What happened in Worthing in 1850?

In November 1850, 11 Worthing fishermen died while trying to rescue the cargo ship Lalla Rookh during a severe storm.

Who were the heroes of the 1850 Worthing disaster?

After the initial tragedy, 20 local Worthing fishermen successfully rescued the Lalla Rookh and its crew, saving them from the same fate as the 11 men who perished.

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Worthing Honors 11 Fishermen Who Perished in 1850 Rescue Attempt

Q: How did the 1850 Worthing tragedy lead to a lifeboat station?

The deaths of the 11 fishermen prompted donations from the community, which were used to establish Worthing's first lifeboat station in 1853.

30 Oct, 2025

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Summary

175th anniversary of 1850 disaster that claimed 11 fishermen's lives
Tragedy prompted donations to build Worthing's first lifeboat station
20 local fishermen later saved the cargo ship and its crew

Worthing Honors 11 Fishermen Who Perished in 1850 Rescue Attempt

On November 23, 2025, the town of Worthing, West Sussex, will hold a memorial service to commemorate the 175th anniversary of a devastating maritime disaster that claimed the lives of 11 local fishermen. In November 1850, the men perished while attempting to rescue the cargo ship Lalla Rookh, which was in distress during a severe storm.

The tragedy prompted an outpouring of donations from the community, which were used to establish Worthing's first lifeboat station in 1853. The RNLI took over the station in 1865, and it served the town until 1930 when Shoreham's new motor lifeboat made Worthing's traditional rowing and sailing craft obsolete.

Remarkably, a second rescue was launched following the initial disaster, and 20 local fishermen successfully saved the Lalla Rookh and its crew. The heroic actions of these men have been remembered alongside the tragic loss of their 11 colleagues.