Liverpool-class P&S lifeboat

RNLB J C Madge (ON 536) Liverpool P&S class
Class overview
Builders
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
In service1895–1948
Completed38
Retired38
General characteristics
TypePulling and sailing lifeboats
Length35 ft (11 m) to 41 ft (12 m)
Beam9 ft (2.7 m) to 11 ft (3.4 m)
PropulsionOars and Sails

The Liverpool-class P&S lifeboats were a series of 38 non-self-righting lifeboats commissioned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) between 1895 and 1916, based on the "Liverpool" lifeboats operated by the Liverpool Dock Trustees, between 1775 and 1892. They were 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) types (i.e. powered by oars and sails), not to be confused with the later single or twin-engined Liverpool-class motor lifeboats.

History

The early Liverpool-class lifeboats were funded and operated mostly by the Liverpool Dock Trustees, later to become the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, at their stations around the River Mersey: Formby, Southport, Magazines, Hoylake, Point of Air, Hilbre Island, and Liverpool. 24 lifeboats were constructed, primarily by Thomas Costain of Liverpool, with two being adopted by the RNLI, listed below.[1]

Description

The Liverpool-class P&S lifeboats were of the non-self-righting type, primarily 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) in length, rowing 12 oars. Typically they were launched from carriages into the sea. The first five were made by various manufacturers, but then Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London were commissioned to produce the next 31.[1]

The first boat was placed on service was the Admiral Briggs (ON 383) at Hilbre Island in 1895. The last boat to be withdrawn from service was the William Cantrell Ashley (ON 578), which operated at New Quay for 41 years, between 1907 and 1948.[2]

Fleet

Early Type

ON[a] Name Built In service[2] Station Notes[2][3]
419 Unnamed 1870 1870–1894 Point of Air [Note 1]
Modified by the RNLI in 1894, before returning to service. Sold and broken up, 1899.
1896–1898 Point of Ayr (No.2)
377 Unnamed 1892 1892–1894 Hoylake [Note 2] Renamed Coard William Squarey in 1894.
377 Coard William Squarey 1892 1894–1906 Hoylake Condemned and Sold, 1906.

RNLI Liverpool P&S lifeboats

Lifeboats from (ON 441) to (ON 636) built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with (ON 636) completed by the RNLI following the bankruptcy of Thames Ironworks.

ON[a] Name Built In service[4] Station Notes[4][1]
383 Admiral Briggs 1895 1895–1914 Hilbre Island [Note 3] Condemned and sold, 1914
380 H. G. Powell 1895 1895–1915 Point of Ayr [Note 4] Condemned 1916, placed on display at Colwyn Bay until 1947.
381 John and Henrietta 1895 1896–1919 Formby [Note 5] Condemned and sold, 1919.
413 James Stevens No.2 1898 1898–1912 Campbeltown [Note 6] Sold 1924.
Reserve No.9A 1912–1914 Relief fleet
1914–1924 Hilbre Island
425 James Stevens No. 8 1899 1899–1913 Ardrossan [Note 7] Sold 1920.
Reserve No.9B 1913–1916 Wells-next-the-Sea
1916–1920 Relief fleet
441 Isabella 1900 1900–1932 Buckhaven [Note 8] Sold 1932.
443 William Arthur Millward 1900 1901–1931 Dunbar [Note 9] Sold 1931.
451 James Stevens No. 17 1900 1900–1922 Porthoustock [Note 10] Sold 1922.
Renamed Salvor II. Last reported at Falmouth, 1922.
452 James Stevens No. 18 1901 1901–1931 Girvan [Note 11] Sold 1931.
458 Constance Melanie 1901 1901–1934 Coverack [Note 12] Sold 1934.
Renamed Grace Darling II. Lost at Brancaster in 1966.
460 John Groome 1901 1901–1914 Killough (Rossglass) [Note 13] Sold 1934.
Renamed Cloud, later Flying Cloud. Reported as a yacht at Portree in the 1930s. Believed broken up at Mochdre, August 2012.
Reserve No.9C 1915–1916 Relief fleet
1916–1923 Point of Ayr
1923–1925 Storage
461 Chapman 1901 1901–1920 Groomsport [Note 14] Sold 1939.
Renamed Harbinger, later Peggy (LR 41). Restored and displayed as Chapman at Hoylake Lifeboat Museum until 2015. On display at the Old Lifeboat House, Lytham, December 2025.[5]
Reserve No.9B 1920–1924 Relief fleet
Chapman 1924–1938 Hilbre Island
477 George Leicester 1901 1901–1927 Minehead [Note 15] Sold 1927.
493 William Maynard 1902 1903–1930 Skerries [Note 16] Sold 1931.
494 Hopwood 1902 1902–1924 Portrush [Note 17] Sold 1930.
Renamed Aurora, later Gladrian, last report as a Yacht on the River Thames at Chelsea, 1977
Reserve No.9F 1924–1927 Relief fleet
1927–1930 Minehead
495 Louisa Heartwell 1902 1902–1923 Cromer [Note 18] Sold 1931.
Renamed Waiora. Under restoration as Louisa Heartwell at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025.[6][7]
1923–1931 Cromer No.2
498 Philip Beach 1902 1902–1930 Burnham-on-Sea [Note 19] Sold 1930.
Renamed Burnlibo. Last seen at Liverpool, 1957.
511 Olive 1903 1903–1921 Eastbourne [Note 20] Sold 1922.
Renamed Ocean King. Believed broken up in 1950.
514 Alexandra 1903 1903–1930 Hope Cove [Note 21] Sold 1934.
Converted to be a holiday home, Isle of Seil, December 2025.
1931–1934 Cromer No.2
516 Charles Deere James 1903 1904–1909 St Agnes [Note 22] Sold 1927.
Renamed Silver Cloud. Destroyed in Cherbourg Harbour, 1950.
Reserve No.9 1909–1913 Relief fleet
1913–1919 Humber
1919–1924 Relief fleet
1924–1925 Winterton No.2
1925–1927 Relief fleet
524 William and Emma 1904 1904–1916 Salcombe [Note 23]
Capsized and wrecked on service with the loss of 13 crew, 27 October 1916.[8][9]
526 Charles Burton 1904 1904–1927 Grimsby [Note 24] Sold 1942.
Renamed Silver Queen, later Freelance. Broken up at Peel, Isle of Man, February 2018.
Reserve No. 9C 1927–1929 Relief fleet
Charles Burton 1929–1941 Caister
536 J C Madge 1904 1904–1936 Sheringham [Note 25] Sold 1936.
On display at The Mo Sheringham Museum, December 2025.[10]
542 John Rowson Lingard 1905 1905–1920 Mablethorpe [Note 26] Sold 1937.
Renamed Orion. Stored for restoration since 2012 at Yonne (river), Migennes, France, December 2024.
Reserve No. 9D 1921–1930 Relief fleet
John Rowson Lingard 1930–1937 Blackpool
545 Edward Z. Dresden 1905 1905–1929 Aldeburgh No.2 [Note 27] Sold 1929.
Renamed Cormorant, Aldeburgh, later Ceol Mara. Last reported at Ardrishaig, Argyll & Bute, 1974.[11]
553 John 1906 1906–1931 Cloughey [Note 28] Sold 1929.
1932–1937 Newcastle
554 Samuel Lewis 1906 1906–1932 Skegness [Note 29] Sold 1932.
Renamed Grace Darling I, last reported at Arbroath, 1970s.
555 Hannah Fawsett Bennett 1906 1906–1931 Hoylake [Note 30] Sold 1936.
Last reported at South Benfleet, 1937.
1931–1936 Relief fleet
569 Sarah Kay 1906 1907–1943 Skateraw [Note 31] Sold 1943.
Renamed Grace Darling III. Lost at Skegness, 1966
578 William Cantrell Ashley 1907 1907–1948 New Quay [Note 32]
Given to Outward Bound School, Aberdyfi in 1949, Renamed T.R.G.S.. Currently in storage as William Cantrell Ashley at the National Collections Centre, Nantgarw awaiting restoration / display, December 2025.
586 Caroline 1908 1908–1935 Blakeney [Note 33] Sold 1935.
Renamed Blakeney Dawn. Last reported at Barrow upon Soar, 1960, now believed broken up.
587 James Scarlett 1908 1908–1925 St Annes [Note 34]
Display / Demonstration boat at St Annes (1925–1928).
Sold 1928. Renamed Katherine, later Nymphea. Last reported at Kings Lynn, 1969.
598 Brother and Sister 1909 1909–1932 Llanddulas [Note 35] Sold 1932.
604 Janet Hoyle 1909 1910–1932 Ayr [Note 36] Sold 1935.
Broken up at Hickmans boatyard, Brightlingsea, December 2016.
626 Arthur Lionel 1912 1912–1929 St Peter Port [Note 37] Sold 1939.
Renamed Dorian Rose, later John Briscoe. Last reported at Fishguard, August 1973
1930–1939 Minehead
636 James and John Young 1913 1913–1930 Ardrossan [Note 38] Sold 1939.
Renamed Alma of Southampton. Displayed as James and John Young at the EISCA collection, Eyemouth. Sold 2017, on display since 2018 as an upturned hull, outside the People's Palace, Glasgow, December 2025.
1930–1939 Relief fleet
661 Mary Stanford 1916 1916–1928 Rye Harbour (Winchelsea) [Note 39]
Capsized on service, with the loss of all 17 crew. 15 November 1928. Broken up, 1929.[12][13]
665 Baltic 1916 1916–1936 Wells-next-the-Sea [Note 40] Sold 1943.
Renamed Fidelis, Cormorant and Marvin. Broken up as Baltic, at Smiths Quay, River Itchen, Southampton, September 2006.[14]
1936–1940 Aldeburgh No.2
1940–1943 Relief fleet
  1. ^ a b ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m) x 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) (12-oared) Liverpool-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, built by Thomas Costain of Liverpool, costing £250.
  2. ^ 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m) x 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) (12-oared) Liverpool-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, built by Charles Howson & Co. of Liverpool, costing £280.
  3. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Maj.-Gen. W. L. Briggs, CB, built by Rutherford & Co. of Birkenhead, costing £453.
  4. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr H. G. Powell of Wolverhampton, built by Waterman of Cremyll, costing £459.
  5. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs H. Bell of London, built by Waterman of Cremyll, costing £459.
  6. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Stevens of Birmingham, built by Reynolds of Lowestoft, costing £538.
  7. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (10/12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Stevens of Birmingham, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £544.
  8. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs I. Haxton of Kirkcaldy, costing £885.
  9. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. A Millward of Chapel-en-le-Frith, costing £879.
  10. ^ 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Stephens of Birmingham, costing £773.
  11. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Stephens of Birmingham, costing £938.
  12. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr F. E. Hills of Penshurst, costing £906.
  13. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs H. Groome of Liverpool, costing £931.
  14. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs M. A. Chapman of West Brompton, costing £922.
  15. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss Leicester of Bayswater, costing £967.
  16. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. S. F. Maynard of Cressingham, costing £921.
  17. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr S. W. Hopwood of Westminster, costing £817.
  18. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss E. Heartwell of London, fitted with two water ballast tanks and two sliding or drop-keels, costing £982.
  19. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (10/12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs S. Beach of London, costing £837.
  20. ^ 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacies of the Misses Wingate of Edinburgh, costing £839.
  21. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12/14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Freemasons of England, costing £945.
  22. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (10-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs S. C. Guthrie of Tunbridge Wells, costing £1,054.
  23. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs E. E. Cox of Weston-super-Mare, fitted with two water ballast tanks and two sliding or drop-keels, costing £924.
  24. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. T. H. Burton, costing £1,044.
  25. ^ 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m) x 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) (16-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. C. Madge of Southampton, fitted with two sliding or drop-keels and two water-ballast tanks, costing £1,436.
  26. ^ 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs M. C. Lingard of St Leonards-on-Sea, costing £988.
  27. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr E. Dresden of Curzon Street, fitted with two drop-keels, costing £1,445.
  28. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. A. Hay of Cheltenham, costing £973.
  29. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs A. Lewis-Hill of London, costing £956.
  30. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs L. H. F. Bennett and Mr C. H. Lear of West Kirby, costing £1,160.
  31. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr E. Kay of Southsea, costing £938.
  32. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. C. Ashley of Menton, France, costing £961.
  33. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. Everard of Salisbury, costing £1,202.
  34. ^ 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Scarlett of Bowden, costing £1,026.
  35. ^ 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) x 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss L. B. Courtney of Brompton Square, costing £939.
  36. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr T. K. Hardie of Bayswater, costing £1,007.
  37. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Sir Thomas Tobin of Ballincollig, costing £1,170.
  38. ^ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Young of Pollockshields, built partially by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, completed by the RNLI (following the bankruptcy of Thames Ironworks).
  39. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. F. Stanford of Regent's Park, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, fitted with two water ballast tanks and two drop-keel costing £2,173.
  40. ^ 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Baltic Exchange LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, weighing 4 tons 11cwt, fitted with 12 relieving tubes, ordinary keel, 2 drop keels, and 2 water ballast tanks<, costing £2,233.

References

  1. ^ a b c Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Life-boats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 24–25.
  2. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 14–17.
  3. ^ Farr & Morris 1992, p. 1.
  4. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 14–27.
  5. ^ "Chapman". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  6. ^ "New Life-boat for Cromer". Diss Express. 5 September 1902. p. 8.
  7. ^ "Louisa Heartwell". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ^ "New Lifeboat for the Coast of Devonshire". The Langport & Somerton Herald. 30 April 1904. p. 5.
  9. ^ "The Salcombe lifeboat disaster: A tale of incredible bravery, and unimaginable loss". RNLI. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  10. ^ "New Lifeboat for the Norfolk Coast". The Evening Star and Daily Herald. 2 December 1904. p. 2.
  11. ^ "New Lifeboat Station at Aldeburgh". Norwich Mercury. 9 August 1905. p. 4.
  12. ^ "New Life-boat for South Coast". Chichester Observer. 1 November 1916. p. 8.
  13. ^ Bruce, K. T. (8 November 2018). "90 years ago: Remembering the lost Rye Harbour lifeboat crew". RNLI. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Wells - New Lifeboat". Lynn Advertiser. 6 October 1916. p. 3.
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