Coordinates: 51°7′3.00″N 1°19′10.0″E / 51.1175000°N 1.319444°E / 51.1175000; 1.319444

Dover Lifeboat Station

From WikiProjectMed
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Dover Lifeboat Station
City of London II moored at the lifeboat station
Dover Lifeboat Station is located in Kent
Dover Lifeboat Station
General information
TypeLifeboat station
AddressMarina Curve, Dover, CT17 9FQ
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°7′3.00″N 1°19′10.0″E / 51.1175000°N 1.319444°E / 51.1175000; 1.319444
OpenedFirst RNLI station 1855
Current station 2024
Owner RNLI
Design and construction
Architect(s)Studio 4
Website
Dover Lifeboat Station website
Listed Building – Grade II
FeatureClock tower and former lifeboat station
Designated16 December 2009
Reference no.1393606[1]

Dover Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station[2] located in the town of Dover in the English county of Kent.[3] The station first opened in 1837, coming under the RNLI’s control in 1855.[4]

Among the awards won by Dover's crews over the years are 19 RNLI medals for bravery, 6 silver and 13 bronze, the last being awarded in 1998.[5]

History

The boathouse built in 1866 and clock tower of 1877

The first rescue service at Dover was called the 'Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution', which was established in September 1837.[6] Its former boathouse at the Dover Western Docks has been designated a Grade II listed building, along with the adjacent clock tower.[7]

First closure

From its inception until the First World War, the Dover station operated using rowing and sailing lifeboats. In September 1914, following the outbreak of war, the station was forced to close due to difficulties manning the lifeboat safely. The station re-opened in 1919, with a new steam lifeboat called James Stevens No. 3. Built in 1898 this single propeller lifeboat, one of only six steam driven lifeboats, was designed to be ready to steam immediately, at all times. However, the lifeboat still took at least 20 minutes to get up to steam and required a large technical crew to keep her fired up. It was launched only five times before the station was closed again in 1922.[8]

Camber (East Docks) station

With increased shipping and the advent of air traffic, the RNLI realised that a lifeboat station in Dover would again be required,[8] and in 1929 a new boathouse was opened in the Eastern Docks at Camber.[9] The re-opened station was supplied with a new faster lifeboat. The Sir William Hillary (ON 725),[8] named after the founder of the RNLI, arrived on station in 1930 and was powered by twin 375 horsepower petrol engines with a top speed of 17.25 Knots. This was almost twice the speed of the rest of the RNLI’s fleet of lifeboats, most of which were capable of 9 Knots.[8] The Dover station operated from this location until the Second World War. At the time of the Dunkirk evacuation the Sir William Hillary was away having a refit and overhaul. The relief lifeboat Agnes Cross (ON 663) remained at Dover until 1941, when the station closed again for the duration of the War.[5]

Post-War re-opening

In 1947 the Dover station began operations again, re-locating to the former Motor Torpedo Boat pens in the East Docks area.[8] The rapid expansion of the Dover ferry terminal in the 1980s saw the lifeboat station move again, to the Tug Haven situated in the inner harbour across from the Cross Wall Quay.

1990s to present

Cross Wall Quay (2000–2024)

In the late 1990s, work began on a new station built on Cross Wall Quay. Construction was completed in 2000 and the station began operating in August 2001.

The station moved from Crosswall Quay to Marina Curve of Dover's Western Docks where it will be quicker to launch. The building was designed by Studio 4 architects to be as environmentally friendly as possible with a Glulam timber-frame, ground source heating and solar panels. The move was announced in 2022 and construction started in February 2023. It was completed early the following year. The official opening was on 22 June 2024.[10][11]

The current lifeboat is a Severn-class lifeboat called City of London II (ON 1220) which has been on station since 1997 and is the fifteenth lifeboat to be stationed at Dover.

Station honours

The following are awards made at Dover[12][13]

Major Henry Scott, Chairman of the Dover Branch - 1882
James Woodgate, Coxswain - 1891
James Woodgate, Coxswain - 1893 (Second-Service clasp)
Colin H Bryant, Coxswain - 1940
Arthur Liddon, Coxswain Mechanic - 1976
Roy Couzens, Acting Coxswain -1988
Sidney T Hills, Second Coxswain - 1940
Wilfred L Cook, Mechanic - 1940
Christian R T Stock, Second Mechanic - 1940
Lt Richard Walker, RNR, Assistant King’s Harbour Master - 1940
John Walker, Coxswain - 1951
John Walker, Coxswain - 1956 (Second-Service Clasp)
Anthony George Hawkins, Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1976
Michael Abbott, Acting Assistant Mechanic and Emergency Coxswain - 1988
Geoffrey Buckland, crew member - 1988
Dominic McHugh, crew member - 1988
Christopher Ryan, crew member - 1988
Robert Bruce, crew member - 1988
Eric Tanner , crew member - 1988
  • The Maud Smith Award 1987
    (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)
Roy Couzens, Acting Coxswain - 1988
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Richard John Hawkins, Second Assistant Mechanic - 1976
John James Smith, crew member - 1976
Gordon David, crew member - 1976
Arthur Liddon, Coxswain Mechanic - 1977
Anthony G Hawkins, Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1977
Anthony G Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1981
Anthony G Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1992
David Pascall, crew member - 1992
Rodney Goldsack, crew member - 1992
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
G V James, crew member - 1979
Anthony G Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1982
Dover Lifeboat Crew - 1982
Anthony G Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1985
Dover Lifeboat Crew and Shore helpers - 1985
The crews of the motor launches Darg, Denise and of the tug Dextrous - 1985
Anthony G Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1993
  • A Special Certificate on Vellum
Dr Sotiris Mantoudis - 1977
Dr Peter Welch, honorary medical adviser - 1981
  • Plaque awarded by The Seafarers International Union in New York
Dover Lifeboat Station - 1952
  • Testimonials by the Royal Humane Society
Henry Pegg, Motor Mechanic - 1954
W Wilfred Cook, a travelling mechanic of the Institution - 1954
  • A letter of commendation
Dover Lifeboat Station - 1966
  • A Letter of Appreciation signed by the Director
The Coxswain and crew - 1979
Anthony George Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1998[14]

Dover lifeboats

Operated by Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution

In service Class Length Oars Comments
1837–1853 Self-righting 37 ft (11 m) 12
1853–1857 Self-righting 28 ft (8.5 m) 6 Built by Mr. T. C. Clarkson of London, later in service with Sunderland Seamen's Association.[15]

Operated by Royal National Lifeboat Institution

At Dover ON Op. No. Name Class Comments
1858–1864 – – — Self-righting 28 ft (8.5 m), 6-oar boat.[16]
1864–1878 – – Royal Wiltshire Self-righting 35 ft (11 m), 10-oar boat.[16]
1878–1888 – – Henry William Pickersgill Self-righting 35 ft (11 m) boat.[16]
1888–1901 197 – Lewis Morice Self-righting 37 ft (11 m), 12-oar boat.[17]
1901–1914 464 – Mary Hamer Hoyle Self-righting 37 ft (11 m), 12-oar boat. Left when the station was closed due to World War I.[18]
1919–1922 420 – James Stevens No. 3 Steam Station closed 1922–1930.[19]
1930–1940 725 – Sir William Hillary Fast Afloat 60 ft (18 m) lifeboat. Assigned to the Admiralty in World War II.[20]
1940–1941 663 – Agnes Cross Norfolk and Suffolk Station closed 1941–1947 due to World War II.[21]
1947–1949 694 – J.B. Proudfoot Watson Built for Cromer in 1924 where it was named H.F. Bailey.[22]
1949–1967 860 – Southern Africa Barnett [23]
1967–1979 1003 44-004 Faithful Forester Waveney Sold for lifeboat service in Australia.[24]
1979–1997 1031 50-001 Rotary Service Thames [25]
1997– 1220 17-09 City of London II Severn [26]
  • 17-09 City of London II
    17-09 City of London II

See also

References

  1. ^ Historic England, "Clock tower and former lifeboat station (1393606)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 13 May 2024
  2. ^ "Dover Lifeboat Station". Official Dover RNLI website. RNLI. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  3. ^ OS Explorer Map 138 – Dover, Folkestone & Hythe.Published: Ordnance Survey – Southampton. ISBN 978 0 319 2351 26.
  4. ^ Heroes All! – The story of the RNLI. Author: Beilby, Alec. Publisher: 1992, Patrick Stephens Ltd – Part of the Haynes Publishing Group.Work: Chapter 18 – The Lifeboat Stations – Part 2 The Kent Stations, Dover, Pages 164. ISBN 1 85260 419 0
  5. ^ a b "Dover Lifeboat Station: History". Official Dover RNLI website. RNLI. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  6. ^ Reference to the Date of Formation of the Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution publisher:The Dover Society retrieved 17 September 2013
  7. ^ List Entry – Clock Tower and Former Boat House retrieved 17 September 2013
  8. ^ a b c d e Mayday Mayday – The History of Coastal Rescue in Britain and Ireland. Authors;Farrington, Karen – Constable, Nick.Publisher: Collins 2011. Work: Chapter: 4 – South, page: 99 – Dover Lifeboat Station. ISBN 978 0 00 744338 3
  9. ^ "Eastern Docks – to 1945". Reference to the re-opening of the lifeboat station at Camber in 1929. Dover Historian web site. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  10. ^ Cobb, Nicholas (14 June 2023). "Dover RNLI to Move to New Lifeboat Station in December 2023". RNLI. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Dover's new sustainable lifeboat station showcased in opening ceremony". RNLI. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Dover's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0-907605-89-3.
  14. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  15. ^ Morris, Jeff (December 1999). Sunderland Lifeboats (1800–2000). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 4.
  16. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021 (2021 ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–65.
  17. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 10–111.
  18. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 20–21.
  19. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 18–19.
  20. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 32–33.
  21. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 28–29.
  22. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 30–31.
  23. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 38–39.
  24. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 44–45.
  25. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 46–47.
  26. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 54–55.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dover Lifeboat Station.
Retrieved from "https://mdwiki.org/wiki/Dover_Lifeboat_Station"