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, Kingsdown, and one at North Deal. [1]
After 8 years of operating a lifeboat at Walmer, it had been found that in certain conditions of wind and tide, the lifeboat was struggling to reach some vessels in distress, and it was decided to place extra lifeboats north and south of Walmer. A 40-foot 12-oared 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat (one with oars and sails) was built by Forrestt of Limehouse, arriving on 15 February 1865, and a boathouse was constructed on the north side of Deal by Denne & Wise, the station to be known as North Deal Lifeboat Station. In 1864, marine artist Edward William Cooke had donated £200 to the RNLI towards the provision of a lifeboat in Deal, and the boat was named Van Kook as per the wishes of the donor, a reference to his Dutch patrons. [2]
On 11 November 1877, the Van Kook was launched to the French brig D'Artagnan aground on Brake Sands. The lifeboat was smashed against the stern of the vessel causing several holes, but the 5 crew were rescued. Whilst still out, the Hedvig Sophia was seen in distress, and the lifeboat then rescued a further 11 men, and the Captains wife. [3] [4] On 1 December 1877, the Van Kook would launch to the full-rigged vessel Crusader, on passage from Québec to South Shields, and rescue 22. [5] Coxswain Robert Wilde was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, the first of 10 that would come to be awarded to North Deal lifeboatmen . [6]
Donors could be 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 1881, following the death of Edward Cooke, Van Kook was renamed Mary Sommerville after a bequest by Miss M. C. Sommerville of Genoa. The next two boats would carry the same name, the first of these, Mary Sommerville (ON 178), arriving at North Deal on 26 August 1887. [1] [2] [7]
In 1883, the road outside the station was reconstructed and raised, preventing access in or out of the boathouse. A new boathouse was constructed at a cost of £439-2s-10d. [2]
The new Mary Sommerville (ON 178) was not well liked, the North Deal boatmen having a multitude of complaints. Only a year later, on 31 October 1888, it was replaced with a 42-foot 12-oared lifeboat, again named Mary Sommerville (ON 227). Trials took place, and all was well. This boat would serve until 1905, launching 103 times, and rescuing 160 lives. Returning the old boat to London, the lifeboatmen were signalled by the crew of the Tongue Lightship, and took aboard 13 men who had survived the sinking of their vessel Albatross two days earlier. [8]
The Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.2) (ON 552) was placed on service at North Deal in 1905. In 1912, both Broadstairs and Walmer stations were closed, but with the outbreak of World War I, it was felt that another lifeboat may be needed to cover the Goodwin Sands. [2]
A second 40-foot lifeboat was stationed at North Deal, the Frances Forbes Barton (ON 399), and lifeboatman William Stanton was appointed coxswain. The Frances Forbes Barton was the legacy of a Miss Webster in 1897 to the boatmen of Broadstairs, and had been stationed at Broadstairs until the closure, during which time it had been taken out on 77 launches and saved 115 lives. The boat would remain on station at North Deal until 1921. In 1927, Walmer Lifeboat Station would reopen when Kingsdown was closed. [1] [2]
After 67 years service, 420 launches, and 859 lives saved, North Deal Lifeboat Station was closed in September 1932. The lifeboat on station at the time, Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.2) (ON 552) was retired and sold, and was last reported as a yacht in 2019. The lifeboat house still stands, and is currently in use by 'Deal Angling Club (1919)'. [1] [2]
