# New Romney Lifeboat Station

New Romney Lifeboat Station was located across the northern end of Marine Parade (now Coast Road), in-between St Andrew's Road and the Coastguard Station, at Littlestone-on-Sea, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east of New Romney town, on the southern Kent coast.
A lifeboat station was first established here in 1871 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
New Romney lifeboat station was closed in 1928.

## History

In 1861, the Dungeness lifeboat was relocated to Littlestone-on-Sea, in response to the higher number of wrecks happening there. In a severe gale of 6 January 1867, the French lugger Courrier, on passage from Dunkerque to Dieppe, ran aground off Dymchurch. Onlooker Rev. Charles Cobb waded out into the sea, and rescued one man, but three of the crew were lost. In the rough conditions, the 6-oared Dungeness lifeboat Providence had been unable to reach the wreck.
RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats Capt. John Ward visited the station on 11 January to investigate the incident, and concluded that a more powerful lifeboat was required; in other words, one with more oars, more manpower.
Funds for a new boat and boathouse had been provided from a gift of £700 from Mrs, Jane Hatton, in memory of her late husband, Dr. John Hatton.
In July 1871, a new 32-foot 10-oared self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was transported to their home in Belvedere, Kent, to be exhibited there, and from there it was transported free of charge by rail, to Ashford, Kent, by the South Eastern Railway Company. It was then conveyed to Littlestone-on-Sea, where a new boathouse, costing £266-1s-0d, had been constructed at the end of Marine Parade, next to the coastguard station. After a service of dedication by Rev. R. Smith, vicar of New Romney, the boat was named Dr. Hatton.
On 22 January 1873, while at anchor in thick fog 3 miles (4.8 km) off Dungeness, the full-rigged ship Northfleet was rammed by the Murillo. 293 lives were lost. After a careful review by the RNLI, it was decided to once again place a lifeboat at Dungeness. As a result, the station at Littlestone-on Sea would be renamed New Romney Lifeboat Station in 1874.
New Romney lifeboat Dr. Hatton would rescue 10 men from the barque Alliance, on passage from London to Dieppe on 14 December 1874, when she was driven ashore. On 10 April 1876, the New Romney lifeboat was called to the aid of the Dutch schooner Tobina, which had run aground at Roar Bank, with seven men aboard. Two men were washed overboard, but after a difficult launch into very poor conditions, excellent seamanship brought the lifeboat to the vessel, and the remaining 5 crewmen were rescued. In recognition of this rescue, and 8 years service, Coxswain Michael Murphy, was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.
A new lifeboat was placed at New Romney in 1884. This would be the 34-foot 3in Self-righting lifeboat Sandal Magna (ON 36), built by Woolfe of Shadwell. She was launched to the aid of the Windermere of Newcastle upon Tyne, on passage from London to Yangon (formerly Rangoon), when she was driven ashore at New Romney. All 13 crew were rescued.
In a severe storm on 9 March 1891, the Sandal Magna was launched to the aid of two vessels, the Echo, and the Hugh Barclay, both of Fleetwood, in difficulties off Littlestone. It had taken three attempts to get the boat into the water before she finally got away, such were the conditions, but before the vessels were reached, the lifeboat would be capsized, not once, but three times, finally being washed back on to the beach. Three lifeboatmen were lost, as were both crews of the Echo, and the Hugh Barclay.
New Romney lifeboat James Stevens No. 11 (ON 438) was launched on 21 March 1904 to the aid of the schooner Antje of Geestemunde, which had been driven ashore. Despite difficult conditions, the lifeboat was brought alongside, and rescued the five man crew.
In 1912, the last New Romney lifeboat would be the 35-foot Harry Wright Russell (ON 630), provided from the legacy of the Rev. H. W. Russell of Northfield, Kent. Launched only four times over the next 16 years, no saved lives would be recorded.
New Romney Lifeboat Station was closed on 19 November 1928. The records show 56 launches and 72 lives saved, over a period of 57 years operation. The boathouse would be demolished in 1940 under 'Military Defence Orders'.

## Station honours

The following are awards made at New Romney.
* RNLI Silver Medal
       Chief Boatman Michael Murphy, H.M. Coastguard, Coxswain - 1875
       William Henry Taylor, Labourer - 1891
       Edward Standing, Labourer - 1891
* Silver Medal, awarded by The King of Sweden
       Each of the crew of the New Romney Lifeboat Sandal Magna (ON 36) - 1891

## Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving New Romney lifeboat.
* Lost while assisting the crew, aboard the barque Mary Annway of Liverpool when it capsized with the loss of all hands, 12 December 1874
       Thomas Brice
* On service to the schooners Echo and Hugh Barclay on 9 March 1891
       Samuel Hart
       William O'Ryan
       Thomas Sullivan

## New Romney lifeboats

| ON | Name | In service | Class |
| Pre-558 | Dr. Hatton | 1874–1884 | 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 36 | Sandal Magna | 1884–1900 | 34-foot 3in Self-righting (P&S) |
| 438 | James Stevens No. 11 | 1900–1912 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 630 | Harry Wright Russell | 1912–1928 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.