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.
The station currently operates a Inshore lifeboat, the Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.51) (B-837), on station since 2009.
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.
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.
With the previous lifeboats usually towed to the scene of shipwreck by a steamer, it was decided to provide the most stable lifeboat suited to being towed. An unusual lifeboat costing £230, designed by the late H. Richardson, and constructed of the best Charcoal iron, was commissioned from J. Hamilton Jr., of the Windsor Ironworks, Liverpool, who gave up all profits on its manufacture.
On 24 January 1863, large crowds watched the lifeboat as she was drawn through the streets of Liverpool in grand procession, followed by the mayor and other dignitaries, men from the military and Naval reserve, accompanied by the music of various bands, and under the direction of Capt. H. T. Richardson, formerly of the Dragoon Guards, son of the inventor of this type of life-boat. The boat was then named Rescue, and launched on demonstration.
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.
By 1867, a boathouse had been constructed at a cost of £208, sited near the Pier at the end of Egerton Street.
On the morning of 27 September 1875, both the RNLI New Brighton lifeboat and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board lifeboat from Liverpool, were called to the aid of the ship Ellen Southard of Richmond, Maine, aground on Taylor's Bank. Arriving first, the Liverpool lifeboat rescued 17 people, but was then capsized, pitching everyone into the water. The New Brighton quickly picked up 20 people, but 11 were lost, including the Ship's Captain and wife, the local pilot, and 2 lifeboat crew. Each of the New Brighton crew, and the surviving crew of the Liverpool lifeboat, were subsequently awarded a gold Lifesaving Medal by the United States government for their gallantry.
In 1893, New Brighton received the Duke of Northumberland (ON 231), transferred from 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 type of technology was again utilised by the RNLI, in the present day 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.
The 60-foot lifeboat William and Kate Johnston (ON 682), replacement for Queen, was assigned to be the No.1 station boat in 1938.
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 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 . With the Atlantic-class boat having to be stored from the station until a new boathouse was built, a lifeboat was also placed on service for 18 months.
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 in 2016.
Notable rescues The New Brighton lifeboat William and Kate Johnston (ON 682) was launched at 07:45 on 24 November 1928, into violent seas and gale force winds, gusting at times up to , to the French steamer Emile Delmas of La Rochelle, dragging her anchors WNW of the Bar Lightship. With incredible seamanship and skill in extremely difficult conditions, Coxswain Robinson brought the lifeboat alongside, and 23 crew were rescued. The Captain refused to leave until after the vessel ran aground, by which time the lifeboat had been damaged.
As the lifeboat made for home, a huge wave washed over the lifeboat, flooding the engine room, and two crew, George Carmody and Samuel Jones, were washed overboard, along with the Chief Engineer of the Emile Delmas. The Chief Engineer was lost, but the two lifeboat men regained the boat, which then limped back to New Brighton, arriving after a service lasting six hours. Silver and bronze gallantry medals were awarded by the RNLI. The owners of the Emile Delmas gifted 10,000 French francs to New Brighton Lifeboat Station, and the French government awarded gold medals to Coxswain George Robinson, and to the two lifeboat men washed overboard.
Station honours The following are awards made at New Brighton:
Gold Medal, awarded by the United States 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 James Carmody, crew member – 1928 Samuel J. Jones, crew member – 1928
RNIPLS Silver Medal Peter Cropper, Coxswain, Liverpool Lifeboat – 1851 Thomas Evans, Coxswain, Magazine Lifeboat – 1851 Joseph Formby, Coxswain, Formby Lifeboat – 1851
RNLI Silver Medal 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
RNLI Bronze Medal 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 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
Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Philip Gerald Hockey, Lifeboat Press Officer – 2007QBH Anthony Joseph Jones – 2026NYH
Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving at New Brighton:
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 (30)
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) Magazines No. 1 Name Built Class Comments 1827 1827−1830 26-foot 8in Liverpool x Liverpool-class non-self-righting lifeboat, funded from Harbour Dues.Transferred to Point of Air No. 1. 1826 1830−1844 30-foot Liverpool x (12-oared) Liverpool-class non-self-righting lifeboat, funded from Harbour Dues.Previously at Point of Air No. 1.
Magazines No. 2 Name Built Class Comments 1839 1839−1863 30-foot Liverpool x (10-oared) Liverpool-class non-self-righting lifeboat, funded from Harbour Dues, built by Thomas Costain of Liverpool, costing £180.Broken up in 1863.
New Brighton lifeboats (RNLI) New Brighton / New Brighton (No.1) Station ON Name Built Class Comments Rescue 1862 1863−1866 42-foot Tubular (P&S) Removed from service November 1866 for rebuild. Renamed Willie and Arthur and returned in 1867. Pre-380 Latimer 1860 1866−1867 34-foot 6in Peake self-righting (P&S) Modified x (12-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by The Duke of Northumberland, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £144.Relief lifeboat, previously at Willie and Arthur 1862 1867−1876 40-foot 3in Tubular 71 Willie and Arthur 1876 1876−1890 45-foot Tubular (P&S) Condemned in 1890. 221 Henry Richardson 1888 1890−18921893–1898 43-foot Tubular (P&S) Previously New Brighton No.2. New Brighton No. 1 from 1893. 414 Henry Richardson 1898 1898−1919 637 Staughton 1915 1919−1930 40-foot Watson (P&S) 550 Anne Miles 1905 1930−1936 43-foot Watson (P&S) 535 Reserve No.7E 1904 1936−1938 43-foot Watson (P&S) 682 William and Kate Johnston 1923 1938−1950 60-foot Barnett Previously New Brighton No.2. 883 1950 1950−1973 52-foot Barnett (Mk. I) All-weather lifeboat replaced with a Inshore lifeboat, 1973 Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.