LV16 Inner Dowsing Lightship

LV16 Inner Dowsing Lightship is one of the oldest surviving wooden lightvessels in the UK. She served for many years off the Lincolnshire coast before her retirement. She is now registered on the National Historic Ships register.

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The vessel was constructed in 1839 for Trinity House by William Pitcher of Northfleet. Built of Burma Teak, she began her working life on the Spurn station the following year, marking the River Humber channel.

Following an Act of Parliament in 1907, the Humber Conservancy Board was established. This transferred navigation responsibility on the River Humber from Hull Trinity House to the new Board. LV16 was transferred to other Trinity House stations, including Calshot Spit, at the Southern end of Southampton Water. By 1873, LV16 Lightship served on the Inner Dowsing station off the coast of Lincolnshire until her retirement in 1945.

There are very few wooden lightvessels still in existence. The ship initially had two decks, with the crew accommodation on the lower deck at the front of the vessel.

Later engines were installed to drive the air compressors that operated the fog signals, reducing the crew’s room capacity.

Until the Second World War, hammocks were provided for the crew, but bunks later replaced these. This made space even more limited but did offer more privacy for the crew.

An 8-foot-high lantern rested on top of the deckhouse, which was kept permanently raised. The lamp within the lantern was operated by clockwork and had to be wound at regular intervals. Four 250-gallon paraffin tanks fueled it. One of these lamps is now located within the artefacts collection at Greenwich Maritime Museum in London. Steel tube lanterns later replaced these lanterns as the designs improved.

The early vessels also had sails, allowing them to manoeuvre in an emergency. Usually, lightships would not have any means of self-propulsion. The vessel would have been secured in place by four 1,000ft long chains attached to heavy sinkers.

By the turn of the Second World War, the early wooden lightvessels were becoming obsolete. Many were also damaged during the War. Trinity House undertook a major building programme to replace older and damaged vessels. These were replaced by vessels with steel hulls.

Following her retirement in 1945, LV16 was sold to Benfleet Yacht Club, located in Benfleet Creek, Kent. She became a floating clubhouse. The club was later replaced with a land-based building, and by late 1983 she had been moved to the Medway Bridge Marina, Rochester. From here, she opened as a private members’ club the following year. In 1989, she was licensed to serve as the Inner Dowsing Restaurant, named after the station she primarily served.

The vessel was damaged by fire in 2007. She was bought shortly after and was restored and converted her into floating accommodation. Her mast, lantern and many deck fittings have since been removed, providing more space to accommodate the en-suite cabins.  By 2012 the vessel was ready to take corporate lettings and residential stays.  

The current owners bought the vessel around 2021, which offers two self-catering units.