Newhaven Lifeboat Station

Newhaven Lifeboat Station
Newhaven Lifeboat Station
Newhaven, East Sussex
General information
Type	RNLI lifeboat station
Architectural style	Steel-frame boathouse built on stanchions with brick and block construction
Location	West Quay,, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 9BX, England
Coordinates	50°47′19″N0°03′13″E / 50.78856°N 0.05374°E / 50.78856; 0.05374
Opened	1803–c.1831 1852–present
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Newhaven RNLI Lifeboat Station

Newhaven Lifeboat Station is situated on the west bank of the River Ouse, in the port town of Newhaven in the English county of East Sussex, on the south coast of the United Kingdom. The Port of Newhaven is a busy commercial port with a ferry terminal, one of only two navigable harbours between the Isle of Wight to the west and Dover to the east. The harbour opens out onto the English Channel, one of the busiest stretches of waterway in the world. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

A lifeboat station was established at Newhaven in 1803, operating until c.1831. The station was re-established by The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society (SFMRBS) in 1852, with management of the station being transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in December 1854. ^{[4] [5]}

Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland (ON 1243) heading out on exercise, 2014

The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland (ON 1243), on station since 1999, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, Elaine McLeod Scott (D-812), on station since 2024. ^[6]

History

Newhaven’s first lifeboat was established in 1803, when a lifeboat which had been built 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. ^[7]

The lifeboat was one of 31 of this type 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, 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. This may have been the case at Newhaven, as no record can be found that the boat was ever launched to a service. ^{[1] [8]}

A second lifeboat was provided to the town in 1907, maybe named Adeline, the gift of Wm. B. Langridge of Lewis, and built by Christopher Wilson of London. It is thought that the boat remained in service until c.1831, although no service records are available. In 1809, the Greathead lifeboat was transferred to Brighton. ^[9]

In 1825 the forerunner of the RNLI, the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), 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 removed to Cowes. ^[10]

There are no records of any other Newhaven lifeboat until 1852, when Newhaven was provided with a lifeboat by the The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society (SFMRBS). By 1854, the SFMRBS was involved in the management of eight lifeboat stations, Lytham, Rhyl, Portmadoc, Tenby, Llanelli, Teignmouth, Hornsea and Newhaven. An agreement was made between the SFMRBS and the RNLI, where the former would concentrate on the welfare of those rescued, whilst the latter would be involved in lifeboats, stations and rescues. Management of all eight stations was transferred to the RNLI on 7 December 1854. ^[11]

The RNLI's first life boat at Newhaven arrived in 1863. It had previously been on service at Boulmer and 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. ^[12]

Former Newhaven lifeboat 47-foot Watson-class Kathleen Mary (ON 950)

A new boat arrived in 1867, a 33-foot self-righting lifeboat, also to be named Thomas Chapman, and built by Forrestt, 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. ^[10]

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-hp engine, giving a speed of nearly 6 knots. 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. This boat was sent to Thames Ironworks, with a reserve lifeboat being placed on station until the return of Michael Henry in 1908. ^[10]

Arun-class 52-32 Keith Anderson (ON 1106)

In 1909, the lifeboat house was extensively modified, and a new slipway was constructed. ^[13]

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. ^[14]

A new Arun-class 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. The monies raised would also fund a Trent-class lifeboat, 14-02 Esme Anderson (ON 1197), placed at Ramsgate. ^{[10] [15]}

In November 1999, Newhaven's current lifeboat arrived on station. Costing £1,725,000, she is the 25-knot Severn-class lifeboat 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland (ON 1243). ^[16]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Newhaven ^{[13] [17]}

• 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
  (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 ^[18]

Ian David Johns, Former Coxswain – 2012NYH ^[19]

• Freeman of Newhaven

Roger Cohen MBE , Lifeboat Operations Manager – 2025 ^[20]

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Newhaven lifeboat. ^[10]

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

Joseph Henry Richards (46)

• 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

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [21]	Class	Comments [22]
–	Unnamed	1803	1803–1809	22-foot Greathead	[Note 1] Transferred to Brighton in 1809.
–	Adeline	1807	1807–????	Unknown	[Note 2]
Pre-099	Unnamed	1824	1825–1829	18-foot Plenty Non-self-righting	[Note 3] Moved to Cowes in 1829 and laid up.
Pre-245	Friend in Need	1852	1852–1863	24-foot Beeching Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 4]
Pre-247	Thomas Chapman	1852	1863–1867	30-foot Beeching Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 5] Previously Prudhoe at Boulmer and Thorpeness
Pre-485	Thomas Chapman	1867	1867–1870	33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 6] Renamed Elizabeth Boys in 1870.
Pre-485	Elizabeth Boys	1867	1870–1877	33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S)
Pre-571	Michael Henry	1877	1877–1881	37-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 7]
211	Michael Henry	1881	1881–1897	37-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 8]
407	Michael Henry	1897	1897–1905	37-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 9] Withdrawn for motor-conversion in 1906
265	Quiver No.1	1883	1905–1908	37-foot 2in Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 10] Reserve lifeboat No. 3A. Previously at Margate, Wicklow, Watchet and The Mumbles.

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

All-weather lifeboats

ON [a]	Op.No. [b]	Name	Built	On station [21]	Class	Comments [23]
343	–	J. McConnel Hussey	1892	1904	38-foot Self-righting (Motor)	[Note 11] Reserve lifeboat No.2A. Previously at Folkestone. Motor conversion in 1903
407	–	Michael Henry	1897	1908–1912	37-foot Self-righting (Motor)	Returned to Newhaven following motor-conversion
628	–	Sir Fitzroy Clayton	1912	1912–1918	38-foot Self-righting (Motor)	[Note 12] Lifeboat sent away for trials at The Lizard.
Station Closed 1918–1919
628	–	Sir Fitzroy Clayton	1912	1919–1930	38-foot Self-righting (Motor)
730	–	Cecil and Lilian Philpott	1930	1930–1959	45-foot 6in Watson	[24] [25]
950	–	Kathleen Mary	1959	1959–1977	47-foot Watson	Last slipway launched boat
1045	44-019	Louis Marchesi of Round Table	1977	1977–1985	Waveney
1106	52-32	Keith Anderson	1985	1985–1999	Arun
1243	17-21	David and Elizabeth Acland	1999	1999–	Severn

Inshore lifeboats

Op.No. [b]	Name	On station [26]	Class	Comments
D-774	Arthur Hamilton	2022–2024	D-class (IB1)
D-812	Elaine McLeod Scott	2024–	D-class (IB1)

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

See also

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

Notes

1. 22-foot (8-oared) Greathead-class lifeboat, built by Henry Greathead of South Shields, costing £120.
2. Lifeboat of unknown dimension, gift of Wm. B. Langridge of Lewes, built by Christopher Wilson of London.
3. 18-foot (4-oared) Plenty-class non-self-righting lifeboat, built by William Plenty of Newbury, Berkshire, costing £90.
4. 24-foot x 7-foot 3in (10-oared) Beeching self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, provided by the SFMRBS, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £125.
5. 30-foot x 7-foot 9in (10-oared) Beeching self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, extended 1862 to 35-foot x 8-foot 1in by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £130 when new.
6. 33-foot x 8-foot 7in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of an anonymous lady, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £290.
7. 37-foot x 8-foot 6in (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Jewish Scholars LB fund, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £393.
8. 37-foot x 9-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Jewish Scholars LB fund, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £430.
9. 37-foot x 9-foot 3in (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Jewish Scholars LB fund, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £728.
10. 37-foot x 9-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of The Quiver magazine LB fund, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £430 when new.
11. 38-foot x 8-foot self-righting lifeboat, gift of Miss Curling, built by Wm. T. Ellis of Lowestoft, costing £418 when new. Motor-conversion in 1903, single 11-hp Fay & Brown engine.
12. 38-foot x 8-foot self-righting lifeboat, with single 35-hp Tylor engine, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £3,081.

References

1. Heroes 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 9781852604196
2. Ports of the World – 1979. Editor: Reithmuller, John. Publisher: Derek H. Deere. Thirty Second Edition. Work: Page 109, The Port of Newhaven. ISBN   0510491553
3. "The Dover Strait". Reference to the amount of shipping in the channel. Maritime and Coastguard Agency. 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
4. 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   1857941292
5. "Newhaven's station history". Newhaven Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
6. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. p. 128.
7. "Historic Newhaven". Reference to the funding of the Greathead lifeboat. Newhaven Town Council. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
8. 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
9. Farr & Morris 1992, pp. 2, 26.
10. Morris, Jeff (December 1999). The Story of the Newhaven Lifeboats (3rd ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–30.
11. "Our History". Shipwrecked Mariners Society. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
12. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 4.
13. "Newhaven's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
14. "1940: Dunkirk little ships". RNLI. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
15. Morris 2008, p. 81.
16. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 70.
17. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0907605893.
18. "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
19. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
20. "Agenda" (PDF). Newhaven Town Council. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
21. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 4–70.
22. Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–88.
23. Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Lifeboats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–100.
24. "Cecil and Lilian Philpott". Dunkirk Little Ships. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
25. "The Newhaven Lifeboat Cecil & Lilian Philpott". Dunkirk1940.org. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
26. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 98–99.