Old Lifeboat House Pub

39 Marine Parade East, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, CO15 6AD 01255 476799

Launching the third Albert Edward from Clacton Pier

How it started

In 1789 a major sea tragedy occurred which led directly to the establishment of a Lifeboat service in Britain. The ship, the Adventure, run ashore on the River Tyne in a storm. Thousands of onlookers watched in helpless horror as all the crew drowned, as to go out in that weather would mean certain death. This spurred the members of a social club in South Shields, The Gentlemen of the Lawe House, to offer a two guinea reward for the best Lifeboat design. The instigated the construction of The Original, the first Lifeboat built for the job, and not a conversion. It was built by Henry Greathead, using a design of Greathead`s and local parish clerk, William Wouldhave. This 30 foot long boat with 12 oars and carrying 7 cwt of cork for buoyancy, served for 40 years on the Tyne, and several others were built for various places in Britain. However they all operated independently until a member of the Lifeboat crew on the Isle of Man, Sir William Hillary wrote an appeal to the nation in 1823. He recognized the disorganisation and consequent gaps in Lifeboat cover and his appeal invoked widespread sympathy for victims of shipwreck, and gained a lot of support. Thomas Wilson M.P. took up the cause and at a meeting in The City of London Tavern, on March 4th 1824 the National Institution for the Preservation of life from shipwreck was formed (Flag Day) with Thomas Wilson M.P. as chairman, King George 4th as Patron and the Prime Minister as President. 

Opening Hours Monday-Saturday  11am-12pm Sunday 12-10.30pm