Old Lifeboat Station (Mary Stanford Boathouse)

Reasons for Designation

The Old Lifeboat Station, Rye Harbour is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * C19 lifeboat stations, like this one, are examples of early charitable and altruistic activity. * Constructed in 1882 in pre-cast shingle based "no fines" concrete it is a rare surviving example of the pre-1885 pioneering period of C19 concrete construction and possibly the only pre-1885 concrete lifeboat house. * The building was de-commissioned by the RNLI after the 1928 attempted rescue disaster, resulting in the death of all 17 crew of the Mary Stanford lifeboat, and the lifeboat house is the only building directly connected with this disaster, the biggest loss of life from a single lifeboat in the history of the RNLI. Its survival provides a link with the area's seafaring past.

Details

ICKLESHAM

1917/0/10065 RYE HARBOUR 27-OCT-08 Old Lifeboat Station (Mary Stanford Bo athouse)

II Former lifeboat house. Built in 1882 by a local builder, a Mr M Anne, financed from donations by the RNLI. Built of pre-cast "no fines" shingle based concrete, the roof covering replaced by C20 roofing felt.

PLAN Rectangular with end gables and four bay roof. Originally there were entrances to both north and south ends and two windows to east and west sides.

EXTERIOR Both seaward (south) and landward (north) ends originally had large wooden ledged and braced plank double doors but the doors to the south end have been removed and infilled with blocks. Both ends retain the louvred wooden ventilation openings to the gables. The side elevations each had two casement windows with stone lintels and cills, with metal ventilation grilles above, but the windows were blocked in the C20 wih concrete blocks.

INTERIOR Four bay roof with scientific kingpost softwood roof with butt purlins. A platform to the southern bay above the blocked in doors is accessed by a fixed wooden ladder.

HISTORY In 1882 the RNLI provided £255 from donations to build a new boathouse for the Winchelsea Lifeboat Station. Built by a local builder, a Mr M Anne, it was constructed of pre-cast "no fines" shingle based concrete. When this building was constructed there was already another lifeboat station at Rye Harbour, the Rye Lifeboat station, which had been located at Camber since 1865. In 1901 the Rye Lifeboat Station closed and the boathouse was demolished. On 10th March 1910 Winchelsea Lifeboat Station's name was changed to Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station because the lifeboat was entirely crewed and launched by residents of the village of Rye Harbour, situated at a distance of one and a quarter miles from the lifeboat station. The lifeboat, named Mary Stanford came into service in 1916. On 15th November 1928 the lifeboat was launched into a fierce south westerly gale to attempt the rescue of survivors of the Alice of Riga but the lifeboat capsized with the loss of all 17 crew. This was the biggest loss of life from a single lifeboat in the history of the RNLI. This disaster had a devastating impact on the Rye Harbour community and the lifeboat house was de-commissioned. After 1928 ownership passed from the RNLI successively to the Kent Catchment Board, Kent River Board, Southern Water and the Environment Agency. During the Environment Agency ownership the lifeboat house was used by Rye Harbour Nature Reserve as an educational facility but it was closed for this use in 2003.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION * C19 lifeboat stations like this one are examples of early charitable and altruistic activity. * Constructed in 1882 in pre-cast "no fines" shingle based concrete it is a rare surviving example of the pre-1885 pioneering period of concrete construction and possibly the only pre-1885 concrete lifeboat house. * The 1928 Mary Stanford lifeboat disaster was the biggest loss of life from a single lifeboat in the history of the RNLI and the lifeboat house has historic value as the only building directly connected with this disaster.

SOURCES J C Stanford "The Mary Stanford Lifeboat House." 2008. Unpublished report. Christopher C Stanley "Highlights in the History of Concrete" by the Cement and Concrete Association.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

505293

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Stanley, C, Highlights in the History of Concrete, (1979)
Stanford, J C, The Mary Stanford Lifeboat House, (2008)

End of official list entry

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