Tynemouth Lifeboat Station

Tynemouth Lifeboat Station
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station
Tyne and Wear
General information
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	Fish Quay, Tynemouth Lifeboat Station, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE30 1JA, UK
Coordinates	55°00′32.7″N1°25′58.4″W / 55.009083°N 1.432889°W / 55.009083; -1.432889
Opened	TLI 1789–1947 RNLI 1862–
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat Station

Tynemouth Lifeboat Station is located overlooking the River Tyne at Fish Quay, North Shields, in the county of Tyne and Wear.

A lifeboat was first stationed across the River Tyne in South Shields in 1789, with a second lifeboat placed in North Shields in 1798, both operated by the Tyne Lifeboat Institution (TLI).

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) currently operates a Severn-class lifeboat 17-34 Osier (ON 1263), on station since 2021, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Little Susie (D-829), on station since 2018. ^[1]

History

In the late 1700s, two lifeboats were operated at Tynemouth by the Tyne Lifeboat Institution (TLI), both built by Henry Greathead, to an amalgamated design of both Greathead and William Wouldhave. At the time, the mouth of the River Tyne was particularly treacherous in poor weather, with many ships lost, but many lives saved. ^[2]

Safety would be radically improved in later years, with the construction of the North and South Tyne Piers, with building starting in 1854, finally completed in 1910. ^[3]

The first lifeboat, known as Original, was wrecked in 1830. The Tyne Lifeboat Institution would not have the funds for a replacement until 1833. In 1832, a request for a lifeboat was placed by the Port of Newcastle Shipwreck Association with the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), who supplied a 26-foot Palmer-type non-self-righting lifeboat, arriving in October 1832, to be managed by the TLI. A new boathouse had been constructed at Prior's Haven. The boat was on service for 10 years, until it was badly damaged in 1842, and scrapped. ^[4]

The Tyne Institution would maintain their fleet of lifeboats, providing 2 new boats and a new boathouse at South Beach, South Shields. On 4 December 1849, the Tyne Institution lifeboat Providence was launched to the aid to the brig Betsy, which had run ashore at Herd sands. It was whilst Providence was alongside the vessel, when the lifeboat capsized. The Tyne was launched, and picked up the three survivors still holding onto the Providence, and North Shields lifeboat Northumberland rescued the crew of the Betsy, plus one lifeboat man who had managed to get aboard, but 20 of the 24 crew of the Providence were lost. ^[5]

Tyne lifeboat on display in South Shields

It was as a result of this disaster that Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland of Alnwick Castle, president of the RNIPLS, set a competition for the design of a Self-righting lifeboat, which was won by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth. This design would become the basis for lifeboats for many years afterwards. ^[6]

In 1862, following a series of shipwrecks in and around Prior's Haven, it was suggested that the (now) RNLI should place a lifeboat at a new station at Prior's Haven. A new boathouse was constructed, and the Constance, a 33-foot self-righting 10-oared lifeboat, arrived in November 1862. The Prior, a TLI boat, was relocated from Prior's Haven to South Beach, South Shields. ^{[5] [7]}

Following the wreck of the Stanley in 1864, it was decided to place a second lifeboat at Tynemouth, with the RNLI building a new station at Black Middens. Both lifeboat services would operate alongside each other until the early 1900s, often responding to the same shipwreck, one or other standing by while a rescue was performed. However, in 1905, everything changed when the RNLI placed a motor-powered lifeboat at Tynemouth, followed soon after by the completion of the Piers. A motor lifeboat was far better placed to respond, and fewer rescues were required, with the mouth of the River Tyne now protected. The TLI would be renamed the Tyne Lifeboat Society (TLS) in 1905, maintaining the last of their lifeboats until the 1940s. The RNLI No.2 station was closed. ^{[8] [2]}

After some years with the motor lifeboat moored afloat, the RNLI took over a boathouse belonging to the War-office in 1921. It was located right next to the Tyne Lifeboat Society boathouse at Clifford's Fort. The lifeboat was mounted on a trolley, which could be winched up or down a trolley-way. In 1941, bombs dropped in a war-time air-raid destroyed the Tyne Lifeboat house, containing the James Young lifeboat, and the RNLI boathouse, containing the John Pymont (ON 824). ^[9] A replacement boathouse and slipway would be constructed at the same location in 1947.

To commemorate the centenary of the Tynemouth lifeboat station, a stained glass window, showing a picture of the Original lifeboat, was unveiled by Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Northumberland at the Seamen's Chapel of Christ Church, North Shields on 16 September 1962. ^[10]

Severn-class lifeboat 17-20 Spirit of Northumberland (ON 1242)

1965 would see the arrival of the first Tynemouth Inshore lifeboat, one of the earliest inshore D-class (RFD PB16) boats numbered D-12. When a new All-weather Arun-class lifeboat arrived in 1980, the boat would once again be moored afloat. A replacement station building, housing the Inshore lifeboat, launched with the use of a davit, and a mooring for the All-weather boat were provided in 1997.

A 25-knot Severn-class lifeboat 17-20 Spirit of Northumberland (ON 1242) would be placed on service in 1999. After serving 22 years, she would be withdrawn in 2021, replaced by 17-34 Osier (ON 1263). Spirit of Northumberland was sent to the RNLI Headquarters at Poole, to be the second Severn-class boat to receive what was known as a "SLEP" upgrade (Severn Life Extension Programme), to allow a further 25 years of service. Just two boats were upgraded, before the programme was officially abandoned in 2025. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

The Tyne lifeboat of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution is restored and on display at South Shields. ^[14] The Bedford lifeboat of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution has been restored, and is in storage awaiting a suitable display location. ^[15]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Tynemouth ^{[10] [16]}

• RNLI Gold Medal

Capt. Herbert Edgar Burton – 1914

Robert Smith, Coxswain – 1914

• Gold Medals, awarded by the Tynemouth Trust

The Tynemouth Lifeboat Crew – 1914

• RNIPLS Silver Medal

Henry Strachan, River Pilot – 1829

William Tully, Pilot – 1832

T. Thorp, storekeeper of the rockets – 1839

John Cunningham, Rocket Apparatus Superintendent – 1843

William Wheeler, Thames River Pilot – 1851

• RNLI Silver Medal

Lawrence Byrne, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard, – 1864

James Gilbert, Coxswain – 1886

James Gilbert, Coxswain – 1898 (Second-Service Clasp)

Capt. H. E. Burton – 1913

Coxswain Robert Smith – 1913

James S. Brownlee, Second Coxswain – 1914

Cmdr. Basil Hall, RN, Lifeboat Inspector – 1914

Robert Smith, Coxswain – 1916 (Second-Service Clasp)

James S. Brownlee, Second Coxswain – 1916 (Second-Service Clasp)

John Hogg, Coxswain – 1986

• Silver Medal Service Certificate

Martin Kenny, Second Coxswain – 1986

John Watson, Motor Mechanic – 1986

Trevor Fryer, crew member – 1986

James Griffiths, crew member – 1986

David Lisle, crew member – 1986

John Norris, crew member – 1986

• Silver Cup, awarded by The King of Norway

Coxswain – 1918

• Silver Medals, awarded by The King of Norway

The Tynemouth Lifeboat Crew – 1918

• Medals, awarded by The King of Norway

The crew of the private lifeboat Tom Perry – 1918

• RNLI Bronze Medal

Michael Campbell, Ordinary Seaman, RNVR – 1926

Edward Selby Davidson, Honorary Secretary of the Tynemouth Branch – 1941

George Lisle, Coxswain – 1941

Trevor Fryer, crew member – 1974

Frederick Arkley, crew member – 1974

• • The Maud Smith Award 1986
  • (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)

Capt. John Hogg, Coxswain – 1986

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

Trevor Fryer, Helm – 1982

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

Martin Kenny, Coxswain – 1998

Kevin Mole, Helm – 2003

Michael Nugent, Coxswain – 2022

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

Kevin Mole, Mechanic - 1998

Geoffrey Cowan, Assistant Mechanic – 1998

Edwin Chapple, crew member – 1998

Michael Nugent, crew member – 1998

• Commendations by the Lifesaving Operations Director of the Institution

Dan Howe, crew member – 2022

Michael Brown, crew member – 2022

Rob Blake, crew member – 2022

Andrew King, crew member – 2022

Joe Smiles, crew member – 2022

• American Cross of Honour for services and good seamanship

Maj. H. E. Burton – 1916

• The Morley Medal of the Outward Bound Trust

Kenneth Smith, crew member – 1959

• Royal Humane Society's Testimonial on Parchment

PC Robert Rutherford, crew member – 1959

• Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Kenneth Middlemiss, Honorary Secretary – 1993 ^[17]

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Tynemouth lifeboat.

• Lost when the lifeboat Providence capsized on service to the brig Betsy, 4 December 1849.

Launcelot Burn, Coxswain

John Bone,

John Burn (Snr),

John Burn (Jnr),

John Donkin,

Robert Donkin,

John Marshall,

Thomas Marshall,

James Matson,

John Phillips,

Ralph Phillips,

William Purvis,

Ralph Shotton,

William Smith,

George Tindall,

George Tinmouth,

James Wright,

John Wright,

Henry Young

James Young

• Washed out of the lifeboat Constance and lost, on service to the schooner Friendship and the steamship Stanley, 24 November 1864

James Grant, crew member

E. Robson, crew member

• Washed off the pier and drowned, attempting a rescue of the barque Consul, 17 December 1872

Robert Thirlaway Arkley, Customs Officer and Lifeboat crew member (16)

• Lost when the lifeboat Northumberland was hit by a large wave, on service to the brig Gleaner, 18 December 1872

James Watson, crew member (21)

John Wheatley, crew member (21)

Tynemouth lifeboats

Tyne Lifeboat Institution

South Shields, Coble Landing

Name	Built	On station	Class	Comments [18]
Original	1789	1789–1830	30-foot Greathead	[Note 1] Wrecked in 1830.
Tyne	1833	1833–1887	32-foot North Country	[Note 2]
Providence	1845	1862–1872	34-foot North Country	[Note 3] At South Beach until 1862.
Tom Perry	1872	1872–1937	33-foot 8in North Country	[Note 4]
Bedford	1886	1886–1937	33-foot 7in North Country	[Note 5] Fitted with an engine, 1930. [15]

North Shields, Clifford's Fort

Name	Built	On station	Class	Comments [18]
Northumberland	1798	1798–c.1846	28-foot Greathead	[Note 6]
Northumberland	1845	1845–1884	33-foot North Country	[Note 7]
James Young	1884	1884–1941	32-foot North Country	[Note 8] Destroyed in a wartime air-raid, 10 April 1941.

North Shields, Prior's Haven

Name	Built	On station	Class	Comments [2] [19] [20]
Unnamed	1831	1832–1842	26-foot Palmer	[Note 9] Badly damaged, and scrapped in 1842.
Prior	1842	1842–1862	28-foot North Country	[Note 10] Transferred to South Beach in 1862 on arrival of RNLB Constance

South Shields, South Beach

Name	Built	On station	Class	Comments [18]
Providence	1845	1845–1862	34-foot North Country	[Note 11] At South Beach until 1862.
Prior	1842	1862–1878	28-foot North Country	[Note 12] [19] [20] Previously at Prior's Haven
Willie Wouldhave	1878	1878–1947	North Country	[Note 13] Destroyed by arson, along with the boathouse, March 1947.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

No.1 Station (Prior's Haven)

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [21]	Class	Comments [22]
Pre-390	Constance	1862	1862–1864	33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 14] Sent for repairs, 1864.
Pre-419	Robert Whitworth	1864	1864–1865	33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 15] Built for Bridlington, but first sent to Tynemouth on temporary cover.
Pre-390	Constance	1862	1865–1875	33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S)	Damaged for second time in 1874, beyond repair and withdrawn.
Pre-604	Charles Dibdin	1875	1875–1888	37-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 16]
204	Charles Dibdin	1888	1889–1905	37-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 17]

No.2 Station (Black Middens)

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [23]	Class	Comments [22]
Pre-444	Pomfret and Goole	1865	1865–1872	32-foot Prowse Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 18]
216	Forester	1871	1872–1900	33-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 19]
455	Forester	1900	1900–1905	34-foot Rubie Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 20]

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 motor lifeboats (Clifford's Fort and Fish Quay)

ON [a]	Op. No. [b]	Name	Built	On station [24]	Class	Comments
343	–	J. McConnell Hussey	1892	1905–1911	38-foot Self-righting (Motor)	Moored afloat
613	–	Henry Vernon	1910	1911–1918	40-foot Self-righting (motor)
646	–	Henry Frederick Swan	1917	1918–1939	40-foot Self-righting (motor)
824	–	John Pymont	1939	1939–1941	41-foot Watson	Destroyed in a wartime air-raid, 1941
646	–	Henry Frederick Swan	1917	1941–1947	40-foot Self-righting (motor)
852	–	Tynsider	1947	1947–1979	46-foot 9in Watson
945	–	Princess Alexandra of Kent	1958	1979–1980	52-foot Barnett (Mk.II)
1061	52-13	George and Olive Turner	1979	1980–1999	Arun
1242	17-20	Spirit of Northumberland	1999	1999–2021	Severn
1263	17-34	Osier	2002	2021–	Severn

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. [b]	Name	On station [25]	Class	Comments
D-12	Unnamed	1965	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-49	Unnamed	1965–1966	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-50	Unnamed	1966–1968	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-144	Unnamed	1969–1970	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-172	Unnamed	1970–1981	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-280	Unnamed	1981–1989	D-class (Zodiac III)
D-385	Unnamed	1989–1998	D-class (EA16)
D-535	The Cromer Smuggler	1998–2008	D-class (EA16)
D-693	Mark Noble	2008–2018	D-class (IB1)
D-829	Little Susie	2018–	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. 30-foot x 10-foot (10-oared) Greathead-class non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Henry Greathead of South Shields, costing £150.
2. 32-foot x 10-foot (12-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Oliver South Shields, costing £170.
3. 34-foot x 10-foot 10in (14-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Woodhouse of South Shields, costing £234.
4. 33-foot 8in x 10-foot 8in (12-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Jackson of South Shields.
5. 33-foot 7in x 10-foot 8in (12-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, legacy of Miss Bedford of Pershore, built by Lancelot Lambert at the Lawe Building Yard, South Shields, costing £330.
6. 28-foot x 9-foot 4in (10-oared) Greathead-class non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Henry Greathead of South Shields, costing £160.
7. 33-foot x 11-foot (14-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, funded by The Duke of Northumberland, built by Thomas Anderson of North Shields, costing £200.
8. 32-foot x 11-foot (12-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, funded by Harbour Dues, built by Jas. Jackson of South Shields.
9. 26-foot x 6-foot (6-oared) Palmer-class non-self-righting lifeboat, provided by the RNIPLS, built by Harton of Limehouse, London, costing £60.
10. 28-foot North Country lifeboat, built by Thomas Anderson of South Shields.
11. 34-foot x 10-foot 10in (14-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Woodhouse of South Shields, costing £234.
12. 28-foot North Country lifeboat, built by Thomas Anderson of South Shields.
13. 12-oared North Country lifeboat, built by William Jackson of South Shields.
14. 33-foot x 7-foot 10in (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £210.
15. 33-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded from collection by Mr R. Whitworth of Manchester, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £250.
16. 37-foot x 9-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Civil Service Lifeboat Fund, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £433.
17. 37-foot x 8-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Civil Service Lifeboat Fund, built by D. and W. Henderson and Company of Partick, costing £495.
18. 32-foot x 7-foot 4in (10-oared) Prowse-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Pontefract and Goole LB fund, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £248.
19. 33-foot x 8-foot 1in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Ancient Order of Foresters, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £278.
20. 34-foot x 8-foot 4in (10-oared) Dungeness-class (Rubie) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Ancient Order of Foresters, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £712.

References

1. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 127.
2. Morris, Jeff (May 1995). The History of the Tynemouth Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–54.
3. "The Tyne's Piers". Port of Tyne. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
4. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 2–3.
5. Landells, Steve. "The Story of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution and Volunteer Life Brigades". RNLI. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
6. "The Beeching Model". The Lifeboat. 33 (369). September 1854. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
7. "Launch of a New Life-Boat at Tynemouth". RNLI. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
8. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 115.
9. "Tynemouth Lifeboat Station". Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
10. "Tynemouth's Station history". RNLI. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
11. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 70.
12. "Update: extending the life of our biggest lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
13. "Launching into the Third Century". The Lifeboat (651): 29. Spring 2025.
14. "The Tyne Lifeboat". Visit South Tyneside. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
15. White, Andrew (21 May 2023). "South Shields lifeboat, the Bedford, restored by maritime trust". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
16. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0907605893.
17. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
18. Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–7.
19. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 2.
20. Farr & Morris 1992, p. 15.
21. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 2–25.
22. Farr & Morris 1992, pp. 1–88.
23. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 10–35.
24. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 30–70.
25. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 86–99.

External links

• Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat Station
• Maritime Coastguard Agency