New Brighton Lifeboat Station

New Brighton Lifeboat Station
New Brighton Lifeboat Station
New Brighton, Wirral
General information
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	Kings Parade, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside, CH45 2ND, England
Coordinates	53°26′22.1″N3°02′50.2″W / 53.439472°N 3.047278°W / 53.439472; -3.047278
Opened	1827 Liverpool Dock Trustees (Magazines) 1863 RNLI (New Brighton}
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
New Brighton RNLI Lifeboat Station

New Brighton Lifeboat Station is located on Kings Parade in New Brighton, a town on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside.

A lifeboat was first stationed at Magazines village by the Liverpool Dock Trustees in 1827. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1863. ^[1]

The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, the Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.51) (B-837), on station since 2009. ^[2]

History

In the 18th Century, vessels arriving in the Port of Liverpool were required to first deposit their gunpowder in the Gunpowder magazine, which was located in a secluded area on the Wirral, across the River Mersey from Liverpool. Over time, Magazine Village developed, and it was here that the Liverpool Dock Trustees placed one of their lifeboats in 1827, with a boathouse being constructed in 1828. The location was ideally situated to cover the mouth of the river. A second boat was stationed there in 1839. ^[3]

At a public meeting in 1862, it was discussed that a boat, located in the now increasingly populous area known as New Brighton, would be better positioned to effect a faster response into Liverpool Bay. The RNLI was approached, and agreed to provide a lifeboat station in New Brighton. An unusual new 'Tubular' type of lifeboat, named Rescue, was commissioned with J. Hamilton, Jnr, Windsor Works, Liverpool, and arrived on station in January 1863. ^[4]

Within 18 months, as the Liverpool Dock Trustees had found, it was necessary to place a second boat at New Brighton, and a No.2 station was started in July 1864. This boat too was unusual, as it was a 33-foot Iron boat rather than the usual wooden boats. She was named Willie and Arthur. ^[4]

In 1893, New Brighton received the Duke of Northumberland (ON 231), transferred from Holyhead to be the No.2 lifeboat. The boat was a 50-foot Steam-powered lifeboat, using Water-Jets as a means of propulsion, over 140 years before this technology was again utilised by the RNLI in the present day Shannon-class lifeboats. When the boat was required to be returned to Holyhead, the RNLI commissioned another Steam-class lifeboat. Arriving on station in 1897, she was named Queen (ON 404) to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. ^[4]

The 60-foot Barnett-class lifeboat William and Kate Johnston (ON 682), replacement for Queen, was assigned to be the No.1 station boat in 1938. ^[5]

Both No.1 and No.2 station boats were retired in 1950, being replaced by just one boat, effectively closing the No.2 station. The 52-foot Barnett-class lifeboat Norman B. Corlett (ON 883) remained in service until 1973, when it was decided that the All-weather lifeboat would be withdrawn, and replaced with a fast Inshore B-class (Atlantic 21). With the Atlantic-class boat having to be stored 1.5 miles from the station until a new boathouse was built, a D-class (RFD PB16) lifeboat was also placed on service for 18 months. ^[6]

In response to the number of rescues required on the large expanse of mud and sand at the end of the Wirral Peninsular, the RNLI placed one of their seven Griffon Hoverwork Type 470TD Hovercraft on station in 2004. This Hovercraft was relocated to Hoylake in 2016. ^[7]

Station honours

The following are awards made at New Brighton ^{[1] [8]}

• Gold Medal, awarded by the American Government

Each of New Brighton lifeboat crews – 1875

Each of the survivors of the crew of the Liverpool lifeboat – 1875

• Gold Medal, awarded by the French Government

George Robinson, Coxswain – 1928

George Carmody – 1928

Samuel Jones – 1928

• RNIPLS Silver Medal

Peter Cropper, Coxswain, Liverpool Lifeboat – 1851

Thomas Evans, Coxswain, Magazine Lifeboat – 1851

Joseph Formby, Coxswain, Formby Lifeboat – 1851

• RNLI Silver Medal

Thomas Evans, Coxswain – 1863 (Second-Service Clasp)

Thomas Evans, Jnr – 1863

William Evans – 1863

Richard J. Thomas, Coxswain – 1870

Hiram Linaker, crew member – 1877

William Martin, Coxswain – 1894

George Robinson, Coxswain – 1928

William Henry Jones, Coxswain – 1938

Edward Brown, Coxswain – 1974

Robin Middleton, crew member – 1974

• Silver Medal, awarded by the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society

J. W. Bray, Mechanic – 1946

• RNLI Bronze Medal

John Rowland Nicholson, crew member – 1928

George James Carmody, crew member – 1928

Ralph B. Scott, crew member – 1928

Wilfred Garbutt, crew member – 1928

Samuel J. Jones, crew member – 1928

William Liversage, crew member – 1928

John H. Moore, crew member – 1928

John Rowland Nicholson, Second Coxswain – 1938

Wilfred Garbutt, Mechanic – 1938

John E. Mason, Second Mechanic – 1938

William Stephen Jones, Second Coxswain – 1947

William Stephen Jones, Acting Coxswain – 1950 (Second-Service clasp)

George Stonall, Coxswain – 1957

Edward Beverley Brown, Helm – 1982

• • The Ralph Glister Award 1987
  • for the most meritorious service carried out in a lifeboat under 10 metres

Anthony Clare, Helm – 1988

Geoffrey Prince, crew member – 1988

Anthony Jones, crew member – 1988

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

Clifford Downing, crew member – 1974

Alan Boult, crew member – 1974

Ian Campbell, crew member – 1974

Edward B. Brown, Helm – 1976

Michael Jones, crew member – 1982

Anthony Clare. Helm – 1988

Michael Jones, crew member – 1994

Tony Clare, crew member – 1994

Michael Jones, Helm – 1995

Michael Jones, Helm – 2000

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

Geoffrey Prince, crew member – 1988

Anthony Jones, crew member – 1988

Neil Jones, crew member – 1994

Barry Shillinglaw, crew member – 1994

Tony Jones, shore helper – 1994

Howard Jones, crew member – 1995

Neil Jones, crew member – 1995

Michael Haxby, crew member – 1995

Richard Finlay, County Rescue Boat – 1995

John Goodwin, County Rescue Boat – 1995

Mark Bland, Helm – 2005

Mark Harding, crew member – 2005

Greg Morgan, crew member – 2005

• A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

Barry Shillinglaw, crew member – 1980

Paul Wright, crew member – 1980

Howard Jones, crew member – 1980

• Collective Letter of Appreciation signed by the Director of the Institution

Eight shore helpers from the station – 1980

• A Letter of Appreciation signed by the Chief of Operations

Station Honorary Secretary – 1980

• Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Philip Gerald Hockey, Lifeboat Press Officer – 2007QBH ^[9]

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving New Brighton lifeboat. ^[4]

• Lost when washed overboard from the Stuart Hay, whilst searching for an unknown casualty vessel, 26 January 1883

Charles Finlay

• Overcome by fumes, and died whilst on overnight watch duty on the Queen (ON 404), 29 November 1905

Allan Dodd, crewman (36)

John Jones, crewman (36)

• Suffered serious kidney damage after being thrown violently across the boat, aboard the Queen (ON 404), 18 December 1919, and died three years later on 12 October 1922.

George Cross, Second Coxswain (40)

• Died later from the effects of exposure, after maintaining watch on the New Brighton landing stage, 17 November 1923.

W. J. Liversage, Assistant Secretary (58)

• Drowned when the boarding boat capsized during recovery, after being swept away down river by a flood tide, 9 March 1925.

Herbert Harrison, Second Mechanic

• Collapsed and died whilst fishing, a few days after the medal winning service in extreme conditions to the Progress of Hoylake, and the schooner Loch Ranza Castle, 23 November 1938.

J. Stonall, crewman (46)

• Drowned after falling from the boarding boat whilst trying to tie-up alongside, 6 March 1962

Frank. K. Neilson, Second Mechanic (61)

Magazines lifeboats (Liverpool Dock Trustees)

Name	Built	On station [10]	Class	Comments [10]
Unnamed	1827	1827−1830	26-foot 8in non-self-righting lifeboat	[Note 1] Later at Point of Air.
Unnamed	1826	1830−1844	30-foot non-self-righting lifeboat	[Note 2] Previously at Point of Air.
Unnamed Magazines No.2	1839	1839−1863	30-foot non-self-righting lifeboat	[Note 3]

New Brighton lifeboats

New Brighton / New Brighton (No.1) Station

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [4] [11]	Class	Comments [10]
Pre-387	Rescue Willie and Arthur	1862	1863−1866 1867−1876	42-foot Tubular 40-foot 3in Tubular	[Note 4] Removed from service November 1866 for rebuild
Pre-380	Latimer	1860	1866−1867	34-foot 6in Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 5] Previously at Newbiggin
71	Willie and Arthur	1876	1876−1892	45-foot Tubular	[Note 6] Withdrawn in 1892 when found to be defective.
221	Henry Richardson	1888	1892−1898	43-foot Tubular	[Note 7] Previously New Brighton No.2.
414	Henry Richardson	1898	1898−1919	43-foot Watson (P&S)	[Note 8]
637	Staughton	1915	1919−1930	40-foot Watson (P&S)	[Note 9]
550	Anne Miles	1905	1930−1936	43-foot Watson (P&S)	[Note 10] Previously at Longhope and Howth
535	Charlie Medland	1904	1936−1938	43-foot Watson (P&S)	[Note 11] Previously at Mumbles and Southend-on-Sea
682	William and Kate Johnston	1923	1938−1950	60-foot Barnett	[Note 12] Previously New Brighton No.2.
883	Norman B. Corlett	1950	1950−1973	52-foot Barnett	[Note 13]

All-weather lifeboat replaced with a B-class (Atlantic 21) Inshore lifeboat, 1973

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

New Brighton (No.2) Station

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [4] [12]	Class	Comments [10]
Pre-406	Willie and Arthur	1863	1864−1867	33-foot Self-righting (P&S) (Iron)	[Note 14] Previously China at Teignmouth
Pre-494	Lily	1867	1867−1878	32-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 15]
Pre-625	Stuart Hay	1878	1878−1888	40-foot Tubular	[Note 16]
221	Henry Richardson	1888	1888−1892	43-foot Tubular	Became No.1 lifeboat following withdrawal of ON 71.}}
231	Duke of Northumberland	1889	1893−1897	50-foot Steam	[Note 17] Previously at Harwich and Holyhead
404	Queen	1897	1897−1923	55-foot Steam	[Note 18] Left station to take part in the 1924 Thames flotilla for the RNLI 100th Anniversary.
682	William and Kate Johnston	1923	1923−1938	60-foot Barnett	Largest RNLI lifeboat at time of construction.
812	Edmund and Mary Robinson	1938	1938−1950	41-foot Watson	[Note 19]

No.2 Station Closed 1950

New Brighton (No.3) Station

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [13]	Class	Comments [10]
76	Unnamed	1884	1884−1887	46-foot 2in Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 20] Later Edith at Fleetwood

No.3 Station Closed 1887

Hovercraft

Op.No. [b]	Name	On station [7]	Class	Comments
H-005	Hurley Spirit	2004−2016	Hovercraft	Transferred to Hoylake in 2016.

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. [b]	Name	On station [14]	Class	Comments
D-42	Unnamed	1973–1974	D-class (RFD PB16)
B-509	Unnamed	1973–1981	B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-549	Blenwatch	1981–1996	B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-721	Rock Light	1996–2009	B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-837	Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.51)	2009–	B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No. [b]	Reg. No.	Type	On station [15]	Comments
TW01	XTK 150M	Talus MB-764 County	1974–1987
TW14	D659 TNT	Talus MB-764 County	1987–1990
TW17Hb	H593 PUX	Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5)	1990–1995
TW16Hb	H610 SUJ	Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5)	1995–2001
TW46Hb	V938 EAW	Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5)	2001–2008
TW45Ha	T249 JNT	Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1)	2008–2016
TW20Hc	J125 WUJ	Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2)	2016–

1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
2. Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number carried on the hull or vehicle.

See also

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

Notes

1. 26-foot 8in x 8-foot 3in lifeboat.
2. 30-foot x 9-foot 3in lifeboat.
3. 30-foot non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Thomas Costain of Liverpool, costing £180.
4. 42-foot x 10-foot (P&S) Tubular-class lifeboat, built by J. Hamilton Jnr. of Liverpool, costing £230. Later as 40-foot 3in x 11-foot 6in Tubular-class (P&S) lifeboat.
5. 34-foot 6in x 8-foot (6-oared) self-righting lifeboat, funded by The Duke of Northumberland, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £144..
6. 45-foot x 11-foot (14-oared) Tubular-class (P&S) lifeboat, with Iron Hull, the gift of Mr J. Leather of Liverpool, built by J. Hamilton Jnr. of Liverpool, costing £562-10s-0d.
7. 43-foot x 12-foot 6in (14-oared) Tubular-class (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H.Richardson of Bala, built by the Naval Construction and Armament Co. of Barrow-in-Furness, and costing £637.
8. 43-foot x 12-foot 6in (10-oared) Watson-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H.Richardson of Bala, built by Henry Reynolds of Lowestoft, costing £694.
9. 40-foot x 11-foot Watson-class (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Miss M. Staughton of Bedford, built by Thames Ironworks, completed by S. E. Saunders, costing £2,239.
10. 40-foot x 11-foot Watson-class (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Miss A. Miles of Hampstead, built by Thames Ironworks, costing £1,759 when new.
11. 43-foot x 12-foot 6in Watson-class (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. Medland of Clapham, built by Thames Ironworks, costing £1,694 when new.
12. 60-foot x 15-foot Barnett-class lifeboat, gift of Mr S. Johnstone, Mrs Kendall, and the Liverpool LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 80hp 'Weyburn' DE6 petrol-engines, producing 9½ knots, costing £16,084.
13. 52-foot x 13-foot 6in Barnett-class lifeboat, gift of Mr Corlett and family, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 60hp 'Ferry' diesel-engines, producing 9 knots, costing £29,265.
14. 33-foot x 8-foot 2in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) (Iron) lifeboat, funded by Mr G. Leather of Liverpool, built by Hepworth of Millwall, costing £351.
15. 33-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Leather of Liverpool, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £248.
16. 40-foot x 8-foot 10in (12-oared) Tubular-class lifeboat, gift of J. Hay & Co. of Liverpool, built by J. Hamilton Jnr. of Liverpool, costing £500.
17. 50-foot x 14-foot 3in Steam-class lifeboat, built by R. & H. Green of Blackwall, London, costing £5000 when new.
18. 55-foot x 16-foot 6in Steam-class lifeboat, built by Thorneycroft of Chiswick, costing £5,145.
19. 41-foot x 11-foot 8in Watson-class non-self-righting lifeboat, gift of Mrs M. Robinson, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, costing £6,534.
20. 46-foot x 11-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mrs G. Carew, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, LOndon, costing £583.

References

1. "New Brighton's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
2. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 84.
3. "The Story of Magazine Village". historyofwallasey.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
4. Morris, Jeff (January 1986). The Story of the New Brighton Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–26.
5. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 44.
6. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 52.
7. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 101.
8. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0907605893.
9. "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
10. Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 1.
11. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 8–53.
12. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 8–49.
13. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 20.
14. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 80–84, 86.
15. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 107–109.

External links

• RNLI station information