Liverpool-class P&S lifeboat

RNLB J C Madge (ON 536) Liverpool P&S class
Class overview
Builders	Rutherford & Co. of Birkenhead (1) Waterman of Cremyll (2) Reynolds of Lowestoft (1) James Beeching of Great Yarmouth (1) Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company of Blackwall, London (31) S. E. Saunders of Cowes (2)
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
In service	1895–1948
Completed	38
Retired	38
General characteristics
Type	Pulling and sailing lifeboats
Length	35 ft (11 m) to 41 ft (12 m)
Beam	9 ft (2.7 m) to 11 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion	Oars and Sails

The Liverpool-class P&S lifeboats were a series of 38 non-self-righting lifeboats commissioned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) between 1895 and 1916, based on the "Liverpool" lifeboats operated by the Liverpool Dock Trustees, between 1775 and 1892. They were 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) types (i.e. powered by oars and sails), not to be confused with the later single or twin-engined Liverpool-class motor lifeboats.

History

The early Liverpool-class lifeboats were funded and operated mostly by the Liverpool Dock Trustees, later to become the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, at their stations around the River Mersey: Formby, Southport, Magazines, Hoylake, Point of Air, Hilbre Island, and Liverpool. 24 lifeboats were constructed, primarily by Thomas Costain of Liverpool, with two being adopted by the RNLI, listed below. ^[1]

Description

The Liverpool-class P&S lifeboats were of the non-self-righting type, primarily 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) in length, rowing 12 oars. Typically they were launched from carriages into the sea. The first five were made by various manufacturers, but then Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London were commissioned to produce the next 31. ^[1]

The first boat was placed on service was the Admiral Briggs (ON 383) at Hilbre Island in 1895. The last boat to be withdrawn from service was the William Cantrell Ashley (ON 578), which operated at New Quay for 41 years, between 1907 and 1948. ^[2]

Fleet

Early Type

ON [a]	Name	Built	In service [2]	Station	Notes [2] [3]
419	Unnamed	1870	1870–1894 1896–1898	Point of Air Point of Ayr (No.2)	[Note 1] Sold 1899.
377	Unnamed	1892	1892–1894	Hoylake	[Note 2] Renamed Coard William Squarey in 1894.
377	Coard William Squarey	1892	1894–1906	Hoylake	Condemned and Sold 1906.

RNLI Liverpool P&S lifeboats

Lifeboats from (ON 441) to (ON 636) built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with (ON 636) completed by the RNLI following the bankruptcy of Thames Ironworks.

ON [a]	Name	Built	In service [4]	Station	Notes [4] [1]
383	Admiral Briggs	1895	1895–1914	Hilbre Island	[Note 3] Condemned and Sold, 1914
380	H. G. Powell	1895	1895–1915	Point of Ayr	[Note 4] Condemned 1916, placed on display at Colwyn Bay until 1947.
381	John and Henrietta	1895	1896–1919	Formby	[Note 5] Sold 1919.
413	James Stevens No.2	1898	1898–1912 1912–1914 1914–1924	Campbeltown Relief fleet Hilbre Island	[Note 6] Sold 1924. Reserve No.9A (1912–1921),
425	James Stevens No. 8	1899	1899–1913 1913–1916 1916–1920	Ardrossan Wells-next-the-Sea Relief fleet	[Note 7] Sold 1920. Reserve No.9B (1913–1920).
441	Isabella	1900	1900–1932	Buckhaven	[Note 8] Sold 1932.
443	William Arthur Millward	1900	1901–1931	Dunbar	[Note 9] Sold 1931.
451	James Stevens No. 17	1900	1900–1922	Porthoustock	[Note 10] Sold 1922. Renamed Salvor II at Falmouth.
452	James Stevens No. 18	1901	1901–1931	Girvan	[Note 11] Sold 1931.
458	Constance Melanie	1901	1901–1934	Coverack	[Note 12] Sold 1934. Renamed Grace Darling II. Lost at Brancaster in 1966.
460	John Groome	1901	1901–1914 1914–1916 1916–1923 1923–1925	Killough (Rossglass) Relief fleet Point of Ayr Stored	[Note 13] Sold 1934. Reserve No.9C (1915–1925). Renamed Cloud, later Flying Cloud. Reported as a yacht at Portree in the 1930s. Believed broken up at Mochdre, August 2012.
461	Chapman	1901	1901–1920 1920–1924 1924–1938	Groomsport Reserve No.9B Hilbre Island	[Note 14] Sold 1939. Renamed Harbinger, later Peggy (LR 41). Restored and displayed as Chapman at Hoylake Lifeboat Museum until 2015. On display at the Old Lifeboat House, Lytham, December 2025.
477	George Leicester	1901	1901–1927	Minehead	[Note 15] Sold 1927.
493	William Maynard	1902	1903–1930	Skerries	[Note 16] Sold 1931.
494	Hopwood	1902	1902–1924 1924–1927 1927–1930	Portrush Relief fleet Minehead	[Note 17] Sold 1930. Reserve No.9F (1924–1930). Renamed Aurora, later Gladrian, last report as a Yacht on the River Thames at Chelsea, 1977
495	Louisa Heartwell	1902	1902–1923 1923–1931	Cromer Cromer No.2	[Note 18] Sold 1931. Renamed Waiora. Under restoration as Louisa Heartwell at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025. [5]
498	Philip Beach	1902	1902–1930	Burnham-on-Sea	[Note 19] Sold 1930. Renamed Burnlibo. Last seen at Liverpool, 1957.
511	Olive	1903	1903–1921	Eastbourne	[Note 20] Sold 1922. Renamed Ocean King. Believed broken up in 1950.
514	Alexandra	1903	1903–1930 1931–1934	Hope Cove Cromer No.2	[Note 21] Sold 1934. Converted to be a holiday home, Isle of Seil, December 2025.
516	Charles Deere James	1903	1904–1909 1909–1913 1913–1919 1919–1924 1924–1925 1925–1927	St Agnes Relief fleet Humber Relief fleet Winterton No.2 Relief fleet	[Note 22] Sold 1927. Reserve No.9 (1909–1927). Renamed Silver Cloud. Destroyed in Cherbourg Harbour, 1950.
524	William and Emma	1904	1904–1916	Salcombe	[Note 23] Capsized and wrecked on service with the loss of 13 crew, 27 October 1916. [6] [7]
526	Charles Burton	1904	1904–1927 1927–1929 1929–1941	Grimsby Reserve No. 9C Caister	[Note 24] Sold 1942. Renamed Silver Queen, later Freelance. Broken up at Peel, Isle of Man, February 2018.
536	J C Madge	1904	1904–1936	Sheringham	[Note 25] Sold 1936. On display at The Mo Sheringham Museum, December 2025. [8]
542	John Rowson Lingard	1905	1905–1920 1921–1930 1930–1937	Mablethorpe Reserve No. 9D Blackpool	[Note 26] Sold 1937. Renamed Orion. Stored for restoration since 2012 at Yonne (river), Migennes, France, December 2024.
545	Edward Z. Dresden	1905	1905–1929	Aldeburgh No.2	[Note 27] Sold 1929. Renamed Cormorant, Aldeburgh, later Ceol Mara. Last reported at Ardrishaig, Argyll & Bute, 1974. [9]
553	John	1906	1906–1931 1932–1937	Cloughey Newcastle	[Note 28] Sold 1929.
554	Samuel Lewis	1906	1906–1932	Skegness	[Note 29] Sold 1932. Renamed Grace Darling I, last reported at Arbroath, 1970s.
555	Hannah Fawsett Bennett	1906	1906–1931 1931–1936	Hoylake Relief fleet	[Note 30] Sold 1936. Last reported at South Benfleet, 1937.
569	Sarah Kay	1906	1907–1943	Skateraw	[Note 31] Sold 1943. Renamed Grace Darling III. Lost at Skegness, 1966
578	William Cantrell Ashley	1907	1907–1948	New Quay	[Note 32] Given to Outward Bound School, Aberdyfi in 1949, Renamed T.R.G.S.. Currently in storage as William Cantrell Ashley at the National Collections Centre, Nantgarw awaiting restoration / display, December 2025.
586	Caroline	1908	1908–1935	Blakeney	[Note 33] Sold 1935. Renamed Blakeney Dawn. Last reported at Barrow upon Soar, 1960, now believed broken up.
587	James Scarlett	1908	1908–1925	St Annes	[Note 34] Display / Demonstration boat at St Annes (1925–1928). Sold 1928. Renamed Katherine, later Nymphea. Last reported at Kings Lynn, 1969.
598	Brother and Sister	1909	1909–1932	Llanddulas	[Note 35] Sold 1932.
604	Janet Hoyle	1909	1910–1932	Ayr	[Note 36] Sold 1935. Broken up at Hickmans boatyard, Brightlingsea, December 2016.
626	Arthur Lionel	1912	1912–1929 1930–1939	St Peter Port Minehead	[Note 37] Sold 1939. Renamed Dorian Rose, later John Briscoe. Last reported at Fishguard, August 1973
636	James and John Young	1913	1913–1930 1930–1939	Ardrossan Relief fleet	[Note 38] Sold 1939. Renamed Alma of Southampton. Displayed as James and John Young at the EISCA collection, Eyemouth. Sold 2017, on display since 2018 as an upturned hull, outside the People's Palace, Glasgow, December 2025.
661	Mary Stanford	1916	1916–1928	Rye Harbour (Winchelsea)	[Note 39] Capsized on service, with the loss of all 17 crew. 15 November 1928. Broken up, 1929. [10] [11]
665	Baltic	1916	1916–1936 1936–1940 1940–1943	Wells-next-the-Sea Aldeburgh No.2 Relief fleet	[Note 40] Sold 1943. Renamed Fidelis, Cormorant and Marvin. Broken up as Baltic, at Smiths Quay, River Itchen, Southampton, September 2006. [12]

1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

See also

• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

Notes

1. 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m) x 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) (12-oared) Liverpool-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, built by Thomas Costain of Liverpool, costing £250.
2. 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m) x 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) (12-oared) Liverpool-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, built by Charles Howson & Co. of Liverpool, costing £280.
3. 35 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Maj.-Gen. W. L. Briggs, CB , built by Rutherford & Co. of Birkenhead, costing £453.
4. 35 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr H. G. Powell of Wolverhampton, built by Waterman of Cremyll, costing £459.
5. 35 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs H. Bell of London, built by Waterman of Cremyll, costing £459.
6. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Stevens of Birmingham, built by Reynolds of Lowestoft, costing £538.
7. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (10/12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Stevens of Birmingham, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £544.
8. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs I. Haxton of Kirkcaldy, costing £885.
9. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. A Millward of Chapel-en-le-Frith, costing £879.
10. 36 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Stephens of Birmingham, costing £773.
11. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Stephens of Birmingham, costing £938.
12. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr F. E. Hills of Penshurst, costing £906.
13. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs H. Groome of Liverpool, costing £931.
14. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs M. A. Chapman of West Brompton, costing £922.
15. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss Leicester of Bayswater, costing £967.
16. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. S. F. Maynard of Cressingham, costing £921.
17. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr S. W. Hopwood of Westminster, costing £817.
18. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss E. Heartwell of London, fitted with two water ballast tanks and two sliding or drop-keels, costing £982.
19. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (10/12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs S. Beach of London, costing £837.
20. 36 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacies of the Misses Wingate of Edinburgh, costing £839.
21. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12/14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Freemasons of England, costing £945.
22. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (10-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs S. C. Guthrie of Tunbridge Wells, costing £1,054.
23. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs E. E. Cox of Weston-super-Mare, fitted with two water ballast tanks and two sliding or drop-keels, costing £924.
24. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. T. H. Burton, costing £1,044.
25. 41 ft (12 m) x 11 ft (3.4 m) (16-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. C. Madge of Southampton, fitted with two sliding or drop-keels and two water-ballast tanks, costing £1,436.
26. 36 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs M. C. Lingard of St Leonards-on-Sea, costing £988.
27. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr E. Dresden of Curzon Street, fitted with two drop-keels, costing £1,445.
28. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. A. Hay of Cheltenham, costing £973.
29. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs A. Lewis-Hill of London, costing £956.
30. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs L. H. F. Bennett and Mr C. H. Lear of West Kirby, costing £1,160.
31. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr E. Kay of {{Southsea]], costing £938.
32. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. C. Ashley of Menton, France, costing £961.
33. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. Everard of Salisbury, costing £1,202.
34. 36 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Scarlett of Bowden, costing £1,026.
35. 36 ft (11 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss L. B. Courtney of Brompton Square, costing £939.
36. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr T. K. Hardie of Bayswater, costing £1,007.
37. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Sir Thomas Tobin of Ballincollig, costing £1,170.
38. 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Young of Pollockshields, built partially by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, completed by the RNLI (following the bankruptcy of Thames Ironworks).
39. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. F. Stanford of Regent's Park, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, fitted with two water ballast tanks and two drop-keel costing £2,173.
40. 38 ft (12 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Baltic Exchange LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, weighing 4 tons 11cwt, fitted with 12 relieving tubes, ordinary keel, 2 drop keels, and 2 water ballast tanks<, costing £2,233.

References

1. Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 24–25.
2. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 14–17.
3. Farr & Morris 1992, p. 1.
4. Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 14–27.
5. "New Life-boat for Cromer". Diss Express. 5 September 1902. p. 8.
6. "New Lifeboat for the Coast of Devonshire". The Langport & Somerton Herald. 30 April 1904. p. 5.
7. "The Salcombe lifeboat disaster: A tale of incredible bravery, and unimaginable loss". RNLI. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
8. "New Lifeboat for the Norfolk Coast". The Evening Star and Daily Herald. 2 December 1904. p. 2.
9. "New Lifeboat Station at Aldeburgh". Norwich Mercury. 9 August 1905. p. 4.
10. "New Life-boat for South Coast". Chichester Observer. 1 November 1916. p. 8.
11. Bruce, K. T. (8 November 2018). "90 years ago: Remembering the lost Rye Harbour lifeboat crew". RNLI. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
12. "Wells - New Lifeboat". Lynn Advertiser. 6 October 1916. p. 3.