Littlestone-on-Sea History

Historical Photographs

1861 A lifeboat was first stationed at Littlestone in 1861 when the "Providence" was moved from Dungeness.

1871 "Dr Hatton" replaced "Providence", lifeboat station renamed "The New Romney Lifeboat Station"

1884 "Sandal Magna" replaced "Dr Hatton"

1900 "James Stevens No.11", a 35 feet  self righting lifeboat, new boathouse and ramp contructed.

1912 "Harry Wright Russel" a 35 feet self righting boat

1928 The station closed and the lifeboat, the fifth to serve here, was moved to Hythe.

1966 The RNLI re-established an inshore lifeboat (ILB) station at Littlestone-on-Sea with a D class inflatable lifeboat (16ft). The ILB was kept in a boathouse built on the beach.

1972 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced with a B class Atlantic 17 in June.

1973 A new boathouse was built.

1976 The Atlantic 17 was withdrawn and replaced with an Atlantic 21 (B-533) in August.

1977 A purpose-built brick boathouse was built for the new lifeboat.

1988 A new Atlantic 21 lifeboat arrived at station, "The Lady Dart and Long Life II" (B-573, honouring the fundraising activities of the ladies' darts team from the nearby "Seahorse" pub.

1993 The boathouse was extended to provide improved crew facilities.

2002 A new Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B-785 "Fred Clarke", arrived at the station.

2004 A new launching ramp was completed in September.

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