Culmer White
Encyclopedia
The Culmer White was a 19th century lifeboat of the Isle of Thanet
.
With the resounding success of the ‘Mary White’ in 1851 and the subsequent presentation of the ‘Culmer White’ in 1853 soon afterward, both the Coastguard and the R.N.L.I. were equipping their stations with White’s boats. From these humble origins and a developing reputation, White’s boatyard grew to become John Samuel Whites of Cowes
, a flourishing tradition developed which lasted well into the 1960’s with 134 White’s Lifeboat’s ordered, completed and delivered.
Whites patented lifeboats featured a “double skin of planking with waterproof material in between”, on the whole “a fine example of skillful craftsmanship” ~ regrettably however they would not ‘self~right’.
Ironically, John White declared, a lifeboat “has no reason to capsize at all and there is no reason why she should”.
The first of these cost some £116/~, it was sent to Cardigan, on the Welsh coast. Following Thomas White’s lead, the first Ramsgate Lifeboat was installed in 1852, this was to be called ‘The Northumberland’, and built by James Beeching
, for the Ramsgate Harbour Commission.
It was not until 1857 that Walmer at Deal
received its first official Lifeboat, from the Royal Thames Yacht Club
. All of these preceded the RNLI craft that are now such a familiar part of coastal heritage. It is clear from the many boats given over to the service of rescue just how dangerous an area of the coast the Goodwin Sands
were considered to be.
The Culmer White achieved everlasting renown amongst historians of the lifeboat service in 1857 with its sister boat on the occasion of the rescue of the Northern Belle
.
Isle of Thanet
The Isle of Thanet lies at the most easterly point of Kent, England. While in the past it was separated from the mainland by the nearly -wide River Wantsum, it is no longer an island ....
.
With the resounding success of the ‘Mary White’ in 1851 and the subsequent presentation of the ‘Culmer White’ in 1853 soon afterward, both the Coastguard and the R.N.L.I. were equipping their stations with White’s boats. From these humble origins and a developing reputation, White’s boatyard grew to become John Samuel Whites of Cowes
J. Samuel White
J. Samuel White was a British shipbuilding firm based in Cowes, taking its name from John Samuel White . It came to prominence during the Victorian era...
, a flourishing tradition developed which lasted well into the 1960’s with 134 White’s Lifeboat’s ordered, completed and delivered.
Whites patented lifeboats featured a “double skin of planking with waterproof material in between”, on the whole “a fine example of skillful craftsmanship” ~ regrettably however they would not ‘self~right’.
Ironically, John White declared, a lifeboat “has no reason to capsize at all and there is no reason why she should”.
The first of these cost some £116/~, it was sent to Cardigan, on the Welsh coast. Following Thomas White’s lead, the first Ramsgate Lifeboat was installed in 1852, this was to be called ‘The Northumberland’, and built by James Beeching
James Beeching
James Beeching was an English boat builder who invented a "self-righting lifeboat" and designed a type of fishing boat which became characteristic of the port of Great Yarmouth in the 19th century...
, for the Ramsgate Harbour Commission.
It was not until 1857 that Walmer at Deal
Walmer and Deal lifeboats
Walmer Lifeboat Station was established in 1830. Over two thousand ships are believed to have been wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, and the masts of several wrecks are visible from the shore at low tide...
received its first official Lifeboat, from the Royal Thames Yacht Club
Royal Thames Yacht Club
The Royal Thames Yacht Club is the oldest sailing club in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters are located at 60 Knightsbridge, London, England, overlooking Hyde Park....
. All of these preceded the RNLI craft that are now such a familiar part of coastal heritage. It is clear from the many boats given over to the service of rescue just how dangerous an area of the coast the Goodwin Sands
Goodwin Sands
The Goodwin Sands is a 10-mile-long sand bank in the English Channel, lying six miles east off Deal in Kent, England. The Brake Bank lying shorewards is part of the same geological unit. As the shoals lie close to major shipping channels, more than 2,000 ships are believed to have been wrecked...
were considered to be.
The Culmer White achieved everlasting renown amongst historians of the lifeboat service in 1857 with its sister boat on the occasion of the rescue of the Northern Belle
Northern Belle
Northern Belle was an American transatlantic ship which ran aground near Thanet, England on January 5, 1857. No lives were lost, thanks to heroic rescue efforts, in blizzard conditions...
.