The Princess Royal

The Princess Royal seen here at her berth in Hartlepool Marina on 16th December 2008.

Information courtesy of the National Historic Ships web site @ http://nationalhisto...essel/vref/1882

Builder - 1938, J Samuel White & Co, Cowes, Isle of Wight, Cowes, Isle of White

THE PRINCESS ROYAL served as the Hartlepool lifeboat from 1939 until 28 April 1968. She arrived there new from the makers and was christened by Princess Alice in 1941. She was launched 152 times, saving ninety-four lives.

In 1939, she was involved in rescuing the pilot of the first Spitfire to be shot down off the North-East coast, near Redcar. Again, in 1942, five navy men were rescued off the coast of Hartlepool, for which the coxswain was awarded a gold medal. The lifeboat was also awarded a gold medal and was one of only ten boats to receive a medal in 175 years of lifeboat history. The mechanic received a silver medal and the crew bronze medals. After years of service, THE PRINCESS ROYAL was found languishing in a wrecking yard in Wales by a former merchant navy engineer. He formed a rescue party and the boat was bought back for Hartlepool at the cost of a penny. A team of volunteers subsequently spent nearly five years restoring her and she is now to form a floating museum at Hartlepool Marina.

Length Overall: 14.03 metres (46.00 feet)
Tonnage: 21.50
Breadth: 3.89 metres (12.75 feet)