Rye Harbour History
1803 A lifeboat built by Henry Greathead was placed at Rye. The station lapsed for a period of time.
1831 Gold Medals were awarded to Lieut EC Earle RN and Lieut John Steane RN for trying to save the crew of the brigantine Fame. All the crew had drowned but they recovered gold worth £3,000 from the wreck.
1832 A Gold Medal was awarded to Lieut HL Parry RN for rescuing 31 men from the fishing boat L'Aimee on 21 November 1831.
The station was re-established by the Institution.
1834–1844
Four Silver Medals were awarded in 1834, 1835 and 1844 for rescues off the coast.
1856 The lifeboat transferred to Camber (still known as Rye) on the other side of the river. A second lifeboat was also stationed at Winchelsea.
1864 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coastguard William C Buck for rescuing the Master of the sinking fishing cutter Thetis.
1876 A new boathouse was built at Rye.
1882 A new boathouse was built at Winchelsea.
During a service to the steamer Matin on 4 November, Winchelsea lifeboat capsized and Crew Member Edward Robin drowned.
1891 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Collins of the Rye lifeboat for ‘his gallant services’.
1901 Rye station closed.
1910 Winchelsea lifeboat station was renamed Rye Harbour.
1928 On 15 November the worst disaster for many years occurred when the lifeboat capsized and the whole crew of 17 drowned. The lifeboat launched in a gale and heavy seas to the vessel Alice. News was received that the crew of the Alice had been rescued by another vessel and although the recall signal was fired three times the lifeboat crew had not seen it. As the lifeboat was coming into harbour she capsized and the whole crew lost their lives – Coxswain Herbert Head, and two sons James and John; Second Coxswain J Stonham, Bowman H Cutting and his two brothers, Robert and Albert; Charles, Robert and Alexander Pope (three brothers); William and Leslie Clark (brothers); Maurice and Arthur Downey (cousins); H Smith, W Igglesden and C Southerden.
A memorial tablet can be seen in the churchyard and a memorial stained glass window can be seen in Winchelsea Church.
Rye Harbour station closed following this tragedy.
1966 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established with a D class lifeboat.
1981 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Helmsman Keith W Downey for rescuing three people from the ketch Midley Belle.
1986 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by a C class lifeboat.
1990 The station was awarded a 150th Anniversary Vellum.
1995 The ILB boathouse was extended, providing housing for the lifeboat and launching tractor, and improved crew facilities. A new timber slipway and an elevated walkway leading to the boathouse were also constructed.
1996 The C class lifeboat was withdrawn and a B class lifeboat was placed on service.
The Atlantic 75 class lifeboat, B-727 Commander and Mrs Rodney Wells was placed on service on 17 July.
2002 Work to improve access was completed in March.
Station honours
At Rye Harbour lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 1
Silver Medal 6
Gold Medal 3
