Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat

NameNorfolk and Suffolk-class

BuildersVarious

Operators

RNLI and others

Built1807–1925

Class overview

RNLB James Leith (ON 607) in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard


Name	Norfolk and Suffolk-class
Builders	Various
Operators	RNLI and others
Built	1807–1925
In service	1807–1953


General characteristics - sailing lifeboats
Length	30 to 46 ft (9.1 to 14.0 m)
Beam	10 to 12 ft (3.0 to 3.7 m)
Crew	16–22


General characteristics - motor lifeboats
Displacement	14-17 tons
Length	46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)
Beam	12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
Installed power	40 bhp to 80 bhp
Propulsion	Single screw
Speed	8 kn (9.2 mph; 15 km/h)
Range	~115 nmi (132 mi; 213 km)
Crew	13

Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboats were a class of lifeboat operated almost exclusively off the coast of East Anglia. The first boats found favour with the various rescue societies, such as the Norfolk Shipwreck Association and the Suffolk Humane Society, as well as companies of Boatmen, such as the Gorleston Rangers, before being adopted and continued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Purpose-built lifeboats first appeared towards the end of the 18th century. Some of the first were designed by Lionel Lukin who adapted local boat designs to be more buoyant so they could operate safely in rough seas. He designed one for the Suffolk Humane Society in 1807 for use at Lowestoft. It was based on a local yawl with a shallow draft, and sails so it could reach offshore sandbanks, but oars were also provided.^[1]

The design proved successful and was adopted by other lifeboat services in East Anglia including the Norfolk Shipwreck Association. The Suffolk Humane Society merged with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1855 as did the Norfolk Shipwreck Association in 1857.^[2]

The RNLI continued to build lifeboats to the Norfolk and Suffolk design, and stationed them at other places on the east coast, between the River Thames and the Humber.^[3]

The Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat were usually of a larger size, typically being around 42 ft (13 m) in length. The boat were non-self-righting, but usually had a broad beam for stability, typically 11–12 ft (3.4–3.7 m). However, some smaller Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboats, around 30–34 ft (9.1–10.4 m) in length, were produced for closer inshore work, and are generally referred to as 'Surf-Boats'.

The last Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat was built in 1925 and was in use until 1953. The design evolved throughout this time, the last boats being built with petrol engines.

Pulling & sailing lifeboats

The Lowestoft lifeboat of 1807 was 40 feet (12 m) long and 10 ft (3.0 m) wide. It had wood and cork 'wales' or pads 15 in (380 mm) deep that projected up to 9 in (230 mm) from the sides. Empty 22 in (560 mm) casks along the inside of the sides with two more each at the front and back of the boat to give it buoyancy. An iron keel was fitted and a large volume of water ballast kept it lower in the water so that it cut through the waves instead of riding up and down over them. The water ballast was let in and out by plugs in the bottom to reduce the boat's weight when being launched and recovered from the beach. It had three masts, lug sails and 12 oars.^[1]

Most of these features continued to be used in Norfolk and Suffolk lifeboats built during the next 85 years. The empty casks were replaced by detachable wood and canvas air cases along the sides and fixed air boxes in the bow and stern like Palmer-class lifeboats. The water ballast, up to 7 tons of it, was just left in the bottom of the boat so lifeboat crews worked in wet conditions. If too much water was taken on board, the excess drained out through gaps along the side. They were rigged with 2 lug sails.^[4]^[5]

Early Norfolk & Suffolk lifeboat fleet

ON^[a]	Name	Built	In service^[6]^[7]	Station	Comments^[8]^[6]^[7]
–	Frances Ann	1807	1807–1850	Lowestoft	^{[Note 1]} Suffolk Humane Society. Condemned 1850.^[1]^[9]
–	Braybrooke	1821	1821–1826	Harwich	^{[Note 2]} Essex Lifeboat Association. Sold 1926.
–	Unnamed	1825	1825–1833	Great Yarmouth	^{[Note 3]} Norfolk Shipwreck Association. Unknown fate.
Pre-160	Unnamed	1833	1833–1861	Great Yarmouth	^{[Note 4]} Suffolk Humane Society, to RNLI in 1855. Unservicable by 1861.
Pre-195	Marianne	1840	1840–1868	Pakefield	^{[Note 5]} Disposed of at Lowestoft, 1872.
Pre-195	Sisters	1840	1868–1872	Pakefield	^{[Note 6]} Suffolk Humane Society, to RNLI in 1855. Renamed Sisters in 1868.^[10]
–	Solebay	1840	1841–1855	Southwold	^{[Note 7]} Condemned 1869. ^[11]
–	Solebay	1840	1855–1869	Kessingland	^{[Note 7]} Condemned 1869. ^[11]
Pre-218	Unnamed	1846	1846–1865	Caister	^{[Note 8]} Norfolk Shipwreck Association, to RNLI in 1857. Condemned and Sold, 1865.^[12]
Pre-229	Victoria	1850	1850–1868	Lowestoft	^{[Note 9]} Suffolk Humane Society, to RNLI in 1855. Renamed Laetitia in 1868.
Pre-229	Laetitia	1850	1868–1876	Lowestoft	Condemned and Broken up, 1876.
–	Rescuer	1853	1853–1868	Gorleston	^{[Note 10]} Capsized with the ultimate loss of 13 crew, 13 January 1866. Capsized after a collision, with the loss of six crew, 3 December 1867. Transferred to Winterton in 1868.
–	Rescuer	1853	1868–1878	Winterton
–	Royal Albert	1854	1854–1894	Scratby	^{[Note 11]} Transferred to Walton-on-the-Naze and renamed True to the Core in 1894.
–	True to the Core	1854	1894–1897	Walton-on-the-Naze	^{[Note 12]}Fate unknown.
28	Harriett	1855	1855–1869	Southwold	^{[Note 13]} Renamed London Coal Exchange in 1869.^[13]^[11]
28	London Coal Exchange	1855	1869–1893	Southwold	Sold 1893.
–	Ranger	1856	1858–????	Gorleston	^{[Note 14]} Service dates and fate unknown.
20	Brave Robert Shedden	1861	1861–1868	Great Yarmouth	^{[Note 15]} Renamed Mark Lane in 1868.
20	Mark Lane	1861	1868–1883	Great Yarmouth	^{[Note 16]} Condemned and Sold, 1889.
20	Mark Lane	1861	1883–1889	Gorleston	^{[Note 16]} Condemned and Sold, 1889.
–	Friend of All Nations	1863	1863–1925	Gorleston	^{[Note 17]} Sold 1925.
Pre-427	Birmingham No. 2	1865	1865–1878	Caister	^{[Note 18]} Renamed Covent Garden in 1878.
Pre-427	Covent Garden	1865	1878–1883	Caister	^{[Note 19]} Condemned 1883.
–	Refuge	1866	1866–1888	Gorleston	^{[Note 20]} Capsized with the loss of four crew, 10 November 1888. Condemned 1888.^[14]
16	Husband	1869	1869–1879	Corton	^{[Note 21]} Sold 1892.^[15]
16	Husband	1869	1879–1890	Winterton No.2	^{[Note 21]} Sold 1892.^[15]
25	Bolton	1870	1870–1893	Kessingland	^{[Note 22]} Sold 1893.
14	British Workman	1870	1870–1893	Palling No.2	^{[Note 23]} Sold 1893.
23	Sisters	1872	1872–1876	Pakefield	^{[Note 24]} Renamed The Two Sisters, Mary and Hannah in 1876.
23	The Two Sisters, Mary and Hannah	1872	1876–1886	Pakefield	^{[Note 25]} Sold 1910.
			1886–1890	Lowestoft
			1890–1910	Pakefield
22	Samuel Plimsoll	1876	1876–1905	Lowestoft	^{[Note 26]} Sold 1905.
17	Covent Garden	1882	1883–1899	Caister	^{[Note 27]} Sold and Broken up, 1900.
–	Caroline Hamilton	1883	1883–1893	Lowestoft	^{[Note 28]} Sold 1893.
27	Charles Bury	1884	1884–1897	Kessingland No.3	^{[Note 29]} Sold 1897.
233	Mark Lane	1889	1889–1892	Gorleston	^{[Note 30]} Transferred to the Relief fleet, 1892.^[11]
	Reserve No. 1		1892–1899	Relief Fleet	Renamed Margaret on transfer to Winterton No.2, 1899
	Margaret		1899–1907	Winterton No.2	^{[Note 31]} Condemned and Sold, 1907
270	Margaret	1889	1890–1899	Winterton No.2	^{[Note 32]} Transferred to the Relief fleet, 1899.^[16]
	Reserve No.1		1899–1902	Aldeburgh	Sold 1924.
	Reserve No.1		1902–1924	Relief fleet	Sold 1924.
–	Elizabeth Simpson	1889	1889–1926	Gorleston	^{[Note 33]} She was launched on service 119 times, and rescued 441 lives. Motor conversion in 1926. Sold 1948.^[17]
288	Stock Exchange	1890	1890–1892	Lowestoft No.2	^{[Note 34]} Renamed Mark Lane when transferred to Gorleston in 1892.^[16]
288	Mark Lane	1890	1892–1921	Gorleston	^{[Note 35]} Sold 1922. Renamed Gorleston, a converted houseboat, broken up at Felixstowe Ferry, 1978.
304	Aldeburgh	1890	1890–1899	Aldeburgh	^{[Note 36]} Capsized with the loss of seven crew, & December 1899. Broken up in 1900.^[18]^[19]
327	Beauchamp	1891	1892–1901	Caister No.2	^{[Note 37]} Wrecked on service with the loss of nine crew, 13 November 1901.1901 Caister lifeboat disaster. Sold 1901. Renamed Triton, used as a Broadland trip boat. Broken up in 1966.

Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Early Norfolk and Suffolk 'Surf-Boats'

ON^[a]	Name	Built	In service^[7]	Station	Comments^[8]^[7]
Pre-162	Unnamed	1833	1833–1858	Great Yarmouth No.2	^{[Note 38]} Sold 1858.
19	Unnamed	1859	1859–1866	Great Yarmouth No.2	^{[Note 39]} Renamed Duff in 1866.
	Duff		1866–1875		^{[Note 40]} Renamed Abraham Thomas in 1875.
	Abraham Thomas		1875–1892		^{[Note 41]} Capsized 18 January 1881 with the loss of six crew. Sold 1892.
15	Anne Maria	1860	1861–1875	Winterton	^{[Note 42]} Renamed Edward Birkbeck in 1875.
15	Edward Birkbeck	1860	1875–1896	Winterton	^{[Note 43]} Condemned and broken up, 1896
18	Boys	1867	1867–1875	Caister No.2	^{[Note 44]} Renamed Godsend in 1875.
	Godsend		1875–1892	Caister No.2	^{[Note 45]} Sold 1892. Acquired by the Frinton Volunteer Lifeboat Society in 1901, and renamed Sailors Friend.
	Sailors Friend		1901–1907	Frinton-on-Sea	Sold 1907.
26	Grace & Lalley of Broad Oak	1867	1867–1871	Kessingland	^{[Note 46]} Renamed St Michaels, Paddington in 1879.
	Grace & Lalley of Broad Oak		1871–1879	Kessingland No.2	^{[Note 46]} Renamed St Michaels, Paddington in 1879.
	St Michaels, Paddington		1879–1897	Kessingland No.2	^{[Note 47]} Sold 1897.
Pre-521	George	1869	1870–1881	Lowestoft No.2	^{[Note 48]} Sold 1881.^[15]
21	Leicester	1870	1870–1883	Gorleston	^{[Note 49]} Sold 1894.
21	Leicester	1870	1883–1894	Gorleston No.2	^{[Note 49]} Sold 1894.
24	Henry Burford, RN	1870	1871–1895	Pakefield	^{[Note 50]} Broken up, 1895.
29	Dorinda and Barbara	1871	1871–1882	Theddlethorpe	^{[Note 51]} Renamed Quiver No.2 in 1882.
29	Quiver No. 2	1871	1882–1897	Southwold No.2	^{[Note 52]} Displayed at the Imperial Institute in London from 1897 until 1917.
319	Unnamed	1890	1891–1895	Unallocated (Spare)	^{[Note 53]}. Used in the Montrose lifeboat trials in 1893. Sold to Crown Agents for Accra, Ghana in 1895.
326	Thora Zelma	1891	1892–1904	Gorleston No.3	^{[Note 54]} Transferred to the Relief fleet, 1904.
326	Reserve No. 8	1891	1904–1913	Relief fleet	Condemned and Sold, October 1913.
329	John Burch	1892	1892–1912	Great Yarmouth	^{[Note 55]} Sold 1919. Renamed Crescent, last reported as a yacht at St Olaves in the 1970s.

Improved design

The RNLI staged a trial of sailing lifeboats in 1892. Of the four different boats, the Norfolk and Suffolk class was deemed the least effective. The trial was held at Lowestoft and that station's two-year-old lifeboat was used. The water ballast proved to be a problem, the boat getting into difficulty in the surf close to the beach before the water ballast could be taken in. Even when properly ballasted, the boat could become unstable as water was able to shift side-to-side and back-and-front. Boats built after the trial had the water ballast constrained in tanks beneath a deck in the centre of the boat where it was not able to shift so much. Valves were fitted to allow water above the deck to drain out. An alteration was also made to the shape of the wales so that waves flowed over them better; in the past they sometimes waves coming from the side got caught under the wale and pushed the boat over the opposite side.^[20]^[1]

Improved Norfolk & Suffolk lifeboat fleet

ON^[a]	Name	Built	In service^[7]	Station	Comments^[8]^[7]
351	Hearts of Oak	1893	1893–1917	Palling	^{[Note 56]} Sold 1919. Renamed Mayflower, later Valentina. Broken up at Willow Wren Wharf, Southall, 1990.
352	Bolton	1893	1893–1902	Kessingland	^{[Note 57]} Sold 1926. Renamed Juno, later Ladies of Bolton. Converted houseboat, now holiday accommodation Ole Gal on a farm at Saint Helena, Horsford, Norwich, December 2025.
			1902	Aldeburgh
			1902–1918	Kessingland
			1918–1925	Southwold
353	Alfred Corry	1893	1893–1918	Southwold	^{[Note 58]} Sold 1919. Renamed Alba, Albemarle and Thorfinn. Now on display as Alfred Corry at the Alfred Corry Museum, Southwold, the relocated former Cromer lifeboat house.^[11]^[21]
356	Stock Exchange	1893	1893–1912	Lowestoft No. 2	^{[Note 59]} Transferred to the Relief fleet, 1912
356	Reserve No. 1A	1893	1912–1918	Relief fleet	Sold 1919.
–	True to the Core	1897	1897–1909	Walton-on-the-Naze	^{[Note 60]} Motor conversion 45-hp Brooke, 1909. Sold c.1913.
406	St Paul	1897	1897–1918	Kessingland No.2	^{[Note 61]} Sold 1931. Renamed Stormcock. On display since April 1996 as St Paul in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025.
406	St Paul	1897	1918–1931	Kessingland
430	James Stevens No. 9	1899	1899–1923	Southend-on-Sea	^{[Note 62]} Sold 1923. Renamed Viking. Destroyed by a bomb at Dover in World War II.
431	Covent Garden	1899	1899–1919	Caister	^{[Note 63]} Sold and broken up, 1920.
432	James Stevens No.14	1900	1900–1905	Walton-on-the-Naze	^{[Note 64]} Stood down in 1905 for an engine to be fitted. Returned to service in 1907, see below.^[22]
482	City of Winchester	1902	1902–1928	Aldeburgh	^{[Note 65]} Sold 1928. Renamed Ellen Gordon, Houseboat, broken up at Maldon, 1980.^[23]^[24]
543	Kentwell	1905	1905–1921	Lowestoft	^{[Note 66]} Sold 1928.
			1922–1924	Gorleston
			1924–1928	Relief fleet
–	Sailor's Friend	1907	1907–1917	Frinton	^{[Note 67]} Sank in 1917, subsequently sold.
589	Eleanor Brown	1909	1909–1924	Winterton	^{[Note 68]} Transferred to Relief fleet, 1924.^[25]
589	Reserve No. 1C	1909	1924–1931	Relief fleet	Sold 1928. Renamed Mary. Houseboat at Morston Quay, Blakeney, December 2025.
607	James Leith	1910	1910–1919	Pakefield	^{[Note 69]} Sold 1936. Renamed Robin Hood II, On display since April 1996 as James Leith in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025.
			1919–1929	Caister
			1930–1935	Aldeburgh
656	Hearts of Oak	1918	1918–1929	Palling	^{[Note 70]} Sold 1934. Renamed Wander Bird. Last reported as a yacht at Frontignan, France, 2002.
656	Hearts of Oak	1918	1929–1934	Relief fleet

Improved Surf Boats

ON^[a]	Name	Built	In service^[7]	Station	Comments^[8]^[7]
371	Leicester	1894	1894–1923	Gorleston No.2	^{[Note 71]} Condemned and Sold, 1923.
397	Edward Birkbeck	1896	1896–1925	Winterton	^{[Note 72]} Sold 1925. Renamed Mirosa. Now stored awaiting restoration as Edward Birkbeck at Winterton, Norfolk, December 2025.
405	Rescue	1897	1897–1920	Southwold No.2	^{[Note 73]} Sold 1920. Renamed Mermaid. Last reported as a houseboat at Horning Broad, August 1969.
506	Nancy Lucy	1903	1903–1929	Caister	^{[Note 74]} Sold 1929.
629	Hugh Taylor	1912	1912–1919	Great Yarmouth	^{[Note 75]} Sold 1937. Renamed Johannes J, last reported as a yacht in Dordrecht, NL, 1987.
	Hugh Taylor		1919–1922	Pakefield
	Reserve No. 1A		1922–1929	Relief fleet
	Hugh Taylor		1929–1931	Aldeburgh
	Hugh Taylor		1931–1936	Kessingland

Motor lifeboats

The RNLI deployed its first experimental motor lifeboat in 1904 and in 1905 converted three pulling and sailing lifeboats into motor lifeboats. One of these was Walton-on-the-Naze's Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat James Stevens No.14. It was fitted with a Blake 40 hp petrol engine with 4 cylinders and running at 550 rpm. Tests on 7 June 1906 measured the converted lifeboat's speed to be 6.952 knots (12.875 km/h). It was then sent to Harwich for sea trials in October. These were completed in February 1907, after which the boat returned to Walton-on-the-Naze to take up duty.^[26]^[22]

The engines in motor lifeboats were regarded as a supplement to sails at first but the experimental conversions were deemed a success. Construction of new motor lifeboats was protracted as it was difficult to obtain the parts and skilled staff, especially during World War I. Three Norfolk and Suffolk class motor lifeboats were built for service at East Anglian stations in the 1920s.^[27] The engines were a 4-cylinder 60 bhp unit in John and Mary Meiklam Of Gladswood of 1921, and 6-cylinder engines of 80 bhp in the two boats built in 1923 and 1925.

Norfolk & Suffolk motor lifeboat fleet

ON^[a]	Name	Built	In service^[7]	Station	Comments^[28]^[7]
–	Elizabeth Simpson	1889	1926–1939	Gorleston	^{[Note 76]} Sold 1948.
–	True to the Core	1897	1909–1911	Walton-on-the-Naze	^{[Note 77]} Sold c.1913.
432	James Stevens No.14	1900	1907–1928	Walton-on-the-Naze	^{[Note 78]} Sold 1928. Renamed Mardee. Stored ashore at Titchmarsh Marine, Walton-on-the-Naze, August 2025.^[22]
663	John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood	1921	1921	Gorleston No. 1	^{[Note 79]} Transferred to Lowestoft in 1921, renamed Agnes Cross. (The original name was reused by ON 670 in 1924).
	Agnes Cross		1921–1939	Lowestoft	^{[Note 80]} Sold October 1952. Renamed Wimp, last reported at Aden, 1955.
			1940–1941	Dover
			1941–1952	Relief fleet
670	H.F. Bailey	1923	1923–1924	Cromer	^{[Note 81]} Renamed in 1924, the original name was then reused on Watson-class lifeboat ON 694.
	John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood		1924–1939	Gorleston No. 1	^{[Note 82]} Sold October 1952. Renamed Pen Cw. On display since June 1994 as John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood at Gorleston, December 2025.^[29]
	John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood		1939–1952	Relief fleet
691	Mary Scott	1925	1925–1940	Southwold	^{[Note 83]} Sold March 1953. Renamed Atanua. Yacht with added cabin at Whitton Hoo boatyard, Rochester, August 2024.^[29]
691	Mary Scott	1925	1940–1953	Relief fleet

1 2 3 4 5 ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

Notes

↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, funded by county subscriptions, built by B. Barcham of Lowestoft, costing £350.
↑ Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat of unknown dimensions, funded by county subscriptions plus Lloyd's, built by Geo. Graham of Harwich.
↑ Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat of unknown dimensions, funded by county subscriptions, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth.
↑ 39 ft (12 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12/14-oared) lifeboat, funded by county subscriptions, built by Holmes of Great Yarmouth.
↑ Gift of the Misses S. and L. Harris.
↑ 45 ft (14 m) x 11 ft (3.4 m) (14/16-oared) lifeboat, funded by county subscriptions, built by Wm. Teasdel of Great Yarmouth, costing £300.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 11 ft (3.4 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, funded by local subscriptions and RNIPLS, built by Wm. Teasdel of Great Yarmouth, costing £320.
↑ 42 ft (13 m) x 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) (14/16-oared) lifeboat, funded by county subscriptions, built by Branford of Great Yarmouth, costing £250.
↑ 42 ft (13 m) x 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, funded by county subscriptions, built by Samuel R. Sparham of Lowestoft, costing £250.
↑ 42 ft (13 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) lifeboat, funded by the Gorleston Ranger Corps, (later B. Hume at Winterton-on-Sea}, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth.
↑ 44 ft (13 m) x 13 ft (4.0 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, funded by the Californai beachmen's Co., built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £200.
↑ Funded by the Walton-on-the-Naze Volunteer Lifeboat Society.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) (12/14-oared) lifeboat, funded from local subscription, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £200.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) (18-oared) lifeboat, funded by the Gorleston Ranger Co., built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £200.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss W. S. Watson of London, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £210.
↑ Gift of the London Corn Exchange, Rebuilt 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m) x 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m) in 1871.
↑ 43 ft (13 m) x 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, funded from local subscription, built by Jas. Critten of Cobholm, costing £400.
↑ 42 ft (13 m) x 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Birmingham LB fund, built by Mills and Blake of Great Yarmouth, costing £238.
↑ Gift of the Covent Garden LB fund.
↑ 42 ft (13 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) lifeboat, funded by the Gorleston Storm Co., constructor unknown.
↑ 36 ft (11 m) x 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs Geo. Davis of Clapham, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £180.
↑ 42 ft 5 in (12.93 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) (12/14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Bolton LB fund, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £270.
↑ 40 ft 4 in (12.29 m) x 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the British Workman LB fund, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £273.
↑ 46 ft 3 in (14.10 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the misses S. and L. Harris, built by Samuel R. Sparham of Lowestoft, costing £276.
↑ Legacy of Mr T Perkin.
↑ 44 ft 4 in (13.51 m) x 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Samuel Plimsoll LB fund, Derby and Liverpool built by Samuel R. Sparham of Lowestoft, costing £276.
↑ 42 ft 4 in (12.90 m) x 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Covent Garden LB fund, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £300.
↑ 48 ft (15 m) x 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) lifeboat, funded and operated by the Gorleston Volunteer Lifeboat Society, built by Samuel R. Sparham of Lowestoft, costing £450.
↑ 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m) x 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr Chas. Bury of Nazing, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £363.
↑ 44 ft (13 m) x 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of the London Corn Exchange and Baltic Exchange LB fund, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £315.
↑ Legacy of Miss Mary Eason of London.
↑ 44 ft (13 m) x 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Miss Mary Eason of London, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £368.
↑ 47 ft 8 in (14.53 m) x 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) lifeboat, gift of Miss Elizabeth Simpson of Stone, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth.
↑ clifeboat, gift of the London Stock Exchange, built by Wm. T. Ellis of Lowestoft, costing £373.
↑ Gift of the London Corn Exchange and Baltic Exchange LB fund.
↑ 46 ft (14 m) x 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of an anonymous donor, built by J. H. Critten of Great Yarmouth, costing £373.
↑ 36 ft (11 m) x 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Sir R. Proctor-Beauchamp, Bt, built by J. H. Critten of Great Yarmouth, costing £266.
↑ 25 ft (7.6 m) x 8 ft (2.4 m) (10-oared) lifeboat, funded by local subscription, built by Branford of Lowestoft.
↑ 28 ft 3 in (8.61 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (10-oared) lifeboat, an anonymous gift, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £179.
↑ An anonymous gift
↑ Gift of the late Mrs Balderson.
↑ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Capt. W. Harris, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £120.
↑ Funded by the RNLI.
↑ 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Routledge Magazine for Boys, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £153.
↑ Gift of Lady Bourchire of Hampton Court Palace.
↑ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Hargreaves of Broad Oak, Accrington, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £156.
↑ Gift of St Michael's LB fund.
↑ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Miss Mary Ann Leicester of Bayswater, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £150.
↑ 30 ft 3 in (9.22 m) x 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) (10-oared) lifeboat, gift of the City of Leicester LB fund, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £153.
↑ 30 ft 3 in (9.22 m) x 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr John Legrew, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £142.
↑ 30 ft (9.1 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs B. Carslake of Brixton, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £145.
↑ Gift of The Quiver LB fund.
↑ 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) lifeboat, from RNLI funds, built by Wm. T. Ellis of Lowestoft, costing £211
↑ 31 ft (9.4 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. McLaren-Smith of Temple, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £231
↑ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs Burch of King's Lynn, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £227.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society, built by Wm. T. Ellis of Lowestoft, costing £416.
↑ 43 ft (13 m) x 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) (12/14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Bolton LB fund, built by Chambers and Colby of Lowestoft, costing £639.
↑ 44 ft (13 m) x 13 ft (4.0 m) (12/14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr A. J. Corry of Putney, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £490.
↑ 46 ft (14 m) x 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, gift of the London Stock Exchange LB fund, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £530.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 13 ft (4.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, funded by the Walton-on-the-Naze Boatmen's Co., built by Jn. Houston of Rowhedge, costing £437.
↑ 38 ft (12 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Paul of Barnes, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £530.
↑ 38 ft (12 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Stevens of Birmingham, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £865.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Covent Garden LB fund, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,295.
↑ 43 ft (13 m) x 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Stevens of Birmingham, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,420.
↑ 46 ft (14 m) x 14 ft (4.3 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Winchester LB fund, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £2,640.
↑ 46 ft (14 m) x 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) (14-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs S. A. Moore of London, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £2,197.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) lifeboat, funded by the Frinton-on-Sea Lifeboat Society, built by J. & H. Cann of Harwich, costing £360.
↑ 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m) x 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs E. Brown of Wandsworth, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £2,015.
↑ 42 ft 6 in (12.95 m) x 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr Jas. Leath of London, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,934.
↑ 40 ft (12 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society, built by Summers and Payne of Southampton, completed by S. E. Saunders of Cowes.
↑ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of the City of Leicester LB fund, RNLI funds, built by Critten of Great Yarmouth, costing £328.
↑ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, from RNLI funds, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £436.
↑ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. B. Barkworth of Havant, built by Reynolds of Lowestoft, costing £402.
↑ 35 ft (11 m) x 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Sir H. W. Lucy, MP of London, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,603.
↑ 34 ft (10 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (12-oared) lifeboat, gift of Mrs E. Stratford of London, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,250.
↑ Motor conversion in 1926.
↑ Motor conversion 45-hp Brooke, 1909.
↑ Motor conversion, 40-hp Brooke 4-cyl. petrol engine, 1906, returned to service in 1907.
↑ 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) x 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) lifeboat, legacies of Miss J. Meiklam and Mrs May, plus gift of Mrs Moysey, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, costing £6,620.
↑ Gift of Mrs Cross.
↑ 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) x 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) lifeboat, legacy of Mr Bailey, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 60-hp Tylor engine, costing £10,933.
↑ Legacies of Miss J. Meiklam and Mrs May, plus gift of Mrs Moysey.
↑ 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) x 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) lifeboat, legacy of Miss M. Scott, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-hp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,827.

Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat

Pulling & sailing lifeboats

Early Norfolk & Suffolk lifeboat fleet

Early Norfolk and Suffolk 'Surf-Boats'

Improved design

Improved Norfolk & Suffolk lifeboat fleet

Improved Surf Boats

Motor lifeboats

Norfolk & Suffolk motor lifeboat fleet

See also

Notes

References

External links

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