East Pier Trumble Boat House

After the Rohilla disaster in 1914 the RNLI understood the way forward was to roll out a program of replacing rowing lifeboats with motorised lifeboats. This program was delayed by the First World War. However work continued on the planning of the roll out which in Whitby’s case would require a purpose built boat house with a slipway to house the new lifeboat.

A site for the building was identified with the Whitby Harbour Commissioners in April 1915 adjacent to the east side Fish Pier (on the site of the present Lifeboat Station). The initial estimate of costs for the building and slipway was £3190; the contact for the work to be carried was awarded to TD Ridley & Sons (Middlesbrough). The Whitby Urban Council then objected to the design and location of the Boathouse and the plans had to be resubmitted with the Boathouse which was a further 5 metres further back from the harbour which added a further £172 to the costs.

The cost of the Boat House was paid for by a bequest by the mother of Lt FHG Trumble RN who was killed in action aged 24 on HMS Warwick in the attack on Ostend on the 10 May 1918.

The Boat House and Slipway were completed in December 1918 and remained operationally until 1976 with the arrival of the RNLB White Rose of Yorkshire which due to its design required a deep water mooring. The Trumble Boat House was redesigned to house the Station’s D Class ILB and provide crew accommodation.

In 1997 the Boat House was demolished to make way for the new purpose built Lifeboat station to house both the Trent Class Lifeboat, RNLB George and Mary Webb and the D Class ILB.  

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