Seahouses Lifeboat Station
(formerly North Sunderland)
LocationSeahouses Lifeboat Station
AddressSeafield Road
Location citySeahouses, Northumberland, NE68 7SH
Location countryUK
Coordinates55°34′58.4″N 1°39′14.4″W
Former namesNorth Sunderland Lifeboat Station
Opened date
  • 1832 Crewe Trustees
  • 1859 RNLI
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
WebsiteSeahouses RNLI Lifeboat Station

Seahouses Lifeboat Station is located in Seahouses, a harbour village approximately 20 miles (32 km) south-east of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the county of Northumberland.

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Crewe Trustees in 1832. The station was taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1859. Originally known as North Sunderland Lifeboat Station, the name was formally changed to Seahouses Lifeboat Station in 1999.[1]

The station currently operates a All-weather lifeboat 13-36 John and Elizabeth Allan (ON 1343), and a Inshore lifeboat Grace Darling (D-828).[2]

History

When a harbour was created near the village of North Sunderland in Northumberland, it gradually developed to become the separate village of Seahouses. Over the years, the two villages grew in size, and have now effectively merged.[3]

In 1832, three lifeboats were placed on public display at Newcastle Quay. The first was a new lifeboat for a new station at , established by the Crewe Trustees, a charitable organisation founded by Nathaniel Crewe, Bishop of Durham in 1704, and part of the Newcastle and District Shipwreck Association (NSA) since 1824.[4] A stone-built boathouse was constructed, and the lifeboat was supplied by Mr E. Robson of South Shields [5][6][7]

There are no specific records of any service by this lifeboat. In 1838, the lifeboat was transferred to , with North Sunderland receiving with the 27-foot lifeboat, designed by Capt. John Foulerton, RN, built by Shore, and previously stationed on Holy Island.[8][9]

On 7 September 1838, the paddle steamer Forfarshire ran aground on the Farne Island Rocks and broke in two. Much is available to read of the subsequent heroism of Grace Darling and her father William Darling. The North Sunderland lifeboat did not launch to the wreck, the coxswain instead opting for a small coble that he believed more suited to effect a rescue around the rocks. One of the seven crew was William Darling, brother of Grace. They battled to arrive at the wreck, only to find the rescue had been completed, but unable to return home due to the weather, they then spent 2 days seeking shelter in a disused building, all other 'accommodation' at the Farne Island Lighthouse being full.[10]

When the 1838 lifeboat was deemed unfit for service in 1851, an order was placed with Forrestt of Limehouse, London for a 30-foot 'Self-righting', similar in design to the James Beeching lifeboat, which had won the prize awarded by the president of the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland.[10]

In 1859, the secretary of the Crewe Trustees requested that the RNLI take over the management of the North Sunderland Lifeboat Station, for which the trustees would give a grant of £30 per annum to the RNLI. The existing 30-foot lifeboat was never launched on service for the RNLI, who in 1865 decided to replace it. A 33-foot 10-oared self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, (one using oars and sail), was built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £274-19s-3d, and a new launch carriage cost a further £102-11s-0d. The lifeboat and carriage were transported to North Sunderland free of charge by the Great Northern and North Eastern railway companies. At a ceremony on 12 June, the boat was named Joseph Anstice by the donor, Mrs Anstice of Tynemouth.[10]

Thomas Pringle retired in May 1886 after serving as Coxswain for 21 years. As was common practice, he was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal in recognition of his many service calls. Only 17 months later, he would drown in a boating accident on 6 October 1887.[11]

North Sunderland would receive their first motor-powered lifeboat in 1936, the non-self-righting lifeboat, with a 35 hp petrol engine, delivering a speed of 7.47 knots. A new boathouse nearer the harbour was constructed. Previously, P&S lifeboats had cost a few hundred pounds. Costing £3,447, the cost was met from the combined funds of three legacies, and the boat was in effect given three names, The William and James, the Ridge Matthews, and the Abigail Gardiner, each chosen by the donor. At a ceremony on 5 September 1936, the boat was formally named W.R.A. (ON 781) by Helen Percy, Duchess of Northumberland. Each name was inscribed on a plaque inside the boat.[12][10]

A Inshore lifeboat would be stationed at North Sunderland in 1964. The rise in leisure activity at the coast demanded a quick response vessel, and these boats would quickly show their value. In the first 35 years on station to 1999, the inshore boats would launch just over 300 times, saving 85 lives.[10]

In 1991, a new boathouse was constructed to house the lifeboat 12-16 Grace Darling (ON 1173) and Talus launch tractor, with improved crew facilities, and storage for the .[1]

On 9 April 1999, on the request of station personnel, the RNLI agreed that North Sunderland station be formally renamed Seahouses Lifeboat Station with immediate effect.[1]

For two years, the station had the unusual occurrence of having two lifeboats with the same name, the new also being named Grace Darling (D-828) in 2018.[13]

After 29 years on station, lifeboat 12-16 Grace Darling (ON 1173) was retired in 2020, and sold to the ADES Uruguay lifeboat service. She was renamed ADES 28 Grace Darling, based in Colonia del Sacramento. She would be replaced by 13-36 John and Elizabeth Allan (ON 1343), a 25 knot Water-jet powered lifeboat, costing over £2 million. The boat was funded by the late professor James Allan, and named after his parents.[1][14][15]

Station honours

The following are awards made at North Sunderland / Seahouses.[1][11]

Lt. John Brunton, RN., H.M. Coastguard, Newton-by-the-Sea – 1828
William Darling, Lighthouse Keeper – 1838
Grace Horsley Darling – 1838
Grace Horsley Darling – 1838
  • Silver Medal, awarded by the Edinburgh and Leith Humane Society
Grace Horsley Darling – 1838
William Darling, Lighthouse Keeper – 1838
Grace Horsley Darling – 1838
John T. Knight, Boatman, H.M. Coastguard, North Sunderland – 1853
Thomas Pringle, Coxswain – 1886
James Robson, Coxswain – 1908
James Robson, Coxswain – 1909
Thomas Dawson, Coxswain – 1959
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Rev. F. R. Simpson, Honorary Secretary – 1876
Thomas Hall and the crew of the Golden Horn – 1932
George Dawson, Coxswain – 1943
Stephen Priestley, Helm – 1996
  • Vellum Service Certificate
Darren Shell – 1996
Thomas Douglas Dawson, Coxswain – 1971QBH[16]
Robert Heslop Reay - Honorary Secretary – 1991[17]
Robert Charles Dawson Douglas, Coxswain – 1992[18]

North Sunderland / Seahouses lifeboats and tractors

Crewe Trustees lifeboats

ON[a]NameBuiltOn station[19]ClassComments
–Unnamed18321832–1838Non-self-righting[Note 1][5]
Pre-127Unnamed18271838–185127-foot Palmer[Note 2][20]
Previously at .
Pre-255Unnamed18521852–186530-foot Self-righting (P&S)[Note 3]
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

ON[a]NameBuiltOn station[19]ClassComments
Pre-428Joseph Anstice18651865–188433-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S)[Note 4]
2Thomas Bewick18841884–190634-foot Self-righting (P&S)[Note 5]
557Forster Fawcett19061906–192535-foot Self-righting (P&S)[Note 6]
597Lizzie Porter19091925–193635-foot Self-righting (P&S)[Note 7]
Previously at .
Now part of the RNLI Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard.

All-weather lifeboats

ON[a]Op. No.[b]NameBuiltOn station[19]ClassComments
781–W. R. A.19361936–1954
927–Grace Darling19541954–1967Now part of the RNLI Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard.
99137-20Edward and Mary Lester19671967–1989
98037-13William Henry and Mary King19641989–1990Previously at and
98237-15Ernest Tom Neathercoat19651990–1991Previously at
117312-16Grace Darling19911991–2020Sold to ADES Uruguay, renamed ADES 28 Grace Darling
134313-37John and Elizabeth Allan20192020–[21]

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No.[b]NameOn station[22]ClassComments
D-37Unnamed1964
D-53Unnamed1965
D-6Unnamed1966
D-37Unnamed1967
D-157Unnamed1968–1980
D-271Unnamed1980–1988
D-377Unnamed1988–1997
D-529Martin John and Ann1997–2008
D-686Peter Downes2008–2018
D-828Grace Darling2018–

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b]Reg. No.TypeOn station[23]Comments
T37GGF 497Case L1954–1961
T48KGP 853Case LA1961–1963
T7012 GXDCase 1000D1963–1972
T71519 GYMCase 1000D1972–1980
T74136 HLCCase 1000D1980–1986
T97C282 LNTTalus MB-H Crawler1986–1998
T98B688 HUJTalus MB-H Crawler1998–2006
T117L784 JNTTalus MB-H Crawler2006–2021
SC-T19HF69 CXVSLARS (SC Innovation)2020–David Cooper
  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

Notes

  1. ^ Non-self-righting lifeboat, built by E. Robson of South Shields.
  2. ^ 27-foot x 6-foot (6-oared) Palmer-class non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Shore of Blackwall, London, modified to Palmer design by Harton of Limehouse, London, costing £95 when new.
  3. ^ 30-foot x 7-foot 4in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the Crewe Trustees, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £150.
  4. ^ 33-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mrs Anstice of Tynemouth, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £275.
  5. ^ 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Miss I. Bewick of Gateshead, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £363.
  6. ^ 35-foot x 8-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Miss T. C. Fawcett of Maidenhead, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £810.
  7. ^ 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Miss E. Porter of Halifax, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £823 when new.

References

  1. ^ "Seahouses' station history". RNLI. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie & Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 71–99.
  3. ^ "North Sunderland Harbour". North Sunderland Harbour. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Lord Crewe". Lord Crewe's Charity. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Mr. E. Robson". Newcastle Chronicle. 29 September 1832.
  6. ^ "Postscript". Newcastle Chronicle. 20 October 1832.
  7. ^ "Interesting Exhibition of Lifeboats". Leamington Spa Courier. 27 October 1832.
  8. ^ "Local Intelligence". Northern Liberator. 25 May 1839.
  9. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 2–3.
  10. ^ Morris, Jeff (April 1999). The History of the Seahouses Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–42.
  11. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0-907605-89-3.
  12. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 48–49.
  13. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 99.
  14. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 66–67.
  15. ^ Clayton, Ian (13 January 2021). "Seahouses lifeboat crew bid farewell to "Grace Darling"". RNLI. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  18. ^ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  19. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 2–71.
  20. ^ Farr, Graham (1975). George Palmer's Life-Boats 1828–47. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–26. ISBN 0905033019.
  21. ^ Clayton, Ian (18 March 2023). "Seahouses RNLI's Shannon class lifeboat naming ceremony". RNLI. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  22. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 86–99.
  23. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 104–106, 113.