New Brighton Lifeboat Station

New Brighton Lifeboat Station
New Brighton Lifeboat Station
New Brighton, Wirral
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationKings Parade, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside, CH45 2ND, England
Coordinates53°26′22.1″N 3°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
Peter Cropper, Coxswain, Liverpool Lifeboat – 1851
Thomas Evans, Coxswain, Magazine Lifeboat – 1851
Joseph Formby, Coxswain, Formby Lifeboat – 1851
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
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
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 1839 1839−1863 30-foot non-self-righting lifeboat [Note 3]
Magazines No.2 lifeboat

New Brighton lifeboats

New Brighton / New Brighton (No.1) Station

ON[a] Name Built On station[11] Class Comments[10]
Pre-387 Rescue 1862 1863−1866 42-foot Tubular [Note 4]
Removed from service November 1866 for rebuild., Renamed Willie and Arthur.
Pre-380 Latimer 1860 1866−1867 34-foot 6in Self-righting (P&S) [Note 5]
Previously at Newbiggin
Pre-387 Willie and Arthur 1862 1867−1876 40-foot 3in Tubular [Note 6]
71 Willie and Arthur 1876 1876−1892 45-foot Tubular [Note 7]
221 Henry Richardson 1888 1892−1898 43-foot Tubular [Note 8]
Previously New Brighton No.2.
414 Henry Richardson 1898 1898−1919 43-foot Watson (P&S) [Note 9]
637 Staughton 1915 1919−1930 40-foot Watson (P&S) [Note 10]
550 Anne Miles 1905 1930−1936 43-foot Watson (P&S) [Note 11]
Previously at Longhope and Howth.
535 Charlie Medland 1904 1936−1938 43-foot Watson (P&S) [Note 12]
Previously at Mumbles and Southend-on-Sea
682 William and Kate Johnston 1923 1938−1950 60-foot Barnett [Note 13]
Previously New Brighton No.2.
883 Norman B. Corlett 1950 1950−1973 52-foot Barnett (Mk.I) [Note 14]
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[12] Class Comments[10]
Pre-406 Willie and Arthur 1863 1864−1867 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) (Iron) [Note 15]
Previously China at Teignmouth
Pre-494 Lily 1867 1867−1878 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 16]
Pre-625 Stuart Hay 1878 1878−1888 40-foot Tubular [Note 17]
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 18]
Previously at Harwich and Holyhead
404 Queen 1897 1897−1923 55-foot Steam [Note 19]
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 20]
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 21]
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. ^ a b c ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number carried on the hull or vehicle.

See also

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.
  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. ^ Modified 40-foot 3in x 11-foot 6in (P&S) Tubular-class lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Leather, built by J. Hamilton Jnr. of Liverpool.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 50-foot x 14-foot 3in Steam-class lifeboat, built by R. & H. Green of Blackwall, London, costing £5000 when new.
  19. ^ 55-foot x 16-foot 6in Steam-class lifeboat, built by Thorneycroft of Chiswick, costing £5,145.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e 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.
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