The 1904 Woodbridge licensing records show that the Lifeboat's license was issued in 1894. Whether this was when it was first licensed or when it got a full (ie not just beer) license isn't clear, though the latter seems more probable.

The pub was reportedly blown up during RAF bomb testing during WWII - possibly whilst experimenting with bouncing bombs. Indeed the Woodbridge licensing records say that the Lifeboat was "destroyed by war actions". There must have been some hope of rebuilding the pub, as the license was kept active until 1962, when it was finally relinquished. (It has been claimed that the pub was blown up during experimentation with bouncing bombs, though that seems improbable as Barnes Wallace tested these in the Lake District and it seems unlikely a secret weapon like this would be tested where passing German ships or aircraft might see it).

The pub is shown on this old OS map from about the end of the 19th century. larger map

What do you know about the LIFEBOAT INN at Orford Haven/Shingle Street?

"I have been researching the hamlet for the past two years, but who built the two-story inn destroyed in the last war defeats me."

"There is supposed to have been an inn of sorts in 1810, but little known about it. In 1815 an advert appeared in the Ipswich Journal, "inn for sale as a free house, known as the Lifeboat". 1870 to 1885 was a period of change, the hamlet was supposed to develop to rival Felixstowe and there was talk of the railway coming, but it never happened."

"The two-story inn destroyed by Barnes Wallis was supposed to have been manufactured at Cobbolds Cliff Quay Brewery, and sailed round on a barge, offloaded on to the foundations that can still be seen today. BUT a search in the Suffolk Record Office has failed to produce any Cobbold document that verifies this. Know that the innkeeper from 1851 for the following 50 years was Francis William Langmaid. Cobbold's owned the pub from early days, may even have bought it in 1815. The favoured point for the building of the two-story inn, is 1878 to 1880 although I cannot prove it."

"In 1857 property of the late John Cobbold lists the Lifeboat Inn, Bawdsey as paying £10, in 1866 the transfer was still £10 with rent up to 1876, £10 but after that right up to the last entry in 1919 (in this book) no amount has been shown for rent or transfer. A new inn had to be worth more than £10 so think that was somewhere near the point of change."

(information above from Alec Burwood)