Name Louisa Heartwell

1. What is the vessel’s ability to demonstrate history in her physical fabric?

Evidence for designs, functions, techniques, processes, styles, customs and habits or uses and associations in relation to events and people.  How early, intact or rare these features are may impact on significance.

LOUISA HEARTWELL was built in 1902 by Thames Ironworks as a Liverpool Class pulling and sailing lifeboat. She was constructed with a wooden, double diagonal, carvel planked hull of 38ft in length.  She had two drop keels and her water ballast tanks were to the latest pattern, filling and emptying automatically when the boat was launched and recovered. During service, LOUISA HEARTWELL underwent various repairs including installation of a new fore drop keel in 1906, a new knee under the fore tabernacle in 1908, a new gunwale and capping in 1909, and hand battens fitted to the bilge keels in 1910.  She had a complete overhaul in 1913 and continued to undergo minor repairs, including the fitting of a new foremast in 1920, at which time she also sustained damage to the hull.  After going out of service in 1932, LOUISA HEARTWELL was adapted first for use as a motor cruiser, then subsequently a houseboat. Despite this, she remains remarkably intact and has most original features.  She is being returned to her 1917 configuration, with the houseboat cabin removed as part of her conservation.  Missing parts are being repaired using like-for-like materials and the vessel is being monitored as it acclimatizes to being out of the water.  She is GRP sheathed below the waterline but is believed to retain her original iron keel shoe. Although a propellor has been installed, the sternpost has not been significantly cut away.  Her two original rudder fixings are present and the fitting recesses on the sternpost are still visible.  The topsides have a thin batten marking the top of the diagonal hull planking which indicates the original gunnel line.   

2. What are the vessel’s associational links for which there is no physical evidence?

Associations with people or places.  Off-ship research.

LOUISA HEARTWELL was funded by a generous legacy from Miss Emily Heartwell and built in London.  She was then stationed at Cromer Norfolk RNLI station, serving there from 1902 to 1931 which gives her a strong local significance to the area.  Her launch in Cromer aligned with the construction of a new lifeboat house, to cater for its larger size and carriage, which has remained in use, housing the inshore lifeboat.  LOUISA HEARTWELL had only two coxswains during service; Matthew James Harrison until 1909, and Henry George Blogg to 1931, the most decorated of all RNLI personnel, who served for 53 years on Cromer lifeboats. 

She carried out many rescues of international shipping, the most notable occurring in 1917 when she went first to the assistance of the Greek ship PYRIN and then to help the Swedish steamer FERNEBO. For his actions during the rescue, a gold medal was awarded to Blogg, silver medals to William Davies and Private Stewart Holmes, and bronze medals to the crew who were the first ever to receive the RNLI Bronze medal.

LOUISA HEARTWELL saved over 195 lives during her service with the RNLI and was launched 115 times. She is one of only seven surviving Liverpool class pulling and sailing lifeboats out of the 40 originally built.  Historic photographs exist showing her in service and she was recorded on the National Register of Historic Vessels in 2022.

3. How does the vessel’s shape or form combine and contribute to her function?

Overall aesthetic impact of the vessel, her lines, material she was built from and her setting.  Does she remain in her working environment?

LOUISA HEARTWELL was built for lifesaving activities and, as a Liverpool Class pulling and sailing design, would have been fitted with a simple mizzen and dipping lug sail, and powered by fourteen oars.  She would have been an aesthetically pleasing sight with her distinctive shape, rig and colours.  LOUISA HEARTWELL was a non-self-righting lifeboat and weighed over 4 tonnes, with a freeboard amidships of 4 foot 2 inches and a solid cork canvas-covered fender to provide stability when the boat rolled.  Her two drop keels and water ballast tanks were designed to suit the launching process and support its rescue work.  LOUISA HEARTWELL is now on display undercover as a static exhibit forming part of the lifeboat collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard.

Source: NHS-UK team, January 2024