Lalla Rookh rescue attempt background
Lalla Rookh Main illustration
Lalla Rookh Disaster Title

WORTHING RNLI LIFEBOAT STATION

RNLI flag

In 1865, Worthing Independent Lifeboat Station was taken under the auspices of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

In 1866, a new and larger lifeboat house was built in Crescent Road for £242 on land costing £68. (Today's Salvation Army Citadel stands on the site).

In 1875, Worthing's third consecutive lifeboat house opened, on the seafront with a panoramic view of the sea from its lookout turret. At 40 ft long and 17ft 6ins wide it cost £610. Still standing today at 107 Marine Parade, it has been converted into a residence.

Worthing Lifeboat House, 1907

In 1898 the first moving picture of a Victorian lifeboat in action was made at Worthing by the early film pioneer William K-L Dickson at the royal command of the Prince of Wales, later crowned King Edward VII in 1902.

The original 1898 clips below have been digitally restored and AI-enhanced.

Launch of the Worthing Lifeboat: Emerging from the Boathouse

Launch of the Worthing Lifeboat: Coming Ashore

Worthing RNLI lifeboats

  • 1866 - 1880 The Jane
  • 1880 - 1887 The Jane renamed the Henry Harris for seven years
  • 1887 - 1901 The Henry Harris
  • 1901 - 1930 The Richard Coleman was in service for 29 years, the longest period of all the Worthing lifeboats
  • 1930 Worthing Lifeboat Station closed after Shoreham Harbour RNLI station took delivery of a motor lifeboat, which superseded Worthing's rowing and sailing lifeboat

A selection of services from the original Worthing Lifeboat log books dating back to 1865

  • 1868 Lifeboat saved the distressed brigantine Hilena and its 6 crew
  • 1883 Lifeboat saved 4 lives in the loss of the schooner Theresa
  • 1888 Lifeboat saved 10 in the grounding of the brig Albert H Locke
  • 1891 Double rescue saved 7 from schooner Kong Karl and 7 from barque Capella
  • 1895 Lifeboat saved French captain from foundering brigantine Halcyon
  • 1896 2 crew of Ophir rescued by breeches buoy. 5 saved from Flora Emily
  • 1905 Swedish Liburna foundered - 2 lifeboats helped
  • 1912 3 lifeboats & tug rescued 14 Italian sailors from Andrac
  • 1915 Lifeboat capsized twice attending distressed vessel Kings Hill
  • 1920 The last lifeboat service to a big sailing ship, and another to the motor-boat Shamrock II saving 2 lives
  • 1928 Manpowered lifeboat rescued broken-down motor yacht saving 3 lives

A permanent memorial to Worthing’s historic lifeboatmen is situated on Worthing beach at Splash Point (near Coast Café). Established by The Worthing Society in honour of all the brave men, individually named, who went to the rescue of those in peril on the sea.