). [1] [2]
History would repeat itself on 21 December 1907. Crew from the Walmer lifeboat were once again stranded on a vessel, the SS Cap Lopez, aground on the sands, in an attempt to jettison cargo, when their boat was damaged and swept away. The Kingsdown lifeboat rescued 14 crew and the 6 lifeboatmen. [2]
On 7:00am on 20 November 1916, both the North Deal, and then Ramsgate lifeboats, went to the aid of the Steamship Sibiria, both receiving damage and abandoning their rescue attempts. Called at 7:10pm, the Kingsdown lifeboat was towed to the wreck by a tug, and with great skill and effort, managed to rescue all 52 men from the vessel, returning to Kingsdown at 12:45am. The American crew were accommodated in The Victory and the Zetland Arms in Kingsdown. For this service, Coxswain James Pay and Second Coxswain William Sutton were awarded the Presidential Lifesaving Gold Medal from Woodrow Wilson. [8] [9]
The Charles Hargrave (ON 306) was replaced in 1926. It had been launched 86 times, and rescued 140 lives. The station received a 40-foot lifeboat Barbara Fleming (ON 480), formerly in service for 24 years at Porthdinllaen. However, plans were underway to station one motor lifeboat on that part of the Kent coast, and Walmer was chosen of the three stations. Barbara Fleming was transferred to Walmer awaiting the arrival of a motor-powered lifeboat, and the Kingsdown station was closed on 8 January 1927. [1] [2]
In 61 years, the Kingsdown lifeboat had been launched 161 times, and 241 lives had been saved. The boathouse is now a private residence. [2]
